Image: Dr. Joy Mangel, LHSC's Physician Wellbeing Lead.
May 1, 2025
Each year on May 1, Ontario celebrates Doctors’ Day to honour the commitment, skill, and compassion of the physicians who serve our communities. The date was selected to commemorate the birth of Dr. Emily Stowe, who was the first woman to practice medicine in Canada.
At London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), this day holds particular significance in 2025 as we mark our 150th anniversary – a milestone that invites reflection on our legacy and the people who have shaped it.
Over a century and a half, LHSC has grown from a single hospital into a leading academic health sciences centre, providing world-class care, research, and training. Behind every medical breakthrough and life-changing treatment are credentialed professional staff – doctors, dentists, midwives, and extended class nurses.
“For 150 years, the physicians of LHSC have been at the forefront of excellence in patient care, education, research, and innovation,” says Dr. Christie MacDonald, Interim Vice Chair of LHSC’s Medical Advisory (MAC) and Co-Executive Sponsor of the LHSC 150 Committee. “Their leadership and dedication have built a legacy of compassion, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of better care that continues to inspire us today.”
A focus on wellbeing
One such individual is Dr. Joy Mangel, LHSC’s newly appointed Physician Wellbeing Lead, whose work is placing physician wellness at the heart of organizational health. The wellbeing of credentialed professional staff is of critical importance at LHSC, because when physicians are supported and thriving, they provide the highest quality care and can better sustain a strong, compassionate health care system.
Dr. Mangel is no stranger to the realities of life in medicine. A hematologist by training, she has been with LHSC for more than 20 years. Over time, she found herself becoming not only a clinician and educator, but a quiet champion for wellbeing.
“I’ve always had an interest in advocacy and wellness,” she says. “Over the years, I’ve spoken to so many physicians. Hearing their stories, their struggles, and their fears is what drew me into this work. I care deeply about my colleagues, and I want them to be well.”
Her work in peer support grew into departmental and leadership roles with Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, including being a member of the Schulich Wellbeing Executive Committee. But it was a conversation with a mentor and a particularly difficult moment during her own clinical practice that crystallized her path.
“I was on the inpatient unit one day and felt completely overwhelmed. We were short-staffed, tired, behind on everything,” she recalls. “Someone asked me to admit a very sick patient from the Emergency Department, and I broke down. I sat at the nursing station and cried. That moment told me something had to change – not just for me, but for all of us.”
In her new role, Dr. Mangel is focused on building a coordinated, compassionate wellbeing program for credentialed professional staff. She will be working closely with partners in Medical and Academic Affairs, the Professional Staff Organization, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s Physician Wellbeing Lead, and wellbeing leads in various LHSC departments.
Dr. Mangel knows that true wellness is deeply personal, and that physicians often put their own needs last. For this reason, she leads by example by speaking openly about the emotional toll of the job and the importance of finding balance.
“Doctors are some of the most resilient people I know. But we’re also human – we struggle, get tired, and feel grief.”
In her own life, wellness comes in the form of connection, nature, and presence. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, hiking, painting, and working on creative projects at home. She also enjoys spending time with Penny, the family’s six-year-old mini Goldendoodle.
“I didn’t want a dog at first, but now I can’t imagine life without her,” she laughs. “She gets me outside, helps me reset, and just seems to make everything better.”
More than medicine: Why physician wellbeing matters
The wellbeing of credentialed professional staff has direct implications for patient safety, quality of care, and the sustainability of our health system.
“Physician wellbeing is a critical component of a high-performing health organization,” says Dr. David Steven, Interim Chair of LHSC’s MAC. “While our physicians continue to go above and beyond the call of duty every day, we need to ask ourselves what systems and cultures we are building to support them.”
“When we prioritize the mental, emotional, and professional wellbeing of our physicians, we are investing in the very foundation of patient care,” Dr. Steven adds. “This commitment is essential as we look ahead to the next 150 years of service.”
For Dr. Mangel, this work feels like the right step at the right time.
“I love what I do. I’ve had an incredibly fulfilling career. And now, I’m excited to contribute in a different way by advocating for the wellbeing of the people who make the health-care system work. This is about more than individual wellness. It’s about building a culture where everyone can thrive.”
A celebration of commitment and compassion
Doctors’ Day is a moment to pause and say thank you as we reflect on the extraordinary role physicians play in the lives of patients and the history of LHSC. From the emergency room to the research lab, from family medicine to surgery, physicians bring a blend of knowledge, skill, and humanity that defines what it means to care.
As LHSC celebrates 150 years of care, we honour our credentialed professional staff whose tireless efforts have helped build a stronger, healthier community.
“Our physicians are the heart of our care teams,” says Dr. Adam Dukelow, Vice President of Integrated Medical Affairs at LHSC and St. Joseph’s Health Care London. “Their commitment over generations has shaped who we are today. As we mark 150 years, we are proud to celebrate their contributions and are committed to supporting their wellbeing in the years to come. On behalf of LHSC, I extend my deepest gratitude to our credentialed professional staff.”