The history of the Holland Bloorview team
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The history of the Holland Bloorview team
20 children visited the exhibition as guests of the department of the lands and forests in 1957
The history of the Holland Bloorview team
In the early 1900s, the first years of our hospital, there were a handful of staff comprised of nurses and visiting physicians. 125 years later, Holland Bloorview is an award-winning employer and the team has grown to over 1000 staff members occupying a wide array of full-time, part-time and casual positions. The team is composed of everyone from nurses, swimming instructors, rehabilitation researchers, speech language pathologists, music therapists, therapeutic clowns, occupational therapists, nurse practitioners, physicians, physical therapists, dentists, family support specialists, and many, many more. Staff exemplify care not only to the clients and families they work with, but also in the way they care for each other and themselves: creating an environment where we all thrive together.
Here are the stories of just a few remarkable past and present staff. Many are long-standing colleagues still with the hospital today.
Dr. Hugh MacMillan’s story
assistant administrator, 1962 – 1964
Dr. Hugh MacMillan, his assistant Stan and a nurse with a mother and client in 1963
A pioneering example of a mission-driven staff member was Dr. Hugh Macmillan, assistant administrator whose personal encounter with disability profoundly influenced his dedication and care for the clients he served. An all-star athlete and graduate from the University of Toronto, Dr. MacMillan became paralyzed in his arms, legs and respiratory muscles in 1950 due to polio. An innovator at heart, he built adaptive devices to assist in his daily tasks: an auto-tilting electric bed helped him breathe while he slept, a slotted piece of wood to help him continue playing card games with his friends (namely Bridge!). To help with his role as hospital administrator, a friend helped him develop one of the first ever push-button panels for the telephone so that Dr. MacMillan could dial out. His experience with disability created an instant connection between himself and the children and families he worked with. Above all else, Dr. MacMillan believed in these children: their self-efficacy and their ability to learn and thrive.
Dr. Hugh MacMillan, his assistant Stan and a nurse with a mother and client in 1963
“Birds use their wings. They don’t grieve over the fact that their legs are underdeveloped – they don’t worry their lives away because they aren’t big walkers. […] Life is the development of what you have.”
– Dr. Hugh MacMillan
Greg’s story
multimedia specialist, 2004 – 2023
Greg Vanden Kroonenberg (aka GVK)
Greg Vanden Kroonenberg (aka GVK) worked at Holland Bloorview for nearly 20 years, retiring last September, 2023.
Through the decades, Greg wholeheartedly embraced the hospital community: he emceed staff Halloween costume parties, swung a club at the annual golf tournament, chipped-in with fellow staff to bid at a foundation fundraising auction, helped launch Clown TV (a video series about the therapeutic clown program), co-chaired the occupational health and safety committee and much more.
When reflecting on his long-career at Holland Bloorview and the values driving his work, Greg said:
“Courage and resilience are practiced daily through our interactions with clients and families. Compassion is lived out not daily, but moment by moment, every day. It’s a value that is evident to anyone who walks in the halls of Holland Bloorview.”
Greg Vanden Kroonenberg (aka GVK)
“Courage and resilience are practiced daily through our interactions with clients and families. Compassion is lived out not daily, but moment by moment, every day. It’s a value that is evident to anyone who walks in the halls of Holland Bloorview.”
Beverley’s story
dietician aid, 1980 – present
Beverley (Bev) Prescod
A long-serving staff member, Beverley (Bev) Prescod, a dietician aid, has been with Sodexo/ Holland Bloorview over 36 years. (Sodexo is Holland Bloorview’s provider of environmental and food services. Their team is woven into the Holland Bloorview staff family). In that time she’s seen Holland Bloorview move buildings, change names, and recalls witnessing a number of visiting celebrities up-close: Princess Diana and former Blue Jay Robbie Alomar to name a couple. But what’s been most memorable for Beverley in this work are all the stories she’s collected throughout the years: those shared with her by clients, families and her fellow colleagues.
Beverley says: “All these stories, they change you. They change you as a person. You’re always coming away with gratitude, compassion for other people. You’re living in a state of gratitude. And this place [Holland Bloorview] makes you feel like that.”
Beverley (Bev) Prescod
Dilshad’s story
nurse practitioner and NP professional practice lead, 2014 – present
Dilshad Kassam-Lallani, NP with her daughter Afsana Lallani, RN
Dilshad Kassam-Lallani has been with Holland Bloorview for eight years, working in our spina bifida and spinal cord injury clinic. Much of her work involves helping clients and families manage the transition from pediatric to adult care, and she credits her team for their ability to collaborate and learn from each other. This includes sharing snacks– especially popcorn!
Dilshad’s commitment to her work is fueled by her commitment to clients and families, and also stems from her own lived experience as a parent. At age 16, Dilshad’s daughter was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness requiring a liver transplant. Her daughter’s experience deeply informed Dilshad’s practice, pushing her to think outside the box in order to co-create possibilities with clients and families. Her daughter, who recently graduated from nursing herself, has taught Dilshad how much is possible. Reflecting on what motivates Dilshad to continue her work at Holland Bloorview, she recalls the support, compassion and humanity provided by her colleagues and team and many others during her daughter’s health journey.
Dilshad says:“Holland Bloorview stepped up to help me at a very critical period in my family’s life. In thinking about a lasting impact and return, I feel it to be my turn to step up for Holland Bloorview at this critical time of health care workers shortages across our nation.”
Dilshad Kassam-Lallani, NP with her daughter Afsana Lallani, RN
Lyndsay’s story
director of client and family integrated care, 2023 – present
Lyndsay Tchegus-Veiga
Lyndsay Tchegus-Veiga joined us in October, 2023 as the director of client and family integrated care, transitions and community partnerships. Excited by Holland Bloorview’s long history of treating clients and families as partners in care, she was amazed to find such a visible spirit of collaboration amongst staff, families, clients and wider hospital community. In thinking about the future of her work, Lyndsay is motivated by the opportunities that lie ahead in using data to help deliver equitable access to care.
Lyndsay says: “I believe every interaction with the health care system presents an opportunity to make a difference in the life of children and families, whether it’s a few visits or a relationship that spans from birth to young adulthood. The minute I walk through the doors at Holland Bloorview, I feel the energy and commitment to courage and resilience, compassion, excellence, equity, and innovation. There are so many contributors to this, but in my experience over the past three months, it’s clear to me that staff at Holland Bloorview are integral.”
Lyndsay Tchegus-Veiga
Is there a special member of Holland Bloorview staff that you would like to recognize? We want to hear from you! Share your story here.
Learn more at: https://hb125.hollandbloorview.ca