Dr. Brooke Earley is the owner of Middlesex Chiropractic & Rehabilitation in Strathroy. She was born in Strathroy, Ontario, and raised on the outskirts of town on a beef cattle farm. Growing up, Dr. Earley watched her family benefit from chiropractic care and saw firsthand how manual therapy impacted her athletic performance and day-to-day functioning. It was a combination of the help that she had received from chiropractic care, her love for anatomy and science, with her passion for helping others that led Dr. Earley to pursue a career in chiropractic. As a female healthcare provider, she noticed a need for post-natal care for women and offered post-partum rehabilitation classes. Dr. Brooke is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Strathroy and is currently serving as the PR Chair on the Executive Board and the team chiropractor for the Jr. B Strathroy Rockets. During the pandemic lockdowns, she offered free mobility classes, bought pizza dinner for the staff at the Strathroy hospital, and hand-delivered front-line workers Starbucks gift cards to show her appreciation for their work during these difficult times. Dr. Brooke is an active member of the community, and anyone who knows her would say Dr. Brooke Early embodies all the elements of a Lerner's Healthcare Champion. Dr. Brooke's charity is CMHA Middlesex.
Charity: CMHA Middlesex
Dr. Faisal Rehman is a Nephrologist (kidney specialist), Professor of Medicine at Western University, and former Site Chief of Medicine at London Health Sciences Centre - University Hospital. He is actively involved in teaching nephrology and internal medicine to medical students, residents, and clinical fellows at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. He also runs a bustling clinical practice. Dr. Rehman is an avid philanthropist having established a charity to assist patients with kidney disease and others in his community. He dedicates hours of his time and his personal finances towards the annual fundraiser, Showdown in the Downtown, which has raised over $2.5 million since 2009, to support local charities and medical and kidney research.. Dr. Rehman has also been an invaluable resource for PHSS – Medical & Complex Care in Community in London, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting people with developmental, medical, and/or complex physical needs so they can live in their own homes and participate in the community alongside family and friends. He is well regarded among the medical community and is considered one of the top kidney specialists. Dr. Faisal's Charity is PHSS-Medical and Complex Care in Community.
Dr. Lee is the Medical Director of the RAAM Clinic in London, Ontario. Dr. Lee also works at the CMHA Mental Health & Addictions Crisis Centre. Dr. Lee is hands-on, sensitive to clients' needs, and goes above and beyond to be available to them in a time of need. Nominated by one of his clients, they made it evident that Dr. Lee takes the time to understand and guide patients through tough times and into recovery. His other work includes the Veterans Affairs Operational Stress Injury Clinic treating military PTSD. Dr. Lee frequently gives educational presentations on addictions and supervises medical Residents in Addictions rotations for Western University: Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Chronic Pain fellows. Dr. Lee has taught about treatment options for the Fentanyl overdoes crisis in Canada, US, Europe (UK, France, Portugal, Italy) and has brought what he has learned in London, Ontario to many other parts of the world. Recently Dr. Lee has also been volunteering at the London Agriplex to assist with the COVID-19 vaccine program. Dr. Lee goes above and beyond his call of duty every day. Dr. Kenneth's Charity is CMHA London.
Charity: CMHA Middlesex
Dr. Laura Pellow is a Family Doctor and is a clinician who volunteers at SHORE (sexual health, options, resources, education), a community healthcare non-profit organization in the Waterloo Region. Those who visit the clinic are often young individuals living with financial barriers, precariously housed people, and newcomers. People who come to SHORE Centre have commonly experienced discrimination in the healthcare system, either due to their identity or the kinds of healthcare they seek. Dr. Pellow has always shown clients deep empathy and kindness, and she always practices with a client-centered approach. She ensures that clients have everything they need to be thoroughly cared for. Dr. Pellow has guided the organization and volunteered her time to help make sure they have the right equipment, the correct practices, and policies in place. She has helped make sure clients receive the best experience and that staff has the support they need. Dr. Laura Pellow also delivers presentations to SHORE's national partners to ensure other medical professionals have the tools and information to offer inclusive, client-centered care. Dr. Pellow also spent time responding to COVID-19 as part of the testing and vaccination response in the Waterloo community! Her team is unsure of how she has time to sleep but is grateful for Dr. Pellow's commitment and guidance. Dr. Laura's charity is Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education Centre.
Kristine Hoogheim is a nurse practitioner with London Health Sciences Centre, Children’s Hospital In-patient Paediatric Trauma, Brain Injury, and Rehabilitation Unit and witnesses the courage and resiliency of children suffering from a wide variety of illnesses or trauma. Kristine has always enjoyed helping people, especially children and particularly those who were less fortunate either financially, cognitively, or emotionally. As the only Nurse at Children’s Hospital with a Neuroscience Certification through the Canadian Nurses Association, medical staff seeks her expertise with patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries. Aside from direct patient care, Kristine works closely with the patient’s family members. Kristine’s calm approach and years of experience permit her to educate and support parents through their child’s recovery journey. As Kristine remarked, “following these families through their journey is so rewarding, and I would not change anything.” Aside from her duties as a Nurse Practitioner, Kristine is very involved with other children’s hospital responsibilities. She is a member of the Unit Improvement Committee, focused on improving services to patients, and the Paediatric Trauma Performance Improvement Committee. Kristine chairs the annual Paediatric Talk Trauma Conference in London, which supports tertiary hospital personnel with increasing their knowledge and skillset concerning Paediatric treatment and rehabilitation. She also ensures staff are appropriately supported in their duties and recognizes the mental/emotional strain inherent in their roles. She is the Wellness Advocate for the Paediatric Inpatient Unit and takes great pride in her role. She has authored many handouts for trauma patients, including Paediatric Concussions, Spleen Injuries, and the First 30 days After an Injury, which provide guidance and support throughout recovery. Kristine has always been an outspoken advocate for her patients and families. She is relentless in ensuring that her patients get the appropriate and best care. Kristine's Charity is "
Charity: Upper Room Emergency Youth Shelter
Lucy Di Pietro is the Technical Coordinator in the Microbiology Department at the Windsor Regional Hospital. During the COVID-19 pandemic there have been many changes on how and who gets tested for COVID-19 and it has had a ripple effect on the Windsor Hospital. At the start of the pandemic, Windsor did not have a licensed lab for testing and all the samples had to be sent out of town, overwhelming the public system and often resulted in delayed results within the community. Lucy Di Pietro, through her leadership and her amazing ability to handle a very dynamic situation, helped procure the technology necessary to do their own COVID-19 testing, not only for Windsor General but also the partner hospitals, Erie Shores and Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. Early results ensured they were able to cohort their patients which was necessary to ensure the safety of the hospital and the community. Lucy worked 7 days a week / 24 hours a day and spent more time at the hospital than with her own family for many months. With 30 years of experience and dedication, she ensured Windsor General was able to provide safe and timely care for not only the patients at Windsor General but the entire Windsor community.
Charity: WRH Foundation
Michelle Furtado Nordstorm has been an innovative, enthusiastic, and committed Rehab Therapist for over 20 years. Through her communication and interaction with professionals, families, and caregivers, she creates the opportunity for clients to thrive. Michelle attends Rehab industry events to bring awareness and support about therapy. Michelle is known to lead from her heart and with pure intention to see the greatest in the people she helps. She works extremely hard to ensure the best possible outcomes for her clients and is well known in the industry as the best rehab therapist around. Michelle naturally becomes one of the favourite parts of her client’s healing journey. Michelle's Charity is Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
Charity: Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
Samantha is a Clinical Research Manager in Nephrology at University Hospital and has worked at LHSC for over nine years. Samantha manages a team of research coordinators running clinical trials for eight physicians. Under Samantha’s leadership, her unit is the highest recruiting site for several clinical trials that have sped up the delivery of life-changing therapeutics to market. She has recently been working on COVID vaccination studies for dialysis and transplant patients. Working on clinical trials often requires an enhanced level of support. Samantha’s highly professional demeanor and ability to extend the gift of calm understanding are necessary to reassure patients and their families during stressful visits to the hospital. Every person Samantha interacts with experiences her genuine kindness and positive energy. She strives to help others and always goes above and beyond. Samantha is an active community member, demonstrated through her dedication to community service over the years. She has volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Women Together, and the Arthritis Society of Canada. Her work with the Ronald McDonald House is worthy of highlight due to her extensive involvement since 2012 in the Red Shoe Society, a group that raises funds for Ronald McDonald House. She has chaired the Scarlet Ball serving as Secretary, Vice President, President, and Past President while helping the group raise $648,000 locally since inception. Samantha's charity is Ronald McDonald house of Southwestern Ontario.
Scholastica Asahchop is a Clinical Social Worker / Therapist with over 18 years of experience in the social work field. She is the owner and founder of SA Counselling Services. Scholastica is very passionate about mental health in the BIPOC Community. She is aware of the impact of racial trauma, unconscious bias, and microaggression on children and families, especially those who have experienced prolonged abuse, oppression and racism, inequality, childhood trauma, and intergenerational trauma. Scholastic offers pro bono support when the need arises for individuals who cannot afford her services. She is committed to respecting, supporting, and promoting equity, diversity, inclusion. She utilizes an intersectional lens in understanding identity and the structural and systemic elements that impact people's lives. One of her core values is understanding, equipping, and empowering clients on their journeys to cope with and overcome structural forms of racism, discrimination, injustice, and inequity. Scholastica is an active community member as a builder, leader, activist, and advocate. She mentors new immigrants, was an active member of the Black History Month Committee in London, and is a member of the Congress of Black Women, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Action Committee (EDI) and a One Voice One Vision (OVOV) at Children's Aid Society of London and Middlesex and more. As one of her clients has said, "there should be a Scholastica in everyone's life." Scholastica's Charity is Welfare Department /Children's Ministry- Grace Assembly-RCCG, London, ON.
Shelley is a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse at Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre. Shelley goes above and beyond the call of duty to provide exceptional care to the families in the NICU. They are not just patients to her but rather her extended family. Shelley also gives her time to volunteer with the Children's Health Foundation. She's volunteered at CHF for three years, and she has exuded passion and commitment to the cause. Those who know her say she is enthusiastic, empathetic, kind, and committed. Recently, Shelley organized a fundraiser and raised a remarkable $1,200 with the support of her fellow NICU nurses, family, and friends, with the proceeds going towards the Memory Box Program, which provides a box to all families of children who have passed away at Children's Hospital. Shelley is without a doubt a champion of the Children's Health Foundation, a champion to all those families she has touched in the NICU, and a true champion in her community.
