St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital

Our Emergency Department is currently experiencing longer wait times due to higher volumes of patients presenting for care. These challenges are expected to continue through the weekend.
If your condition is not an emergency, please consider alternate care options where appropriate: https://www.stegh.on.ca/.../alternate-options-for-care/
Thank you for your patience and understanding as our teams continue to care for those who need urgent medical attention.

Stroke can happen to anyone, at any time. Knowing the signs could save a life.

This Stroke Month, take a moment to learn FAST:

🟥 Face – Is it drooping?
🟥 Arms – Can both be raised?
🟥 Speech – Is it slurred or hard to understand?
🟥 Time – Call 9-1-1 right away

Acting FAST can make all the difference. Treatment begins the moment you call.

Learn more and protect yourself and those around you:
https://www.heartandstroke.ca/stroke

Heart & Stroke

Welcoming the next generation of physicians to our community!

This week, we’re proud to host 12 first-year medical students from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Western University as part of the 28th annual Discovery Week.

From June 1-4, these future doctors will gain hands-on experience at STEGH while getting to know the St. Thomas and Elgin community. Through this placement, students will explore rural and regional health care, teamwork, and the unique needs of patients close to home.

“Programs like Discovery Week play an important role in shaping the future of health care in communities like ours,” says Dr. Erica Van Daalen, Chief of Staff at STEGH.

We’re grateful to be part of a program that helps inspire physicians to build meaningful careers in communities like ours.

Mark your calendars!

June is full of great community events in support of STEGH Foundation! 💙

From golf and fish fry fun, to classic cars, to the Rosy Rhubarb Festival, there are lots of ways to get out, connect, and support care close to home.

We hope to see you there!

https://www.steghfoundation.ca/news-and-events

St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital

We’re proud to celebrate an outstanding member of our team! John Stalker, RPN at STEGH, has been recognized with the Nurse of Distinction - Excellence in Direct Nursing Care Award by the Middlesex–Elgin Chapter of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario.

Nominated by Dr. Thomas, John is known for his compassionate approach, strong presence, and ability to build meaningful connections with both patients and colleagues. He exemplifies empathy, integrity, and dedication in everything he does.

This prestigious recognition speaks not only to John’s individual excellence, but also to the incredible care provided by our clinical teams at STEGH.

Congratulations, John on this well-deserved honour!

To close out Speech & Hearing Month, meet Keren, a Communicative Disorders Assistant who has been supporting patients and families at STEGH for the past two years.

Fun fact: Keren’s name, Sarpomaa, translates to “warrior woman” or “brave woman” - a meaning she proudly carries with her in everything she does.

Thank you, Keren, for your compassion and commitment.

Meet Marlene, a valued Speech-Language Pathologist who has been part of the STEGH team for nearly 20 years.

Through her compassionate, patient-centred approach, she supports patients and families every day within Allied Health Disciplines.

Outside of work, Marlene enjoys time at her family’s cottage up north - a special place built by her grandfather and great-uncles over 60 years ago, now shared with her own children. Thank you, Marlene, for your dedication and care!

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day, STEGH warmly invites Indigenous vendors to join us in our celebration. We are proud to create space for Indigenous entrepreneurs, artists, and makers to share their work with our community. If you would like to participate, please scan the code below or click the link to register. Participation is free of charge. REGISTER: https://tinyurl.com/3fbcdysn

Meet Jessa, one of our dedicated Speech-Language Pathologists at STEGH. With 14 years of experience, she has spent the past three years supporting patients across rehab, stroke, and inpatient care - helping people regain their communication and swallowing abilities.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Jessa takes part in international research studies as a “super-recognizer” - a rare ability to recognize faces with exceptional accuracy, found in only about 1% of the population!

Thank you, Jessa, for the expertise and compassion you bring to every patient interaction. Stay tuned for more profiles this week!