Ronnie Gavsie presented the award to Dr. Andrew Baker and Liz Butorac
Ronnie Gavsie, president and CEO of the Trillium Gift of Life Network, presented the award to Dr. Andrew Baker, chief of the Critical Care Department at St. Michael’s, and Liz Butorac, program director of the hospital’s Trauma and Neurosurgery program. (Photo by Yuri Markarov)

The Trillium Gift of Life Network has recognized St. Michael’s Hospital with a Hospital Achievement Award for its work with patients and families, and the network to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Ronnie Gavsie, the network’s president and CEO, presented the award to Dr. Andrew Baker, chief of the Critical Care Department at St. Michael’s, and Liz Butorac, program director of the hospital’s Trauma and Neurosurgery program.

“St. Michael’s has a major impact on organ donation rates because it’s a trauma and critical care hospital with a tradition of improving organ and tissue donation efforts,” said Gavsie. “And I’d like to congratulate them for their teams’ work talking to families and working with the Trillium Gift of Life Network to optimize transplantation.”

Gavsie mentioned that the hospital is no stranger to recognition for its role championing organ and tissue donation throughout the province.

In April 2016, Dr. Baker received TGLN’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the advancement of organ donation in Ontario and his research in donation science. In November 2016, Sonya Canzian, Chief Nursing Executive, was selected to receive the network’s Hospital Donation Champion Award–given to health-care professionals who are active in-hospital advocates for organ and tissue donation.

“These awards are reflective of the work we do at St. Michael’s,” said Butorac. “We connect with Trillium Gift of Life early, we talk to families and we offer them choices during the worst time of their lives – choices that can help to bring something positive out of a difficult situation.”

About St. Michael’s Hospital

St. Michael’s Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in more than 29 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the Hospital’s recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael’s Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.