VJH Physician Receives Award for Leadership
A collaborative leadership approach and a commitment to quality patient care are just some of the reasons that Dr. Tom Cull, head of the Department of Anaesthesia at Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH), recently received a prestigious annual award.
The Cliff Oughtred Leadership Award was created in 2017 to honour and remember an outstanding member of the community. Oughtred, a VJH Foundation volunteer and Chair of the Foundation Charity Golf Classic, was a visionary with a passion to grow and support healthcare in our region. The memorial award celebrates the contributions of an outstanding leader to healthcare in the North Okanagan.
“Dr. Cull has been a key leader in our response to COVID-19,” stated Richard Harding, Executive Director, Clinical Operations at VJH. “He dedicated many hours to supporting the COVID-19 response in the operating rooms, devising new pathways to ensure staff and patient safety. In addition, he led his team in other critical areas by supporting case simulations and developing a 24/7 on-call anaesthesiologist to support the site, gaining him further respect and trust of his colleagues,” continued Harding.
“I am surprised and humbled by the award. It’s fantastic to be recognized but I couldn’t do this all by myself. I have a lot of support on my team and within the hospital and everyone shares in this award,” said Cull when receiving his award during a surprise presentation at the hospital last month.
Presented by Paul Docksteader, of the Paul Docksteader Foundation, Dr. Cull’s name has been engraved on a plaque and mounted on the award, which is displayed on the walls of the hospital. “One of the really special things about leadership awards is when you are recognized by your peers. On behalf of the Foundation, the community, and all of the hospital staff, I am honoured to present this award to Dr. Tom Cull this year,” stated Docksteader. In addition to presenting the award, The Paul Docksteader Foundation is donating $1000 to the VJH Foundation in the name of Dr. Cull to an area of healthcare of his choice.