Building bridges for better health care

Abitibi-Témiscamingue is a vital partner of the RUIS McGill. Twice a year, RUIS McGill leaders, faculty and staff from Montreal visit the area to better understand local health care services and plan jointly with the ASSS Abitibi-Témiscamingue for continued improvement.

Jacques Boissonneault, President and Director General of Abitibi-Témiscamingue’s Agence de la santé et des services sociaux, is pleased with the interactions. “We were very happy with the earnest participation of physicians from the CSSS Vallée-de-l'Or,” he said following the most recent visit in May 24, 2013 by RUIS McGill President and Dean of McGill’s Faculty of Medicine, David Eidelman and other RUIS McGill members.

Among the CSSS Vallée-de-l'Or physicians was Dr. Myriam Bellazzi, a McGill University graduate and now a family doctor and educational director of the Family Medicine unit at Clinique médicale de l'Or et des Bois in Val d'Or. Bellazzi works with a teaching team of six local physicians and specialists. Marilyne Brault, a McGill student who is completing her residency in the region, also met with the visiting RUIS McGill team, including Dr. Samuel Benaroya, RUIS McGill Coordinator and Associate Dean of Inter-Hospital Affairs at McGill’s Faculty of Medicine; Dr. Mathias Kalina, Associate Director of Professional Services at the McGill University Health Centre; Johanne Desrochers, Co-President of Telehealth for  RUIS McGill; Jim Gates, Acting Director of the RUIS McGill Health Network Office; and Rita Ziadé, RUIS McGill Program Manager.

In 2014, Abitibi-Témiscamingue will play host to the second RUIS McGill Symposium, following the success of the 2012 event.  More details to follow!