Page 13 - GBGH Foundation Newsletter - Summer 2022

DOC TALK:

DR. KATHERINE

TEDMAN-AUCOIN

We ask General Surgeon, Dr. Katherine Tedman-Aucoin
about the surgical program and recent expansion of
services at Georgian Bay General Hospital.

Please tell us 2-3 sentences about yourself patients requiring an ERCP have to be transferred
as a physician! to Barrie or Toronto which can result in admissions
My husband’s family is from this community, so this of several days while awaiting their procedure. We
was always our escape from the city and time with transfer almost 100 inpatients per year.
family, friends and nature. I completed electives
here as a medical student and a resident, so it’s a A C-arm is an essential part of this surgery, which we
have just acquired, and I am beyond excited about!
dream and a privilege to be here as staff. I started
practice in July 2020 as a General Surgeon, and I have But, we would also need an additional scope tower and
special side viewing scopes to make this procedure
subspecialty training in Minimally Invasive Surgery and
Advanced Endoscopy so I could complement, support possible close to home and without delay for our
patients.
and expand on the incredible talent GBGH has already.
What changes have you seen in the past few years in An additional scope tower for the OR would also mean
shorter delays in patients who require emergency
the OR?
Since coming here as a medical student, I have seen endoscopy and help facilitate ongoing laparoscopic
colon resections.
a wonderful expansion in the services for an ever
increasing population. From 3 General Surgeons
Our OR has been updated with some great new
to 5 with other surgical services including Urology,
equipment and technology. How does this affect your
Orthopedic Surgery, and Plastics starting soon, it’s so
work and the OR team at GBGH?
inspiring to see our hardworking leadership bring much
I am so grateful for the generosity of the donors and
needed services to the local community.
all the support I have had in expanding my practice.
It’s fantastic to be able to offer patients laparoscopic
In my own practice, I feel very well supported and have
been able to work with our wonderful team to bring in surgery and endoscopy with state of the art equipment
(new monitors, additional equipment, and new scopes).
equipment needed to expand my surgical practice to
include laparoscopic hernia repairs and laparoscopic
Updated equipment means expanding on the
colectomies. We have also had the incredible
procedures we can offer for our community,
opportunity to update our endoscopy instruments to
and supporting General Surgery as well as the
offer advanced polypectomies.
Subspecialists. Patients and staff benefit from new
technology, and I am very grateful to the Foundation &
community supporters for their continued investment
What does the OR need to continue growing /
expanding the surgical services offered at GBGH? and support!
Part of my training includes ERCP (endoscopic
retrograde cholangiopancreatography). Currently
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