NHH announces new on-site thoracic surgery clinic
26-11-2024 6:58 p.m.
Cobourg
The recruitment of two thoracic surgeons at Northumberland Hills Hospital makes possible a weekly thoracic surgery clinic. And though surgeries will be performed at Lakeridge Health in Oshawa, local patients can have pre-operative and follow-up treatment locally.
Northumberland Hills Hospital announces the recruitment of two thoracic surgeons – Dr. Daniel Sisson MD FRCS and Dr. Shannon Trainor MD FRSCS.
Based out of Lakeridge Health in Oshawa, these doctors will (with the help of two Nurse Navigators) support local patients and primary-care providers by running a weekly on-site thoracic surgery clinic at NHH. While surgical procedures will continue to be provided out of Lakeridge, patients of the NHH clinic can receive pre-operative, post-operative and follow-up treatment – a significant portion of their care – close to home.
Thoracic surgery is a subspecialty that treats diseases related to the chest, including the trachea, esophagus and stomach. Such conditions include (but are not limited to) lung cancer, esophageal cancer, hiatus hernia (esophageal reflux), metastatic disease to the lung and end-stage lung disease.
Dr. Sisson is an attending physician with the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Lakeridge, as well as an adjunct assistant professor at Queen's University in Kingston (the institution where he earned a Doctor of Medicine in addition to his Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences from McMaster University in Hamilton).
His postgraduate medical training includes a Clinical Fellowship in General Thoracic Surgery at Toronto's University Health Network, a Thoracic Surgery Residency with the University of Toronto, and a General Surgery Residency at Queen's.
“Through our collaborative efforts with the thoracic surgery clinic, Dr. Trainor and I look forward to helping patients receive timely specialized care without having to travel far,” he said in the press release.
“Often, with patients, the burden of travelling to a much-needed appointment can serve as a deterrent, which has the potential to delay and – in some instances – prevent care. We want to continue working together to address and bridge gaps in care for our patients.”
Dr. Trainor completed an Advanced Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Fellowship from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre. Additional qualifications include the completion of a Thoracic Surgery Fellowship with McMaster University, Thoracic Surgery Training from the University of Alberta, a General Surgery Fellowship with Toronto East General, and a General Surgery Residency at the University of Toronto.
She obtained her Doctor of Medicine with honours from the University of Toronto and earned an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Prince Edward Island in Biology and Psychology.
“By offering thoracic surgery clinics at NHH, we are fulfilling the hospital's commitment of bringing care closer to home,” she said in the press release.
“On average, I see approximately 20 patients per day at our NHH clinic for pre-operative, post-operative and follow-up consultations. The opportunity to bring another medical specialty to the community helps us eliminate barriers to providing what is often critical and potentially life-saving care.”
In the announcement, NHH President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Walsh called the news “a welcomed opportunity to expand specialized services locally.
“I am pleased to welcome both Dr. Sisson and Dr. Trainor to NHH and thank them for bringing their expertise and talent not only to NHH but the community of west Northumberland County.”
“The recruitment of Dr. Sisson and Dr. Trainor is another step forward in our efforts to create more opportunities for accessible care to be delivered at NHH,” added Chief of Staff Dr. Mukesh Bhargava.
“By enhancing mental health, rheumatology, neurology, genetics and now thoracic surgery, I feel like we are advancing our shared purpose of People First by reducing barriers, like transportation, and increasing the number of services available here at NHH.”
Health care providers can submit a referral through EPIC or Ocean eReferral to the Diagnostic Assessment Program. Physician referrals can also be faxed to 1-877-291-5956.
