CSPE honours Dr. Chris Carruthers
Excellence in Medical Leadership Award launched in honour of the CSPE's founding president
 Dr. Chris Carruthers became the first recipient of the CSPE's Excellence in Medical Leadership Award at the society's 8th annual meeting in May.
Dr. Carruthers was the driving force behind the creation of the CSPE approximately 8 years ago. He was the leader of a small group of Canadian physician managers who wished to develop an organization focused on the professional development needs of Canadian physicians in health care management positions or those who were contemplating careers as health system and organization managers and executives. Within 2 years, he brought the organization from concept to reality and has served as president of the society ever since. Under his leadership, the gap between the real management learning needs of physicians and the needs identified by groups providing educational offerings has narrowed, and the CSPE is being recognized as the professional association of choice for Canadian physician leaders and managers. He recently announced his intention to step down from the presidency in 2007.
Always a visionary, Dr. Carruthers proposed the concept of an annual award to recognize the efforts of outstanding physician leaders to the CSPE board last year.
"After we established the terms of reference, it became immediately obvious that Chris was the choice as the initial recipient. The "board also felt strongly that Dr. Carruthers' name be associated with the prize on a permanent basis," says Dr. Gaetan Tardif who chairs the CSPE's Award Committee. The next call for nominations will come this fall.
Biographical notes
Dr. Christopher Carruthers was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario. He
graduated from Carleton University with a BSc and went on to earn his
medical degree at the University of Ottawa. He also holds an Executive
MBA degree from Concordia University. Dr. Carruthers is a Certified
Health Care Executive and a past surveyor for the Canadian Council
on Health Facilities Accreditation.
Dr. Carruthers is a practising orthopedic surgeon with a special interest
in total joint replacement and is currently chief of staff at the Ottawa
Hospital and a member of the hospital’s executive.
He takes an active personal interest in the role of physicians in the
management of health care resources, mentoring many each year. At
the former Civic Hospital in Ottawa, he was chief of staff, vicepresident
of medical affairs and president of the medical staff. In
1998, he became the first chief of staff of the Ottawa Hospital.
Dr. Carruthers has also served on several non-profit boards of hospitals
and their foundations. He is past chair of the board of Ashbury College
and currently sits on the Ontario Hospital Association Board.
Dr. Carruthers and his wife, Donna, are dedicated to health care.
Inspired by their parents, who are long-time donors to hospitals in their
communities of Sarnia and North York, they created the Chris and
Donna Carruthers Legacy Endowment Fund of the Ottawa Hospital
Foundation. Every year, the Carruthers family increases this fund by
participating in and raising money during the Ottawa National Capital
Race Weekend.
"We wanted to give something back to the hospital and the
community," explains Dr. Carruthers. Their fund is a permanent pool of
capital that gains investment income each year. That income is then
directed to support the priorities designated by the donor. |
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