This is the ninth in a series of articles in partnership with BradfordToday highlighting 100 years of care and community as Southlake Regional Health Centre celebrates its centennial this year.
One thing has long been at the core of Southlake — people. It’s the people who ensure the communities have access to leading-edge care each and every day. This includes hundreds of dedicated physicians who have served and continue to serve countless patients, families and visitors.
Starting with just a handful of physicians when it opened its doors, Southlake counts more than 700 medical staff among its ranks a century later. With a diverse team recruited locally, across the country and around the world, Southlake has expanded the types of specialty care offered, enabled breakthroughs in clinical research, and fostered an ongoing sense of collaboration to create the best experiences for everyone.
For a deeper look at this growth along Southlake’s 100-year journey thus far, two of the hospital’s long-standing physicians took the time to share their insights. Dr. Jeremy Hall and Dr. Steven Beatty collectively have spent more than 85 years at Southlake, bringing a wealth of experience from their shared yet distinct journeys.
Having joined Southlake in 1974, family physician Dr. Jeremy Hall has been with Southlake for more than half the hospital’s lifespan, serving patients and spreading his expertise across family medicine, palliative care, rehabilitation and the operating room. Since 1987, plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Beatty has been a fixture in the Southlake community, launching the hospital’s hand clinic in 1992 and helping guide the organization's future as chief of staff from 2013-22.
Together, through their unique perspectives and the part they each played in the hospital’s history, these physicians help to paint a picture of a Southlake a century in the making — one defined by leading-edge care, compassion, transformation and, above all, commitment to the community.
What do you remember about joining Southlake?
Dr. Hall: I immediately felt like part of the Southlake family. Like many physicians at that time, I ran my own practice but had hospital privileges as well, so I was making house calls at nursing homes and visiting patients unable to get to a hospital while also working on-site to look after the emergency department, deliver babies and even perform surgeries. It was a simpler time, but what stood out was the tight-knit community of physicians who shared a strong sense of purpose and dedication to the local population — which we still see on display at Southlake today.
Dr. Beatty: Upon joining Southlake, I remember being struck by the energy and enthusiasm of the newly appointed medical staff. I was excited to be part of a team that was open to new approaches and committed to the continuous evolution of care. All of us had forward-looking ideas about what I wanted to accomplish for the hospital and the community, including my work with hand treatment and rehabilitation. Southlake nurtured those ambitions and threw their support behind me, getting the hand clinic off the ground. This spirit of transformation and evolution was responsible for leading edge changes across all aspects of patient care.
How has Southlake changed or evolved during your time there?
Dr. Hall: I’m still often blown away by the physical changes Southlake has undergone since I joined the team. What used to be a simple entryway I walked through every morning under the name York County Hospital is now a state-of-the-art facility that welcomes thousands of patients, physicians, nurses and others each day. Beyond our walls, Southlake has also continued its outreach into the community, evolving my traditional house calls using more innovative tools and digital technologies that enhance patient care and accessibility. We’ve come a long way, but this community-centric approach remains.
Dr. Beatty: The transformations we’ve witnessed over the past 35 years with Southlake have been nothing short of remarkable and really speak to the spirit of evolving care that I experienced during my first years with the hospital. From the opening of our regional cancer and cardiac programs to the continued expansion of our medical teams, we have seen a massive expansion in the types of specialty care we can offer, with more space dedicated to advanced treatments and equipped to support patients with more complex needs. We wanted to provide tertiary level care at a community hospital site.
What makes Southlake special and such an important part of the community?
Dr. Hall: Without the tools and treatment options Southlake has available today, our communities used to have to travel long distances into downtown Toronto to access the specialized care they needed. But by continuing to expand our capabilities wherever possible, we are delivering on our mission to bring a world-class level of care right to these patients’ doorstep. It’s a hospital that the people here can be proud of, and we often see this at work through the impact of the Southlake Foundation, with our community able to play their own role in keeping this level of care close to home.
Dr. Beatty: Southlake has deep roots in the community. Whether providing emergency room care, delivering babies, performing lifesaving surgeries or helping patients recover from injuries or illnesses, we take pride in being a good neighbour. The Southlake team goes the extra mile to treat the whole patient, not just the medical condition. And by partnering with local organizations to mobilize innovative community-based initiatives, Southlake is engaging the regions we serve to be part of the health-care team.
What role do you see Southlake playing in the future of healthcare and over its next century of leading-edge care?
Dr. Hall: Even as the hospital continues to secure the latest in innovative medical equipment and mobilize even more advanced care practices and techniques, I encourage Southlake to never lose its human touch. Technical skills and expertise are essential to care, but an equally important part of the equation is to deliver it with compassion and empathy for our patients, because they could easily be you or your family one day. This is that community spirit I first witnessed when I came to Southlake, and it’s what truly sets us apart. I hope it continues for generations to come.
Dr. Beatty: There will undoubtedly be challenges ahead for the coming years as Ontario’s population increases and ages, bringing greater demand for healthcare services. We must maintain a strong culture of collaboration between medical staff and hospital leadership and capitalize on opportunities to expand our footprint — all while preserving a world-class level of care. In this way, I see Southlake expanding its role as a centre of excellence in health care, not just for the local community but as a model for regional hospitals across the province.
For 100 years and counting, Southlake has built healthy communities through leading edge care with an unwavering pride for people, place and performance. To celebrate its centennial anniversary, Southlake is revisiting some of its hallmark stories and achievements over the years through the Southlake 100 series. Learn more about Southlake’s esteemed history and how they’re celebrating throughout the year at www.southlake.ca.
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