Bluewater Health has welcomed general surgeons Dr. Imad Aad and Dr. Sanjay Patel, a development the hospital says will help address recent staffing shortages that disrupted emergency surgical services in Sarnia and Petrolia.
With both physicians joining the team, Bluewater Health anticipates improved stability in its general surgery department. The hospital has faced ongoing challenges in recent months, including a temporary suspension of emergency general surgery from May 5 to May 9, which was the third such pause since late 2024.
These interruptions meant patients needing urgent abdominal or gastrointestinal procedures, such as appendectomies or gall bladder surgeries, were transferred by ambulance to other hospitals. Elective surgeries continued as scheduled during these closures.
The staffing gap followed the departure of three general surgeons within a four-month span at the end of last year. To bridge the shortage, Bluewater Health relied on locum surgeons, though some shifts went unfilled.
“London has been our biggest helper,” said Dr. Michel Haddad, Chief of Staff, in a May interview with The Journal. “Chatham has also helped us out.”
Dr. Aad, who previously worked in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, said the move to Sarnia brings him closer to family and offers a supportive work environment. “The hospital setting was appealing, and the variety in the surgical practice met my expectations,” he said.
Dr. Patel, a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with advanced training at Western University, most recently practised in Sudbury and served as a lecturer with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
“I’m proud to return to the region my family calls home,” said Dr. Patel. “I’m committed to providing high-quality surgical care with both expertise and compassion.”
According to Dr. Haddad, the new additions will enhance the hospital’s ability to keep care local and reduce reliance on patient transfers. “They bring diverse expertise, strong training, and a shared commitment to excellent patient care,” he said.
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