We Are IH: OBGYN never tires of the miracle of delivering babies

Dr. Gill first became interested in obstetrics and gynecology (O&G) as a specialty during his fourth-year rotation at Dalhousie University. “It was the first rotation that I got to a deliver a baby and suture someone up, and it felt like I was actually doing something exciting and useful,” he recalls.

After his wife had their first child, he joined the university’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and would stay on as an associate professor and an O&G residency program director for 12 years.

In 2003, his family moved to Williams Lake to be closer to his wife’s family in Bella Coola and to practice rural medicine at Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH). “O&G is unique in that it involves both surgery and medicine, and covers a broad spectrum of female health issues: pregnancy, infertility, contraception, menstruation, sexually-transmitted infections and diseases, and gynecological cancers,” he says.

“But it’s the daily variety and opportunity to help patients medically and surgically that keeps it interesting.”

When asked about his proudest moment at Interior Health, Dr. Gill points to his role with CMH’s obstetrical unit’s moreOB program – Managing Obstetrical Emergencies Effectively – a national program for obstetrics units.

As he explains, “I have been involved in co-chairing the committee since it began nine years ago. I have seen it transform our group of obstetricians, family doctors, nurses and midwives into a functional unit with superb obstetrical outcomes. It has made us a cohesive team where it is fun to work and where we are up to date with the latest advances in obstetrical care.”

Outside of work, Dr. Gill enjoys a wide variety of activities, including camping, canoeing, painting, playing the saxophone and reading. He’s also an active member of his community church. Says Dr. Gill, “One hobby that I find challenging and rewarding is renovating my 1975 VW Beetle that my kids and wife got me as a surprise for my upcoming retirement project. It doesn’t run – yet. I have the engine out, and am working on getting it running. I love the smell of engine oil and gas, and love getting my hands greasy…don’t laugh!”

As Dr. Gill looks forward to his approaching retirement, he expressed gratitude for his Interior Health colleagues:

• All my O&G colleagues for their support
• The local general surgeons who frequently help us out in the operating room (OR)
• Our general physician anesthetists who put epidurals in at all crazy hours and keep our patients alive during surgery
• The OR and obstetrics nurses, and nurses in the rest of the hospital
• The family doctors who seem to do everything
• Our midwives
• The emergency department doctors
• Our specialists in internal medicine, radiology, psychiatry and pediatrics, and visiting specialists
• All the administrative personnel for their thankless hours and work
• The lab and radiology personnel
• The pharmacy team
• The engineering and electrical departments that keep things working
• Food services

And last – but not least – the housekeeping services that clean the hospital and my office daily. “This is the team that make coming to work fun!”

“Dr. Adam is our newest O&G staff member, and has been at CMH for about eight years now. She has worked tirelessly to juggle being a full-time O&G specialist supporting this hospital and community, with being a mother to two children and a wife. She, in fact, has two full-time jobs and I feel should be recognized for all her contributions.”

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