Department Spotlight: Dr. Daniel Grushka
What do you most enjoy about your role in the Department?
I really enjoy being a clinical teacher and watching my residents develop into phenomenal young family physicians. The ability to be able to help my residents and students achieve their goals is a privilege that I hold very dear, as I am training them to look after and care for anybody’s loved ones, including my own.
I have always cherished and felt privileged when my students come back to tell me about their successes and thank me for my support and guidance whether it be for succeeding in a difficult patient encounter, performing new procedures, matching to an Enhanced Skills program, passing their exams, getting their first job or a achieving/obtaining a personal milestone. The fact that they think of me during these successful times and not only when the chips are down only strengthens my resolve in being as a good a medical educator as I can be.
What’s been your most memorable experience while working in the Department?
My most memorable experience was the work that led me to my current position as Postgraduate Director. I became the Enhanced Skills Program Director one year after finishing my Enhanced Skills training in Emergency Medicine. Needless to say, I did not feel prepared for the job that awaited me! However, I am still very proud of building and developing the Enhanced Skills program into what it is today. I was also able to lead the National Enhanced Skills Program Director group at the CFPC for 7 years and helped the CFPC in developing the new standards for accreditation for Enhanced Skills programs. At Western, we were able to create numerous Category 2 programs that answered many societal needs in Southwestern Ontario including but not limited to the Chronic Disease Management program, the Family Medicine-Obstetrics program, the Hospitalist program, the Primary Care Oncology program and the Primary Care Rheumatology program all while developing and maintaining strong Category 1 programs in Palliative Care, Sport & Exercise Medicine, Care of the Elderly and Emergency Medicine. I am proud that many of our graduates have remained to practice in Southwestern Ontario.
What’s your greatest accomplishment?
I am very lucky to have won numerous awards while at Western, but the PARO Award for Clinical Teacher of the Year in 2019 still holds a special place in my heart as it comes directly from the residents.
What do you like to do outside of work, how do you enjoy spending your time?
For those who are close to me they know I love sports. My passions include the Montreal Canadiens (and trying to see games when I can in Montreal) as well as following the Cleveland Browns. Some may say I'm a sucker for punishment as my teams have not done well over the last couple of years, but I practice what I preach to my residents and am developing resilience, to levels I never thought I would reach! I enjoy working out and try to stay as active as possible. This has brought me a good deal of satisfaction not just personally but also professionally as I've had patients notice this and have tried to incorporate this type of wellness teaching to my residents. I spend as much of my free time as I can with my wife and four children doing all sorts of things from playing board games to watching movies and traveling.
