ONTARIO’S TOP DOC FOR KIDS
Patients travel hours to see Dr. Awuku
Though Windsor pediatrician Dr. Mark Awuku has been practising for over 40 years, there are still days when his patients surprise him.
This week provided just such a day when a family, now calling Kitchener home, drove three hours for an appointment.
“I told them there were plenty of fine pediatricians in Kitchener, but they wanted to remain my patient,” Awuku said. “I had to go home and tell my wife because I couldn’t believe it. Driving all that way for an appointment.”
Generating such loyalty and trust in his patients is one of the many reasons why Awuku became the first local physician to be named Ontario Pediatrician of the Year this month. Awuku received the honour from the Pediatricians Alliance of Ontario (PAO).
“I’m amazed,” Awuku said. “This means a lot to me.”
PAO President Dr. Hirotaka Yamashiro said Awuku’s wide ranging interests, work in the community, province and country made him a worthy choice.
“Dr. Awuku is a multi-talented physician, mentor and community leader,” Yamashiro said. “He embodies the grace, patience and scholarly accomplishments that is found in many of our 1,400 pediatricians in Ontario.
“Amongst several worthy nominees, he was chosen by the PAO Board as recognition for his service to the children of Windsor and southwestern Ontario.”
The native of Ghana began his career in Canada in 1980 doing his residency at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. He came to Windsor from Sydney, N.S in 1990.
Awuku currently is a community pediatrician and a professor of pediatrics in Windsor’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.
He’s also a published author and the former chair of pediatrics at Windsor Regional Hospital where he remains on staff.
“Mark has always demonstrated his passion to provide care for children as he sees them as a great potential into the future and he wants to ensure that potential is nurtured,” said Dr. Gary Ing, Windsor Regional Hospital’s Chief of Staff.
Awuku should be used to all the accolades having received many awards throughout his stellar medical career, but he seems almost embarrassed by the fuss.
“I’m not doing anything special, it’s just me being me,” Awuku said.
Aside from his warm personality, Awuku said his personal philosophy is a simple one of respect for each patient. It’s created the type of patient-doctor relationship that causes people to drive hundreds of kilometres for an appointment.
“My philosophy is I ask myself, every time a patient leaves, ‘Have I done the best for that patient today?” Awuku said. “That’s what I teach my students. A patient must be respected.”
Awuku has also had a passion for medical education earning many teaching awards. That passion culminated in his writing the book A Practical Guide for Medical Educators: The Art of Teaching Medical Students and Residents.
“That passion for educating started when I was resident,” said Awuku, who was also named Business Professional of the Year by the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2011.
“I get a satisfaction in seeing students absorb what I’ve taught and go on to excel. You get to make a difference to other people’s lives in a positive way.”