Celebrating Resident Physicians at SMH
February 04, 2025
In honour of Resident Physician Appreciation Week, we are thrilled to share the experiences of two of our current resident physicians, Bartosz Zawada and Karanbir Sandhu. Both are working with us at Stevenson Memorial Hospital, – Bartosz from the Greater Toronto Area and Karanbir from British Columbia – and pursuing their medical education at McMaster University and the University of Toronto, respectively.
Together, they offer unique insights into the close-knit culture at Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) and how their roles are shaping their development as future physicians.
A Strong, Supportive Team Culture
When reflecting on their experiences at SMH, both resident physicians quickly highlighted the supportive and interconnected atmosphere that defines their workplace. “The team is really friendly & collegial with one another,” Karanbir remarked, a sentiment echoed by Bartosz, who added, “All the doctors and nurses have great relationships with one another… Everyone works well with one another, and no one ever looks down on us for being residents.”
This mutual respect fosters a smooth working environment, even during high-pressure moments. Bartosz elaborated, “It’s nice to work in an environment where there’s a balance between managing emergencies and providing critical patient care, to being able to tell a joke or have a laugh with the team. Everyone knows their role and gets the job done. Everyone cares for their patients, and everyone steps up.”
Learning and Growing in a Smaller, High-Pressure Environment
SMH provides a unique learning environment. Resident physicians gain lots of hands-on experience and are exposed to a wide variety of cases that they might not have the opportunity to in a larger facility. Bartosz reflected “I think you’re exposed to similar pathologies, but you don’t have the same backup of other specialists… but you get more hands-on experience, and there is more that you do yourself.” This environment fosters critical thinking and self-reliance, allowing the residents to develop skills that are crucial for their future careers as physicians.
Facing Unique Challenges with Dedication
Another challenge faced by the residents is navigating the complexities of accessing specialists, a task that’s typically more straightforward in larger hospitals. Karanbir explained, “In a larger center, you would normally just admit the patient. In a smaller facility like SMH, you have to tell your patient what’s going on and explain their case.
A Hospital with Heart
Despite these challenges, both Bartosz and Karanbir have developed a deep respect for Stevenson Memorial Hospital, which they described as a place with a strong sense of community. Bartosz noted the positive impact the hospital has had on those it serves. “Meeting people in the community that have come through here, everyone has such a positive sentiment towards this hospital,” he shared.
Karanbir continued, saying, “With the volume of patients that come through here, and the size and resources we have available, everyone does a really good job. Other hospitals with similar volumes have way more resources available to them, huge centers, more staff, and [the staff at SMH] do just as good of a job, if not better.”
As we celebrate Resident Physician Appreciation Week, we are proud of the hardworking, dedicated, and compassionate residents like Bartosz and Karanbir who make a difference at Stevenson Memorial Hospital every day. Their growth, leadership, and teamwork help define the culture and excellence of care at our hospital, and we are grateful for their contributions.
To all our resident physicians – thank you for your commitment to learning, growing, and serving our community with compassion and expertise.