For Immediate Release June 26, 2012   Dr. Speirs selected as Physician of the Year Interventional radiologist named by peers as top HDGH doctor   (Windsor, ON) - Dr. Jack Speirs, an interventional radiologist and Interim Chief and Medical Director of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital's Diagnostic Imaging Department, has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Percy Demers Physician Excellence Award.   The award is named in honour of the late Dr. Percy Demers, who was a well respected medical leader and gifted physician at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital. He served HDGH with distinction from 1960 to 2002 including eight years as Chief of Medicine. The award recognizes his commitment and dedication to all around excellence in medical care.   Over 100 nominations were received. A panel of five Hôtel-Dieu Grace physicians from various medical disciplines made up the selection committee.   "All the nominees are deserving of the award," said Dr. Gor Vail, HDGH Chief of Staff. "However, Jack was the clear choice to be the first recipient of the Dr. Percy Demers Physician Excellence Award. Jack is a great contributor to the medical team at HDGH - he's an amazing specialist whose great skills have benefited many patients in our community. In working with the medical staff and caring for patients, he is dedicated, selfless and a real inspiration."   Dr. Speirs has worked at HDGH since 1998 and practices a sub-specialty that is often referred to as miracle medicine. Using HDGH's advanced diagnostic imaging equipment, he is able to perform minimally invasive procedures to remove blockages to arteries and coiling of brain aneurisms.   He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia Medical School. He received his training in radiology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit Michigan, and is a Board Certified member of the American College of Radiology. Dr. Speirs is also a member of the Royal Canadian College of Physicians and Surgeons.   "Dr. Demers was on staff when I started at Hôtel-Dieu Grace and was a legend. To be named by my peers for an award in his honour is very humbling and a tremendous privilege," said Dr. Speirs.   Dr. Vail came up with the idea for a physician's award after attending a tribute event for his best friend at the Arizone Mayo Clinic in March 2011. Vail notes that while the hospital has traditionally recognized excellence in nursing and all HDGH employees for years of service, there was no hospital-based recognition specifically for an individual HDGH physician.   "This annual award will be an opportunity to highlight a top physician at HDGH," said Vail. "It may be a physician known to the community, or little known. It could recognize many years of service; a unique skill set; above-and-beyond approaches to patient care; or a combination of these and other factors."   Dr. Speirs will receive the Dr. Percy Demers Physician Excellence Award this evening.   - 30 -   For more information contact Steve Erwin, Director of Communications at (519) 973-4433.