Page 83 - 2017-2018 Department of Psychiatry Annual Report

Dr. Sanjana Sridharan: Deputy Clinical Director, Acute

Care

Dr. Sanjana Sridharan is our newest deputy clinical Over the last year Dr. Sridharan and her team have been
director, holding the position in acute care since July challenged to try to understand long-term acute care bed
2017. Prior to that she worked in rural Nova Scotia. This usage for patients waiting for placement and housing
was not however, her first leadership role. She had held in differing levels of care. This impacts bed availability
a similar managerial position in acute care in the UK from for acute admissions and causes stress on the whole
2007-2015 and was part of major reforms during that organization.
period. “I realized that my enthusiasm to change things
and to improve patient care and quality of services is best Despite challenges, Dr. Sridharan says this is the most
managed in a leadership role where some of my past satisfying role she has had in her career and is eager
experiences can be put to use,” recalls Dr. Sridharan. to continue to offer high quality services. “The team that
Her role as deputy clinical director of acute care is three- I joined is very communal and welcoming, with a great
fold and requires management in operations, strategy sense of humour,” she says. “This provides a pleasant
and personnel. Operationally she is responsible for the working environment, evidenced by compliments from
daily functioning of the acute care service. Strategically both community psychiatrists and families, reflecting the
she works with her colleagues to plan for the future, and milieu on the acute care units. The inpatient physicians
with personnel she is responsible for supporting the other are passionate about advocating for improving quality of
clinicians. services and their focus is patient centered.”

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