2021 Dr. Kitt Turney Award for Resident Wellness
Maritime Resident Doctors is pleased to announce Dr. Emma Kehoe (PGY4, Anesthesia) is the winner of the 2021 Dr. Kitt Turney Award for Resident Wellness.
Formerly known as the Resident Well-Being Award, the award was renamed in 2020 to honour the memory of Dr. Kitt Turney, a former resident who passed away in Dec. 2019. Kitt was an Anesthesia resident from 2013-2018 at Dalhousie and a dedicated leader on the MarDocs team. She was an incredible individual who helped organize many wellness initiatives for residents during her time here, and she was the recipient of this award in 2017.
A peer-nominated award, the Dr. Kitt Turney Award for Resident Wellness recognizes a resident who makes an outstanding contribution to resident well-being. This includes: being a strong team player, showing respect for peers & patients, dedication, approachability, serving as a role model for balancing work & personal life and enhancing the residency experience through teaching & support of peers.
Dr. Kehoe has represented her program as its wellness representative for the past two years. Her nomination outlines a resident eager to help all in her program.
"This is a position she was nominated for through her tireless efforts to always make sure her co-residents are heard, appreciated, and feel they have a sense of belonging," her nomination says. "She has organized annual retreats for Anesthesia residents for the past four years and works to organize multiple other gatherings throughout the year. Since the pandemic began, she has taken time on various occasions to send individual cards and deliver gift bags in an effort to brighten morale during such a challenging year. When co-residents have problems, she is the first person to cover call, take over their committee work or sit down to help them sort through their problems."
Her nomination outlines her strength as a teacher, having won the department's teaching award and having a reputation where "it is impossible to find a medical student who has not had a wonderful experience working with her." It goes on to praise her ability working toward a positive work-life balance.
"She is a loving wife and mother of two young boys. When she is not at work, she can be found outdoors with her family, going for dog walks, runs or playing at the park. Despite the rigorous schedule balancing residency and studying for her upcoming royal college exam, she still finds time to attend exercises classes and is always up for a hike."
Her nomination also points out that Dr. Kehoe is from the same program as the award's namesake - Dr. Kitt Turney - and the two overlapped early in Dr. Kehoe's residency.
"To remember Kitt Turnery, is to remember a resident full of life, always ready to help anyone in need and someone who always tackled resident wellness with a smile," her nomination says. "Kitt was a mentor to Emma in her early residency years and Emma has embodied Kitt’s infectious spirit, especially when it comes to taking care of others. It is impossible to think of a more deserving resident than Emma Kehoe for the Kitt Turney Resident Wellness Award. Emma is the heart and soul of the Anesthesia department and demonstrates all of the qualities Kitt valued. Emma has brought so much joy and happiness to Anesthesia resident life, especially during the recent challenging times, that choosing her to receive Kitt’s legacy award comes easy."
Congratulations to Dr. Kehoe for this well-deserved award.
