This week, we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 and Canadian Women Physicians Day on March 11. In this four-part series, we’re excited to introduce you to four women physicians who are making a difference across Nova Scotia Health’s zones.
Volunteering can open your eyes to different worlds.
For Dr. Cheryl Pugh, MD, MBA, FRCSC, FACOG, CCPE, it was a volunteer position as a candy-striper that piqued her interest in medicine – something that led her to a career in obstetrics and gynecology and, later, medical leadership.
“Volunteering at the hospital as a young adult provided exposure to how impactful healthcare professionals could be,” says the Stephenville, N.L. native, who came to Nova Scotia in 2004.
Cheryl loves her clinical work, calling obstetrics and gynecology the “perfect blend” of medicine and surgery. As her career has evolved, most of her time these days is spent on the administrative side of the healthcare system as medical executive director in Western Zone, where she provides operational medical leadership and oversight for medical staff practice-related matters. She also is actively involved in Nova Scotia Health’s physician recruiting efforts.
Cheryl highlights the importance of teamwork in everything she does – whether in the clinic or boardroom.
“A team working together creates such a tangible impact for our patients,” she says. “That impact can be strengthened by having oversight into quality initiatives and the 30,000-foot view of medicine as a system,” she says.
She believes in the mandate of Nova Scotia Health and is proud to be part of the medical leadership team.
“We have introduced system-level changes, which have positively influenced many Nova Scotians. I feel fortunate to work with a team of this calibre and commitment,” she says.
Cheryl recognizes her ability to be at these tables – to have this impact – is possible because of strong women who came before her.
“In the past, women were excluded from medical training and required persistence and resilience to overcome these barriers. Women now make up a significant number of physicians and medical learners,” says the mother of two adult children with careers in medicine and law. “I believe celebrating women physicians reinforces that these pathways remain possible.”
Photo caption: Dr. Cheryl Pugh, left, with her daughter.
Visit https://physicians.nshealth.ca/news to read other profiles in this four-part series.
