First she was a nutrition and health expert with her own company, now the Leader of VCH/PHC’s Clinical Smoking Cessation Program, can add successful song writer and video producer to her resume. Leah Hawirko spearheaded the “Doin’ it Right” music video, which recently won a Vancouver Coastal Health People First Award.
The video was developed to support the Smoke-Free Premises Policy and is included in staff training including new staff orientations.
“It’s very gratifying to be recognized with a People First award, both for myself and for everyone on the team,” said Leah. “This video was definitely a labour of love for all involved. While it was a lot of fun to make, it was also an incredible amount of work – we all did this on top of our regular jobs and committed evenings and weekends to it. We were so thrilled with the results and the reception it has received across the country.”
Leah and the others who created the video were nominated by VCH Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Patricia Daly, who said, “I’ve received tremendous feedback about the video from across BC, including from the Ministry of Health. People love it. It takes a message that could be viewed as punitive or paternalistic, i.e. “smoking is bad and you can’t smoke on hospital grounds”, and presents it in an engaging, fun and memorable way. This is a new and welcome approach to changing unhealthy behaviour.”
With almost 2700 hits on Youtube, this video is required viewing for anyone who wants see a compelling portrait of dealing with real life nicotine withdrawal and helping patients quit smoking in our health care facilities. Watch it. You may just laugh out loud.