Donald Griesdale

Job Title
Critical Care Physician

Department/Location
Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine

How long have you worked at VCH?
10 years

Tell us what you do at VCH in one or two sentences:
Clinically, I work as a critical care physician at VCH.  I also Chair the Vancouver Medical Advisory Committee and am a Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy.

What’s your favourite thing about your work?
I feel extremely privileged that I get to work with tremendous people on a daily basis in all facets of my job; from clinical care and administration, to education and research.

How does your work contribute to the VCH True North goals?
I believe what separates VCH, it the the commitment that every member of the organization brings to a true “people first” focus on health care.  There is a palpable pride in providing the best possible patient care.  We see this on a daily basis in the intensive care unit where patients’ outcomes are truly and directly attributable to the multidisciplinary care they receive.

One thing we might be surprised to learn about you:
Probably not a surprise seeing as I’m always raiding the candy jar in the ICU, but I’m addicted to sour keys.

Three things you always have in your fridge:

1. Milk, milk and more milk.  We have three boys who seem to have a diet primarily based on Mini-Wheats.
2. Peanut butter
3. Cans of tuna fish: well, we don’t keep them in our fridge, but when the fridge it empty, canned tuna is the real go-to.

Who or what inspires you?
Seeing my colleagues working so hard and continually improving the system in which we practice.  It really drives you to keep moving forward.

Most healthy habit:
Road cycling.  I started biking about three years ago and have really enjoyed improving myself (slowly, very slowly) and meeting people along the way.

Favourite vacation spot:
Difficult to say, depends on the season.  In winter, we spend a couple of weeks skiing at Sun Peaks.  In summer, we camp in our pop-up tent in Banff.