New Physicians Join the Cornwall Hospital Surgical Team

August 29, 2022 – Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH) is excited to announce the recruitment of three new physicians who have joined the hospital's surgical team this month.

The new physicians are: Dr. John Godbout, Anesthesiologist; Dr. Ahmed Asholi, Ophthalmologist; and, Dr. Sarah Schmid, General Surgeon.

"As communities across Ontario continue to struggle with physician shortages, we are excited to welcome Dr. Godbout, Dr. Asholi and Dr. Schmid to our Operating Room, where they will work with our committed team towards restoring and enhancing access to surgical care," says Jeanette Despatie, CCH President and Chief Executive Officer.

As an anesthesiologist, Dr. John Godbout specializes in developing anesthetic plans and the administration of anesthetics so that patients don't feel pain when they are undergoing surgery.

Dr. Sarah Schmid performs a broad range of general surgery including endoscopy, minimally invasive surgery and management of colorectal/anorectal concerns. She had been providing temporary coverage at CCH since last year before joining the team full-time.

Dr. Ahmed Asholi is an ophthalmologist specializing in cataract surgery alongside Dr. Tarek Youssef, but also treats diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, and different retina diseases.

Together they bring more than 25 years of experience and formal education and training. Each physician has relocated closer to the area or is in the process of relocating to practise at CCH, having been partly drawn to the hospital's modern facility and the benefits of practising in a smaller community.

"I look forward to joining the community and working together with the excellent CCH team to provide the best care possible," says Dr. Schmid.

Dr. Godbout adds that he "puts a lot of effort into ensuring that my patients are safe, comfortable and well cared for. I hope to bring as much positivity as possible to the hospital and community."

According to Dr. Asholi, he is "looking forward to treating my new patients at CCH and working alongside the staff and physicians," adding he "also believes the move to the area will be positive for me and my family."

CCH hopes to welcome more physicians in the near future as the hospital continues its recruitment efforts to meet the needs of the community and help lead innovative healthcare delivery in Eastern Ontario.

CCH is home to six state-of-the-art surgical suites which were constructed during the hospital's capital redevelopment project in 2014. Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, CCH safely performed nearly 5,000 urgent and non-urgent surgical procedures in 2021-2022 and expects that number will be higher next year.