#IamMGH – Meet Dr. Jefferson Hayre

#IamMGH tells the stories of our people. Meet Dr. Jefferson Hayre, Emergency Department (ED) Physician at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH). 

"I grew up in Moncton, New Brunswick, and completed an undergraduate degree in Biology and Biochemistry at Mount Alison University. Once I graduated, I entered medical school at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick and went to McGill University shortly after for my residency in Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine Fellowship.  

When I was in medical school, I had a strong interest in Emergency Medicine. I always felt the Emergency Department is a special place, where you’re able to interact with a wide variety of patients. From surgical cases to orthopedics and paediatrics, there is a lot of variability in this department. 

When deciding where to work after my fellowship, one of my co-residents expressed how much she enjoyed working at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) as it has such a positive environment and great team collaboration. I met with the Chief of MGH’s Stavro Emergency Department (ED) and immediately fell in love with the atmosphere here. I began working at MGH in July 2020.  

I’m grateful I chose to pursue my career at MGH. Not only is it my family’s hospital, but I appreciate that it’s a neighbourhood hospital immersed within the community. The physicians and nursing staff I work closely with make my work even more enjoyable. As emergency physicians, we’re well supported here by our specialists, and I love engaging with new faces every day.  

The most rewarding moments of my job are the one-on-one moments I have with patients. These are beautiful and significant moments as I am able to connect deeply with patients and help them through something stressful and provide them with comfort and compassion. Connecting with patients in this way helps them feel better and alleviates some of their anxieties. When I form a connection with a patient, it strongly reminds me of why I chose this career path.  

I am grateful for all the rewarding moments in my position, but working in an overwhelmed healthcare system, we have seen a significant increase in demands in EDs over the last year. It’s not uncommon for us to see an unprecedented number of patients in the ED on a given day or week. We see a wide variety of patients coming in for things we aren’t always set up to deal with, whether that be social issues we just do not have the resources for or chronic issues that are better managed in other settings.  

At MGH, we always strive to ensure patient needs are heard and met. Our team strives to do the best we can and we are moving as quickly and safely as possible to ensure we see patients promptly and that they receive the best care possible. With cold and flu season here, we’re seeing higher than usual patient volumes in the ED. If you’re feeling unwell, stay home and prevent spreading infectious viruses to others. Ensure good hand hygiene and masking is maintained as it’s one critical way to reduce the spread of infection. 

I also encourage everyone to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines to further protect yourself this season.”