General Session Bios
Opening Keynote – Duty of Care?
Question arise, only occasionally but definitely, regarding whether we
healthcare workers have a "duty of care", and if we have such an obligation,
what does this mean? What is our duty, and does it include putting
ourselves at risk and/or doing things we don't want to do? What is the big
picture, where are we placed in it, and who decides this placement? For
example, regarding duty-of-care and the immunization against influenza of
healthcare workers, who's on first, the worker or the patient, the river or
the boat, me or you?
Pete Sarsfield
Pete Sarsfield, MD, is working as a consultant to MDH to facilitate guideline development for
community-based Influenza Assessment, Treatment and Referral Centers (Flu Centers). Dr. Sarsfield
was involved in the development of the Flu Center strategy in his role as medical officer for the
Kenora Public Health Ministry. The Flu Center strategy is a critical component of the Ontario
Pandemic Influenza Plan.
Dr. Sarsfield recently retired as the CEO and medical officer of health with the Northwestern
Health Unit in Kenora, a remote rural area of Ontario after 14 years in this role. A native of Nova
Scotia, Dr. Sarsfield received his pre-med education at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B.
and then his M.D. at Dalhousie University in Halifax. After graduating in 1973, he went to Labrador
for 12 years as a travelling general practitioner, also spending some time in the Northwest Territories.
In the 1980s, Dr. Sarsfield underwent specialization training in public health at the University of
Manitoba, and then became director of environmental health for the province of Manitoba for five
years. He moved to Kenora in 1994 after successfully applying to be the medical officer of health
and CEO of the Northwestern Health Unit
Closing Keynote - Finding Comfort in Good Enough
What lies at the core of people who put themselves into harm’s way, run
into burning buildings or care for someone suffering from an unknown
illness? The answer: service. There is no greater gift in
our world than the person who is willing to risk his or her life to serve
someone else. But what is the reward for these acts of service? In this
session, we will focus on the meaning of service to others, what people need
and expect in times of crisis or peril and how heroes can find satisfaction
in a job well done.
Petra Marquart
Petra
Marquart is the principle in the speaking and presentation firm, Petra
Marquart and Associates. In addition, she works as a coordinator in the
Customized Training department at Hennepin Technical College in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. Prior to working at Hennepin Technical College, she was Vice
President of Operations for Krohn Management Corporation. She has a Bachelor
of Arts Degree in Communication.
She is the author of the customer service book, The Power of
Service: Keeping Customers for Life and is a certified trainer for the
college's widely acclaimed customer service program, Treating Your
Customers Like Gold. The program was the basis for the customer service
training programs she wrote for US Bancor, Mall of America, Target Center,
Isle of Capri Casinos and Fairview/University Health System. She is also a
certified trainer for such programs as Achieve Global's Frontline
Leadership, Leadership 2000 and Working for Self-Directed Teams.
She has served as a member of Honeywell's Adult Continuing
Education Board and as an educational partner with the American Institute of
Banking, Canadian Pacific Rail System, Hennepin County Government Center,
Northern States Power and Minnesota Multi-housing Association.
Petra has influenced the service of thousands of people through her
powerful and entertaining presentations. She is an inspirational speaker who
has ignited the spirit of service in many professionals. As one manager
stated, "Customer service is our future and Petra is our Oz."