Special thanks from grateful teens
to Teenage Health Unit

With cards, cake and warm words of thanks, students from Marymount Academy expressed their appreciation to staff of the Goldman Herzl Family Practice Centre at the JGH for their clinicial services and for visiting high schools to discuss problems related to physical and mental health. During the visit last October, they thanked doctors and nurses from Herzl’s Vicki and Stan Zack and Family Teenage Health Unit (THU).

Students and teachers from Marymount Academy visit the JGH to thank the Teenage Health Unit (THU). Three of the students get ready to enjoy a slice of cake with (from left) Dr. Michael Malus; Dr. Perry Adler, Associate Director of the THU; Natasha Bossé, a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Herzl; and Gail Feilde, Coordinator of the THU.

Every year, students in Marymount’s International Baccalaureate Council choose four organizations to thank from among those that provide help or various services in the Montreal area. This year, the group wanted to formally recognize how much the THU had done on their behalf.

Not only do Herzl and the Teenage Health Unit deliver health services in the hospital’s clinic, members of the THU staff have been regularly visiting high school classes across Montreal since the mid-1980s to answer questions of concern to teenagers.

“My students ask me questions, but there are some I can’t answer, as much as I want to,” says Maya Doughan, a teacher who accompanied the group and spoke to staff from Herzl and the Teenage Health Unit. “Especially when it comes to questions about their health, we are all lucky to have you as a resource.”

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The students shared a few heartfelt words, hand-made cards and a cake as thanks for the impact that Teenage Health Unit has had on them and the rest of their classmates who were back at school.

“It’s us who should be thanking you for this wonderful recognition,” said Dr. Michael Malus, Director of Herzl and JGH Chief of Family Medicine. “This makes it more fun for us to keep working with you and your peers in all the schools we visit.”