A century of leading edge care

Southlake reflects on some of the people whose transformed a small community hospital into a regional leader 

As Southlake Health celebrated 100 years of leading edge care, its story, above all, is a story of pride for people whose compassion, dedication, and innovation have shaped a small community hospital into a leader of healthcare excellence. In partnership with the community publication, Newmarket Today, Southlake Health highlighted physician, staff, volunteer, and patient stories in the Southlake 100 Series, demonstrating how people have built Southlake Health’s legacy over this century. 

In the series, we had a chance to connect with Dr. Douglas “Doc” Murdoch, a local legend whose four-decade-long commitment to patient care and steadfast support reflects the spirit of service that built Southlake. “It was a tremendous privilege to be a doctor and to work in this environment,” he said. “I’ve got much more out of it than I could ever give back.” 

It also includes long-standing physicians like Dr. Jeremy Hall and Dr. Steven Beatty, who witnessed Southlake’s transformation from home visits and handwritten notes to a high-performing regional health centre equipped with cutting-edge technology, all while keeping patient connection at its core. 

Southlake’s pride for people is seen in the growth of the Paediatric Oncology Clinic – from 17 patients in a temporary space to more than 90 children supported today. Staff and medical staff in this clinic do more than provide treatment, they create moments of joy and resilience, like the unforgettable superhero visit that lifted the spirits of the young patient, Lawrence, and this family. 

It’s carried forward through generations. On April 18, 2024, exactly 100 years after the hospital first opened, new life arrived in the Birthing Unit, fittingly named the Centennial Babies, marking a hopeful beginning for Southlake Health’s next 100 years. 

This transformation has been guided by leaders like former CEOs Dan Carriere and Arden Krystal, who helped Southlake grow while staying true to its values, and it’s embodied by people like Connie Meyers, the hospital’s longest-serving employee, whose 51-year career as a nurse reminds us that Southlake’s strength is rooted in its people. “No matter how big we’ve gotten,” she said, “Southlake has never lost its heart.” 

Innovation continues to thrive thanks to pioneers like Dr. Yaariv Khaykin, whose electrophysiology program is changing lives. The Regional Cardiac program has saved countless people from all over Ontario, including Ian Phythian, Southlake’s first cardiac patient, who credits the Cardiac Team with giving him two more healthy decades and counting. 

Through it all, the human touch remains. Volunteer Veronica Evers-Doyle and her therapy dogs have brought comfort to patients for nearly 15 years, while staff and medical staff in the Cancer Centre worked to ensure that Lillian, a terminally ill mom, could see her daughter walk down the aisle. 

Finally, centennial celebrations were brought to the community in the summer of 2024 with Southlake inviting the public to be part of this historic moment, hosting two community events – an artisan market and a movie night.  

Southlake Health’s story is one of heart, innovation, and enduring human connection – and with this pride of people leading the way, the next century looks brighter than ever.  next century looks brighter than ever.