A London doctor has been named the 2021 Regional Family Physician of the Year by the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP).
Dr. Laura Lyons, an academic physician and team lead at St. Joseph's Family Medical Centre, was nominated by her peers and selected as one of seven recipients from across the province to receive the award. According to the OCFP, the Regional Family Physician of the Year Award is bestowed upon a physician who is known to provide exemplary care and who is passionately involved in activities that contribute to excellence in the field of family medicine.
Lyons is regarded by her peers both regionally and nationally as an expert in the care of pregnant women who struggle with opioid and substance addiction. Lyons is the sole on-call doctor for these patients when they go into labour at the London Health Sciences Centre. She also provides care to these newborns beyond discharge.
"Dr. Laura Lyons is a well-rounded family physician whose clinical work impacts not only her own patient population but many marginalized women in our community," said Dr. Saadia Jan, of St. Joseph's Family Medical Centre. "As an effective leader and teacher, learners have benefited greatly from her expertise and hence her clinical work and expertise is constantly being perpetuated in London and beyond our region."
On top of her work at St. Joseph's, Lyons is an associate professor and full-time faculty member at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. She also provides service at Victoria hospital and University Hospital.
"A dedicated family physician for over 15 years, Dr. Laura Lyons has been providing comprehensive care to her patients 'from cradle to grave.' As past Medical Director of St. Joseph's Family Medical Centre and Director of Family Medicine Obstetrics at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), her broad scope of practice includes obstetrics, palliative care, addiction medicine and women's health," read a release from the OCFP.
Lyons was honored during a virtual awards ceremony on November 10. She is the award recipient for the Erie St. Clair and South West region of physicians.