New pediatric specialist welcomed to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital

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Children in Saskatchewan will soon be able to get help from a new pediatric gastroenterologist in Saskatoon.

On Monday, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital (JPCH) announced the recruitment of pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Rabin Persad as part of a push for a comprehensive child and youth gastroenterology program with a provincial scope.

Persad will expand the child and youth gastroenterology program and help children suffering from digestive system and liver-related issues and pain.

Persad said he is looking forward to starting his practice in Saskatoon this October.

“Over the last several years working in Edmonton, we’ve actually seen a lot of children from Saskatchewan. The opportunity to be a part of something that’s going to be sustainable is really an exciting one. Providing care for the families and children of Saskatchewan has its own reward,” he said.

Persad said that his first goal was to get close with the JPCH staff.

“First and foremost (my goal) will be to get to know the team, to work with the team and see where we are and see how we actually progress,” he said.

When asked how Saskatoon can successfully recruit more specialists, Persad said it is not about a paycheck.

“Physicians are well compensated in Canada. So I don’t think throwing money at people is going to make any difference. I think it is the opportunity to make a difference that is going to matter.”

Minister of Health Everett Hindley said the SHA needed to increase staff numbers to accommodate the long list of children waiting to receive care. (Payton Zillich/650CKOM)

Wait list could be 200

Saskatchewan Minister of Health Everett Hindley said the SHA needed to increase staff numbers to accommodate the long list of children waiting to receive care.

“They are treating upwards of, I believe, 200 children right now, specific to this particular program and that there is a waiting list,” Hindley said at the press conference.

“We are going to continue to ensure that as a government we are providing the funding for those positions to make sure that we can staff as required.”

The Ruf family Nick, Danica and their two sons Jaxson and Benjamin. Both boys have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. (Payton Zillich/650CKOM)

Who needs this help?

The Ruf family from Good Spirit Lake is one of many in need of a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Two of Danica and Nick’s four children — 12-year-old Jaxson and six-year-old Benjamin — have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Benjamin is now in remission.

Ulcerative colitis causes bowels to become inflammed while ulcers grow in the digestive track.

Nick shared tearfully how hard it had been to see his children in pain.

“It’s a lot of, someone is sick, and you drop and go.”

The Rufs travel to Saskatoon every two weeks, a journey of almost four hours each way.

“This announcement means so much to us as a family who relies on the GI program for two of our children,” Danica said.

“We’ve been through the program when there’s been two doctors, we’ve been in the program when there has just been one locum.”

“Actually having a GI doctor local is amazing. It reduces wait times, provides access for scoping in the province that is significantly more than what there has been in the past. Overall, it just provides great care for the children of our province.”

Read more

• Province’s first portable pediatric MRI now operational in Saskatoon
• JPCH Foundation donates $2 million for new pediatric research fund