A collage with photos of the six people in the story who are celebrating 45 years of service to HHS.

Leslie Gauthier, Sandy Kasprzyk, Angie Kovacevic, Mary Pitura, Maria Skrypka and Karen Sojnacki are among more than a dozen staff members celebrating 45 years with HHS.

October 21, 2025

Forty-five years of dedication from HHS staff

In 1980, Terry Fox ran his Marathon of Hope, Pierre Trudeau replaced Joe Clark as Prime Minister, and “O Canada” became our official national anthem.

That’s the same year our 45-year long-service staff started their journeys at HHS. They have a wide variety of roles and work at several different sites but they all say what has kept them here so long is the dedication of the people they work with. We asked them to explain what they do in one sentence, share some highlights about what’s changed since in the last 45 years and what they’re most proud of in their careers with HHS.

All staff celebrating a major milestone anniversary will be recognized at the HHS Day of Celebration event on October 22, 2025.

Leslie Gauthier, Vice President, Clinical Support Services and Surgery

Headshot of Leslie Gauthier As the VP of Clinical Support Services and Surgery, I work with the Perioperative, Diagnostic Imaging and Pharmacy teams to ensure they have the resources to meet the needs of our patients, families and teams.

HHS has so many brilliant, innovative and caring individuals.

My favourite thing about working at HHS is definitely the people. HHS has so many brilliant, innovative and caring individuals….all focused to improve the health and well-being of our patients, community and our teams. I am most proud of the leaders I have worked with and supported. I have seen tremendous growth in so many leaders, who have taken on the challenges of leading in health care.

As I think about the last 45 years, I reflect on the changes in cardiac surgery. I started my career in 1980 working in the “old ICU” at the General. At that time, we performed one or two cardiac surgeries per day. Our cardiac surgical patients (we called them “open hearts”) were admitted two days pre-op for diagnostics and patient teaching and stayed 10 to 14 days after their operation. Today, surgical patients are admitted the same day as their surgery with an average length of stay of only four to five days. Even more exciting are the advances in transcatheter aortic valve implantation, or TAVI.

Over all this time, what has stayed the same is the commitment of our frontline teams and physicians to provide the best care possible. Unfortunately, some of our buildings have also stayed the same.

Sandy Kasprzyk, Administrative Assistant, Regional Rehabilitation Centre

I support the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, or WSIB, specialty team by organizing schedules, managing and booking referrals and follow ups for the specialty program, and making sure patients and staff have the information they need to keep things running smoothly.

My favourite things about working at HHS are the people and sense of teamwork. I really enjoy being part of a supportive, dedicated group that’s focused on helping people feel better every day.

One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is how much more we rely on digital systems and electronic communication. It has made things more efficient, but also means having to adapt quickly over the years to new tools and ways of working. My first job was at what was then Chedoke Hospital – and I used a typewriter. I also have seen many hospital logo changes over the years.

My favourite things about working at HHS are the people and sense of teamwork.

The commitment to patient care and collaboration has always been a constant. No matter how much changes around us, the focus on doing what’s best for patients and supporting each other has remained the same.

I’m most proud of the relationships I have built over the years. Some remain my very good friends from my first day of work. Whether it’s helping a patient feel more at ease before their appointment, or supporting a teammate on a busy day, it’s the small moments of connection that really stand out for me.

Angie Kovacevic, Registered Nurse, Vascular Access, Hamilton General Hospital

A woman sits in a restaurant. I put IVs and special lines into people so they can get their medicine.

I’m very proud of starting the peripherally inserted central catheter program.

My colleagues are my favourite thing about working at HHS. Since I started here 45 years ago, it feels like everything has changed!

I’m very proud of starting the peripherally inserted central catheter program, or PICC, at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre site and being among the first nurses to do ultrasound-guided PICC insertions at this site.

Mary Pitura, Senior Laboratory Technologist, Hematology, Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program

A woman in a lab coat sits by a piece of laboratory equipment. I review blood films and look for cellular abnormalities that represent disease states.

The technology is constantly evolving, which keeps the work very interesting.

I am lucky to work in a specialized lab with a great team in the HHS that includes technologists, lab assistants, lab administration staff, physicians and nurses.

The technology is constantly evolving, which keeps the work very interesting. The evaluation of blood film examination has changed from manual review to computer-assisted technology that presents images of cells to technologists and decreases turnaround times.

I have worked at HHS for 45 years, but there is more to the story. I was born at the Henderson (Juravinski). Years later, when in my clinical year at college, my placement was at the Henderson (Juravinski). I started work at the McMaster site and was there for many years. Fifteen years ago, Special Hematology was moved to the Juravinski, and the opportunity presented itself for me to move there. I have had the opportunity to teach students and new employees morphology. I have been very happy to work here and to be part of a great team.

Maria Skrypka, Registered Nurse, Neuroscience Clinic, Hamilton General Hospital

A woman in a blue shirt stands on her porch I work as an RN in the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) clinic. My role is to help the full-time nurses provide patient education, write letters for patients and complete forms as well as triaging patient referrals to the clinic.

It’s meaningful to me to be part of a patient’s journey.

Working at HHS has allowed me to remain an active member of a wonderful team of nurses and doctors and has allowed me to stay current regarding new MS treatments. Technology by far has been the biggest change since I started working here in 1980. The thing that has remained constant is the dedication our staff provide to the patients.

I am most proud of the relationships I have developed over the years through my interactions with patients and families. It’s meaningful to me to be part of a patient’s journey as they navigate the unknown course their disease may take by providing them with education, counselling and advocacy on their behalf.

Karen Sojnacki, Health Records Technician, Hamilton General Hospital

My job is to classify a patient’s journey in the hospital, including their diagnoses and related procedures according to accepted classifications and enter that information into computer software for submission to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

I am most proud of the fact that I truly loved doing my job every day.

The biggest change during my career has been the introduction of computers. Back in 1980 our process was very different. And what has stayed the same is the fact that we try to analyze and figure out the most accurate story of patients’ stays. That has never changed over the years. We do the best job we can.

The best part of job is my co-workers and team camaraderie. I am most proud of the fact that I truly loved doing my job every day.

Michelle Hudson, Registered Nurse, Endoscopy, Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre

My nursing career has been very rewarding over all the years at HHSC. I am grateful to have made many lifelong friends at HHS.

Congratulations to additional staff celebrating 45 years:

Marilyn Bello Crispo, Registered lab technologist
Barbara Goodwin, Registered practical nurse
Michael Leng, Information technology services
Catherine Midghall, Booking clerk
Cheryl Malcolmson, Diagnostic imaging manager
others who declined to be profiled