This prestigious award, established through a generous $1 million gift by the Haddad family, celebrates physicians whose dedication and innovative research are transforming patient care at Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH). Each winner will receive $40,000 for their respective clinical research projects focused on improving care for patients.
Meet This Year’s Recipients
Dr. Alex Butskiy is a Head and Neck Surgical Oncologist and Reconstructive Surgeon at SMH. He specializes in the surgical treatment of cancers in the head and neck region. He is focused on building a regional surgical program for the care of head and neck oncology patients. His research includes investigations into 3D modeling of bone and soft tissue reconstruction for the head and neck, initiating a clinical trial to test a novel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device to improve monitoring of reconstructive surgery patients, and leading a clinical research team to enhance cancer treatment outcomes.
Dr. Ahmad Ashrafi is the Regional Division Head of Thoracic Surgery at Surrey Memorial Hospital and leads the thoracic surgery team in a number of clinical research studies aimed at improving surgical techniques, improving patient outcomes, and overall, a better understanding of various thoracic conditions. His current research work includes studies related to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy, minimally invasive esophagectomy, and a multicenter study capturing the national experience in Canada for the treatment of achalasia using peroral endoscopic myotomy.
About Sherrold Haddad
Sherrold Haddad was a man whose influence and generosity have left a lasting impact on our communities south of the Fraser. A titan in the automotive industry, he was much more than a successful businessman; he was known for having a heart that beat strongly for the community.
“Sherrold Haddad was a remarkable and inspirational leader, larger than life, full of charisma, and generous to a fault,” says Harp Dhillon, Board Chair of the Surrey Hospitals Foundation. “Not only was he one of Surrey’s most iconic businessmen best known for bringing the giant Expo 86 Canadian flag to his Guildford-area automotive dealership, he also dedicated much of his time to philanthropy and served as the Chair of the Foundation for five years. We are so grateful to the Haddad family for their ongoing support and generous gift.”
During his time as Chair of the Surrey Hospitals Foundation Board of Directors, Sherrold Haddad helped raise over $10 million for the Children’s Health Centre and played a crucial role in expanding the Emergency Department at SMH. His passion for giving and improving healthcare continues through this award, carrying on his legacy of care and compassion.
The Sherrold Haddad Excellence in Medicine Award represents a commitment to ongoing innovation and excellence in patient care. Over the next decade, this award will empower physicians at Surrey Memorial Hospital to pursue groundbreaking research that has the potential to change lives. The Foundation is proud to partner with the Haddad family and continue to push the boundaries of medical research and patient care to new heights.
