Mississauga-based dermatologist awarded Sault Ste. Marie's Medal of Merit for 2022

Since the 80's one Mississauga-based dermatologist has been visiting the Sault to care for locals and share his wealth of knowledge with area medical professionals; his name is Doctor Gary Sibbald.

Dr. Gary Sibbald in Sault Ste. Marie on Jan. 29/23. (Cory Nordstrom/CTV News Northern Ontario)Sibbald is the city of Sault Ste. Marie's Medal of Merit recipient for 2022.

“There’s a satisfaction in helping others and the community support, and the other thing it did to me… by coming here working very hard for usually 5 days I can be somewhere else once a month in the world doing something else and giving back.” Said Sibbald.

Though receiving the award was a shock to Sibbald, those that have worked with him told CTV News it is well deserved.

Amy Esposito is a local nurse practitioner and did her placement with Dr. Sibbald's practice.

“He’s been an amazing resource for many primary care practitioners,” said Esposito.

“He’s made a real difference in a lot of people’s lives with regard to dermatology and wound care. So I found it really interesting and fascinating and I learned so much when I was with him.”

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This weekend, Sibbald led a series of workshops training healthcare professionals on best practices in wound care, a field he is a world-renowned expert in.

“We’re teaching the 60-second screen for the high-risk foot, we’re looking at how to assess a shoe, we’re looking at plantar pressure redistribution devices, and how to put an insert in a shoe to redistribute pressure,” he said.

Dr. Gary Sibbald leading a workshop on wound care in Sault Ste Marie in January 2023. (Cory Nordstrom/CTV News Northern Ontario)The micro-credential workshop was paid for by the Province of Ontario, a part of its $15 million investment into the development and engagement of micro-credentials.

It's a partnership between Sibbald's company Woundpedia and Sault College.

Many similar sessions have been held over Zoom, but this gathering brought in nurses, physicians and a range of professionals in the medical field.

Including those from across the country, like Dr. Rachel Asiniwasis, a dermatologist from Saskatchewan.

“Being able to come together with other practitioners from different areas, hear about their experiences. Northern Saskatchewan, northern Ontario, we’re seeing similar determinants of health, similar barriers," said Asiniwasis.

Sault College's continuing education director Lori Crosson said they know the rates of lower-limb amputations are higher in northern Ontario than the south, particularly among Indigenous people.

“By bringing this training to healthcare professionals that are working with clients that are facing skin and wound issues we can address the amputation rate,” Crosson said.

Dr. Gary Sibbald is a leading expert on wound care and regularly shares his techniques with medical professionals in Sault Ste. Marie. (Cory Nordstrom/CTV News Northern Ontario)College officials said they are looking to offer the event annually going forward to strengthen medical knowledge here in the north.