#IamMGH – Meet Dr. Cristina Pastia

#IamMGH tells the stories of our people. Meet Dr. Cristina Pastia, physician in the emergency department for 10 years.

“Being a doctor was always on my mind, from when I was a young girl in Romania. My grandparents were physicians – it runs in my family. I loved the idea of combining my interest in science with something that has a strong human component.

When you work in the emergency department, you meet people at a time when they need care the most. They may present in different ways or with varying levels of severity, but you know they are coming to you because at that moment, they don’t have anywhere else to turn. The biggest challenge is knowing that for some patients with a lot of health concerns, you cannot fix everything. When a patient comes to emergency, you’re really looking at what they’re experiencing in that moment and a few days before and after. With our patient population, I’ve met people from so many diverse backgrounds and I’m humbled by their life experiences. They really grow on you.

I love working at Michael Garron Hospital because there is a really strong sense of community and team work. Everyone – from nurses to volunteers to porters – understands that they play a role in the patient’s journey and experience. And you see that in the kindness and empathy they show here. There’s a lot of support for what we do. And there’s a close relationship amongst our team – we know and support each other. Even our kids know each other. It’s like a small village in a big city!

When I’m home from work, I love to cook and make a big family meal. My kids especially love it when I bake (and so do I)!”