Stewardship Award
Dr. Otto Huhn
Consulting Pathologist, Banff Mineral Springs Hospital
“There’s so much misery, misfortune and disease in the world, if I can contribute just a tiny bit that will be a big achievement” - Dr. Otto Huhn
Dr. Otto Huhn has had a rich and lengthy career with Covenant Health’s Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. He came to Banff at the request of the College of Physicians and Surgeons to provide leadership and direction for laboratory services.
“When I arrived at the Mineral Springs Hospital laboratory, one technologist worked with nine chemistries to do CBCs manually and urine analysis for a global population that grew to 20-30,000 people in the summertime,” remembered Dr. Huhn. “At that time, I made a commitment to make sure the people in the Bow Corridor had proper lab services within our limited resources.”
Dr. Huhn has exceeded that commitment and has been a strong advocate for the hospital when funding for lab services has been very difficult to build and sustain lab services. After careful analysis, he matched program activity in Emergency and Acute Care to lab services, and two lab test options grew to over 200 diagnostic options because “we needed it,” said Dr. Huhn.
Dr. Huhn has used Covenant Health resources wisely, and over the years has offered his own personal resources to acquire needed equipment. “It started with just some simple instrumentation, and early on I gave them my own microscope,” said Dr. Huhn.
Now he uses his gentle nature to negotiate prices and payment options for the latest technologies that will have the most benefit for this vital community hospital.
“Dr. Huhn’s savvy and careful deliberations helped with the purchase and fundraising for the new Gem 4000,” said Susan Blonski. This equipment makes a big difference in health services, as it has reduced the number of call backs after hours by having RNs use it as a point of care device, and it has the potential to reduce operation costs in the lab.
Dr. Huhn has achieved four honourary life memberships for his work by esteemed medical associations across the country. The commitment he made to his profession over forty years ago is even stronger today, as Dr. Huhn acknowledges that the older he gets, “I feel a deeper sense of social responsibility and a sense of duty toward our fellow man.”
“It fills me with so much gratitude,” he concluded.
