People of Peel Memorial: Dorothy Sterling, RN, retired staff member

Dorothy Sterling knew every nook and cranny at Peel Memorial Hospital. The retired Registered Nurse spent 15 of her 38 years at the hospital as a member of the IV team, applying the greatest care to skillfully connect patients in units across the hospital to intravenous medications that were part of their care plans.

“I knew every hallway and back stairwell in that hospital, and thanks to its size, it was easy to get around,” said the 81-year-old who was one of two IV team members who worked days, while two others covered the overnight shifts. She remembers how skilled they were at their jobs—focused on delivering care. Though at the time, they saw it simply as doing their job, Dorothy and the IV team made a real impact on the patients lives they cared for.

For one mother, Dorothy’s presence during frequent visits to the Paediatrics Unit offered reassurance and reinforced the exceptional care her child was receiving.

“I ran into this boy’s mother years later before I retired,” said Dorothy, whose nursing career spanned 49 years. “She remembered me and let me know her son was doing really well now. That was so nice to learn.”

It was an advertisement for a Phlebotomy Nurse that first brought Dorothy to Peel Memorial. After two years of commuting to Queensway General Hospital, she wanted to work closer to her Brampton home. In addition to her years on the IV team, Dorothy also spent time working in the recovery rooms in the Intensive Care Unit and in Day Surgery.

What she remembers most about Peel Memorial is the people.

She has great praise for two of the nurse managers who were incredibly supportive when she needed days off to take a course or to attend meetings during the five years she served as a vice president on the Region 3 board of the Ontario Nurses Association.

She also remembers the strong sense of team that was a hallmark of the Peel Memorial work environment. The cafeteria became a central gathering place during meals and coffee breaks, and was where colleagues from across the hospital got to know one another.

“Whether you needed to borrow a piece of equipment from another unit, or needed an extra set of hands, we were always there for one another. I will always remember Peel Memorial as a place where I made friends for life.”

The spirit of teamwork and friendship defined Dorothy’s time at Peel Memorial. At the heart of her career are the lifelong friendships she built—connections rooted in a shared purpose of caring for others and for the community.