Summer 2010 - St. Joseph`s Health Care London

vim&
vi
SUMMER 2010
The Ivey Eye
Institute Keeps the
Future in Focus
ST. JOSEPH’S
STAFF: A
WORLDWIDE
IMPACT
Saving the
Hands of
an Artist
A FAMILY’S
EXPERIENCE
BECOMES A
FUNDRAISING
TRADITION
page 55
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Her
Next
Act
After a courageous battle
with breast cancer,
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE
has a new role: survivor
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Leith Coghlin, pictured with
Cheryl, Linda and Tammy
of the Sexual Assault and
Domestic Violence Program
A legacy gift allows me to give more.
“I’ve seen first-hand the gentle, compassionate and professional care offered
at St. Joseph’s to women and children when they are in desperate need.”
Leith Coghlin’s legacy is to help ensure St. Joseph’s is able to provide compassionate care
for women and children. That’s why he chose to support the Sexual Assault and Domestic
Violence Program through a gift of life insurance.
There are many policy options, and monthly payments make it an affordable way to make
a meaningful contribution to the advancement of patient care, teaching and research.
You too can leave a legacy. Please contact us to learn more.
PLEASE GIVE.
519 646 6085
www.sjhcfoundation.org
St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation supports St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, which
includes St. Joseph’s Hospital, Parkwood Hospital, Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care,
Regional Mental Health Care London and St. Thomas, and Lawson Health Research Institute.
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St. Joseph’s Notebook
Service and Innovation
Recognizing the people and events that shape St. Joseph’s
A Warm Welcome
A new dentist has joined the
St. Joseph’s Family Medical and
Dental Centre at 346 Platt’s
Lane in London. Dr. Huda
Al Shahrouri was originally
trained and graduated as a dentist in Iraq. She has been practicing in Canada since June 2009.
Dr. Huda Al Shahrouri
Dr. Al Shahrouri completed the
Internationally Trained Dentist program at
the University of Western Ontario, where she
received the Dr. George Bedrosian Memorial
Award in Restorative Dentistry.
Now accepting new patients, Dr. Al Shahrouri
practices general dentistry at St. Joseph’s Family
Medical and Dental Centre and also treats inpatients and residents at Parkwood Hospital. To
make an appointment, please call 519-646-6022.
Father William
McGrattan
Becomes a Bishop
Father William McGrattan,
former member of the board of
directors at St. Joseph’s Health
Care, London, was recently
ordained as auxiliary bishop
for the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Bishop William
Having served the people of the
McGrattan
Diocese of London for 22 years as
a member of the faculty of St. Peter’s Seminary,
Father McGrattan also shared his time and
expertise with numerous boards and committees in the community. St. Joseph’s congratulates
Father McGrattan on his new role and thanks
him for his years of service to St. Joseph’s.
You Heard It Here
St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation recently
launched a brand new website. To learn about the
tremendous difference donations are making in
the delivery of care across St. Joseph’s Health Care,
London, events taking place throughout the year, or
how you can support care, teaching and research,
be sure to visit www.sjhcfoundation.org.
Parkwood Hospital Charity
Golf Classic
Supporting the delivery of care to hundreds of people, the Parkwood Hospital Charity Golf Classic
returns on June 3 to the St. Thomas Golf and
Country Club for its 16th year. Through the years,
the event has directed more than $400,000 to
care programs at Parkwood, part of St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London. For more information or to
register, please visit www.sjhfoundation.org or
call Pamela Talbot at 519-646-6085, ext. 42989.
Sharing Our Spirit ...
Sharing Our Success
The year 2009 marked the second successful year of an innovative partnership
in support of the health and well-being of
the community. St. Joseph’s Health Care
Foundation and United Way of London &
Middlesex first teamed up with St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London in 2008 in a unique,
joint campaign to raise funds for the care of
people within our family of organizations and
throughout our region.
Share the Spirit is a fitting name for the collective effort of St. Joseph’s staff to support these
two vital organizations. It is also fitting because
of the shared importance both organizations
have in supporting the community.
In 2009, the campaign raised more than
$110,000, helping to make the London region a
better, healthier place. Vim & Vigour • SUMM ER 2010
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CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Celebrating New
Beginnings
From technology to research to awe-inspiring
personal stories, the future is full of promise
The beginning of something new is always an exciting time.
Beginnings heighten the promise of possibility and a sense of
renewed hope. In this issue of Vim & Vigour, we highlight some
of the new beginnings recently celebrated at St. Joseph’s.
In December, we welcomed the ophthalmology team and
the long-awaited consolidation of The Ivey Eye Institute at
St. Joseph’s Hospital. Bright, new treatment areas with state-ofthe-art equipment will greet close to 90,000 patients expected
to come to the new institute for care each year. We extend a
warm welcome to the members of this specialized team and look forward to profiling
their work in future issues of Vim & Vigour.
We also celebrated a new beginning for the diabetes care team with the consolidation of all diabetes care, education and research in new space at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
The growing epidemic of diabetes in Canada makes the work of this team essential
to our chronic disease management mandate at St. Joseph’s. Collectively, our highly
specialized diabetes education, care and clinical research make up the new Centre for
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, providing patients across the region with
more efficient and convenient care.
New beginnings can also be deeply personal. On May 6, the Breakfast of Champions
will feature the personal journey of one of Canada’s most beloved comediennes—Mary
Walsh of This Hour Has 22 Minutes. The entertainer will share how she has battled and
overcome her own personal demons. The Breakfast of Champions will also profile the
dramatic change in specialized mental health services under way at St. Joseph’s, and
the promise offered by a new vision for mental health care focused on recovery.
Across our organization, dedicated St. Joseph’s staff strive each day to create new
beginnings, not only for our patients but also for those in need far beyond our own
community. It is with great pride we present remarkable stories of those sharing their
talents, time and resources through humanitarian work around the world. These
inspiring individuals are truly living the mission of St. Joseph’s.
With new beginnings come opportunities. As St. Joseph’s continues with its redevelopment plans to ensure strong patient care services for the future, we are grateful to our
community for travelling this journey with us, and for the many celebrations to come.
ST. JOSEPH’S
HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION
2009-2010 Board of Directors
Jeff Macoun, Chair
Michelle Campbell, President
Michael Dale
Sharon Doubt
Samira El-Hindi
Dianne Evans
Faisal Joseph
Paul Kiteley
Brenda Lewis
Frank Longo
Jeff Malpass
Ron Martindale Jr.
Peter Mastorakos
Peter McMahon
Jim Mignault
Cliff Nordal
Joseph O’Neill
Dr. Hassan Razvi
Rick Spencer
Dr. Donald Taves
Tania Testa
Patrick Tremblay
ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH CARE, LONDON
2009-2010 Board of Directors
Gerald Killan, Chair
Rev. Paul Baillargeon
Paul Brisson
Kimberley Chesney
Jacquie Davison
Dr. Vikas Duggal
Dr. Adam Dukelow
Marcella Grail
Doug Hamilton
Dr. Carol Herbert
Paul Kiteley
Gaétan Labbé
Dr. Rob McFadden
Margaret McLaughlin
Susan Muszak
Cliff Nordal, President
Scott Player
Graham Porter
David Van Trigt
Peter Whatmore
Contributing Writers
Betty Dann, Laura Dockstader, Amanda Jackman, Anne Kay,
Nicole Laven, Michele Martin, Jennifer Parraga, Dahlia Reich,
Renée Sweeney
Editors in Chief
Kathy Burrill and Michelle Campbell
Editor
Dahlia Reich
Production
McMurry
268 Grosvenor Street
London, ON N6A 4V2
519-646-6085
www.sjhcfoundation.org
If you prefer not to receive Vim & Vigour from St. Joseph’s Health
Care Foundation, please call 519-646-6085.
TM
Vim & Vigour, Summer 2010, Volume 26, Number 2, is published
quarterly by McMurry, McMurry Campus Center, 1-888-626-8779.
Vim & Vigour is published for the purpose of disseminating healthrelated information for the well-being of the general public and
its subscribers. The information contained in Vim & Vigour is not
intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please consult
your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment
and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.
TM
TM
TM
Cliff Nordal
President & CEO
St. Joseph’s Health Care, London
2
Michelle Campbell
President & CEO
St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation
Publications Mail Agreement #40929046. Return undeliverable Canadian
addresses to: 268 Grosvenor St., London, ON N6A 4V2.
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CONTENTS
SPECIAL
Living Our Mission
50
DEPARTMENTS
1
St. Joseph’s
Notebook
Welcoming a new
dentist, honouring
a newly ordained
bishop.
2 Connecting with
Our Community
The future is
full of promise
at St. Joseph’s.
COVER PHOTOGRAPH © MICHAEL GRECCO/CONTOUR BY GETTY IMAGES
8 Faces of
St. Joseph’s
These individuals
bring medical
innovation and
financial expertise.
55 Inspired to
Give A family’s
experience at
St. Joseph’s
prompts a wave
of generosity.
The inspirational stories of
the staff and physicians at
St. Joseph’s who travel to
remote corners of the globe
to help those in need.
4
6
7
10
16
18
FEATURES
22
A Vision for Eye Care
St. Joseph’s Ivey Eye Institute celebrates
new, state-of-the-art space that will
meet the needs of close to 90,000
patient visits a year.
Expert Care Made Convenient
A look at centralized services available at the Centre for Diabetes,
Endocrinology and Metabolism at
St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Preserving the Craft
An acclaimed costume and set designer
praises St. Joseph’s surgical artistry.
Ready ... Set ... Get Motivated!
Give your health an overhaul with
this plan for long-term success.
Having Reservations?
Restaurants are a minefield of nutrition no-nos. But they are navigable—
with a helping of common sense.
Stressing Stress
Anxiety isn’t just a mental problem.
Find out how it physically affects
your body from head to toe.
34
38
42
46
49
54
Think Again
Five thoughts that may sound innocent could actually mean heart attack.
Learn when to listen to your body.
Adults at Play
Want a surefire way to induce relaxation? Tap your inner child and go
out and play.
In Good Hands
Carpal tunnel syndrome can make
almost any task painful. Get a grasp
on the condition and find relief.
No Kidding
Humour columnist Dave Barry had a
colonoscopy—and lived to tell about it!
Read his story.
Giving Is Great Medicine
It’s better to give than receive. But
did you know that donating time or
money can benefit your health, too?
‘Last Stop on the Road’
At the Breakfast of Champions on
May 6 in London, Mary Walsh shares
her struggle with alcoholism.
Finding a Way
Lawson researchers are on the
forefront of finding a solution to
the isotope crisis.
56 Giving with Impact
No matter the size,
every donation
makes a difference.
SECOND ACT
28
As Christina Applegate knows, a diagnosis of
breast cancer is devastating and daunting. But it also
can lead to a sense of renewal when it’s all over. Read
about her experience and how you can persevere.
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By Jennifer Parraga and Betty Dann
A Vision for Eye Care
The dedicated individuals behind the Ivey Eye Institute
T
4
he uncanny ability to envision another possibility, spread the seeds of that vision and inspire
others to see the opportunities—these are the
hallmarks of a visionary. Nowhere is that definition more tangible than at the Ivey Eye Institute
at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Founded by visionaries and staffed
by those dedicated to maintaining or restoring vision, Ivey
Eye actually defines vision, both literally and figuratively.
Medical pioneer Dr. Charles Dyson and philanthropist
Lorraine Shuttleworth were among those spreading the
seeds and inspiring others to establish what would eventually
become the Ivey Eye Institute, an acclaimed source of excellent diagnostic, medical and surgical eye care, ophthalmic
teaching and research.
Dr. Dyson’s interest in medicine began in 1937 when he was
diagnosed with polio. Until then, he had always imagined
becoming a lawyer. Six years later he graduated from medical
school at The University of Western Ontario (Western). Postgraduate work in ophthalmology in Toronto and Montreal
and at Harvard University followed, but an invitation from
Dr. G. Edward Hall, then Western’s dean of medicine, brought
Dr. Dyson back to London.
He immediately set up his private practice and began treating patients. He also served as chair of the Department of
Ophthalmology at Western from 1968-74, and chief of the
ophthalmology program at Victoria Hospital from 1956-85.
In the early 1980s, a savvy Dr. Dyson began to envision a
new model for eye care in a free-standing facility. His enthusiasm was contagious. Among those impressed by the idea
was Mrs. Shuttleworth. She was so inspired, in fact, she made
a donation of $1 million through the Richard and Jean Ivey
Fund to support the new eye centre’s development. Opened
in 1985 at Victoria Hospital, it was named the Ivey Institute
of Ophthalmology in honour of Mrs. Shuttleworth’s parents,
Richard and Jean Ivey. Years later, it would be renamed the
Ivey Eye Institute.
A decision to consolidate all eye care at St. Joseph’s Hospital
in the late 1990s built upon Dr. Dyson’s vision. In late 2009, the
Ivey Eye Institute moved into new, state-of-the-art space as part
of health care restructuring in London and extensive redevelopment of ambulatory care spaces at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
At the opening were Dr. Dyson and Mrs. Shuttleworth
to celebrate the vision of many who made it happen. They
include such London medical luminaries as Dr. Charlie
Thompson, Dr. Donald McFarlane, Dr. Elizabeth Harrison,
Dr. James Ballantyne, Dr. Alfred McKinna, Dr. Rod Willis,
Dr. Philip Hooper and others.
“It is very gratifying,” said Dr. Dyson, “to see that the many
contributions of the past have contributed to the growth of
the institute today.” Dr. Bill Hodge, chief/chair, ophthalmology, left, Cliff Nordal, St. Joseph’s
president and CEO, and Michelle Campbell, St. Joseph’s Health Care
Foundation’s president and CEO, cut the ribbon at the official opening
of the Ivey Eye Institute.
Holly McCall, ophthalmic technician, assisted with tours and equipment
demonstrations during the special opening event.
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LEFT: Dr. John Gonder, retinal
specialist, provided a tour for event
guests during the opening of the
Ivey Eye Institute.
RIGHT: London’s medical pioneers,
current leaders, friends and family
were on hand to celebrate the
opening of the Ivey Eye Institute.
Pictured front row from left are:
Lorraine Shuttleworth, Dr. Charles
Dyson, Dr. Donald Mills and Sarah
Mills. Back row from left, Keith
Sumner, Dr. Bill Hodge, Cliff Nordal,
Frances Dyson and Patricia McKinna.
Keeping the Focus on Patients
St. Joseph’s Ivey Eye Institute will see close to 90,000 patient visits each year
For 12-year-old John Wotherspoon, his first
visit to the Ivey Eye Institute at St. Joseph’s
Hospital came with great news: no surgery
in the near future, maybe never.
John has been dealing with amblyopia—
commonly known as lazy eye—since it
became noticeable at age eight. Referred
in 2008 to Dr. Sapna Sharan, a pediatric
ophthalmologist, he has been followed at
the Ivey Eye Institute ever since.
In the past few years, John’s eye measurements have been gradually improving
on their own. “There is a good chance he
will grow out of his lazy eye,” says John’s
mom, Robin Wotherspoon. In the meantime, he will be measured and evaluated
annually to be sure his condition continues
to improve, and that’s a source of comfort
for the Wotherspoons.
Impressed with the new institute at
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Robin says it’s clear
the needs of patients were paramount
when it came to the design. “I’m really
pleased with how efficiently it’s laid out.
It’s evident a lot of thought went into how
the space was to be used for the benefit
of both patients and caregivers. I was especially happy to see there was a separate
waiting room for children.”
In an exciting development for London
and the region, the institute was recently
consolidated in newly created space at
St. Joseph’s Hospital, a leader in ambulatory care. This means there is now one,
dedicated space to meet the eye care
needs of patients across Western Ontario.
The bright, modern 54,000-squarefoot centre expands across two floors.
Designed with the patient in mind, it offers
centralized services in retina; pediatric
ophthalmology; ocularplastics; cornea/
anterior segment; low vision optometry;
glaucoma; and ophthalmic diagnostics.
The new centre will see close to 90,000
patient visits each year with those receiving care coming from as far east as the
Niagara region, north to Sault Ste. Marie
and south to Essex County. The centre’s
expertise also draws people from around
the world.
At the same time, Ivey Eye is instrumental in helping to produce the next generation of medical leaders. It’s a teaching
centre, providing training to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.
The Department of Ophthalmology of
The University of Western Ontario is
located in the institute.
The
Future In
Eye Care
Research
The last few years have
witnessed tremendous
growth in research at
the Ivey Eye Institute.
The institute continues
to be competitive at
the national level for
investigator-initiated
and industry-initiated
clinical trials research.
This activity permits
researchers to offer
state-of-the-art investigations and treatments
to patients.
A dedicated science
laboratory conducts
full-time, cell-based
research, where the
aim is to investigate, at
the molecular level, the
causes and potential
new treatments for the
two common diseases
known as glaucoma and
macular degeneration.
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Expert Care Made
Convenient
Nurse
Elizabeth
Froats in
the clinical
investigations
unit
St. Joseph’s Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology
and Metabolism brings together all diabetes care,
education and clinical research in one area
Pat Pauli, a dietitian in
the Diabetes Education
Centre, with some of her
teaching materials
Sue Tereschyn, diabetes
research coordinator,
uses a centrifuge
machine, which spins
samples of blood
for processing for
laboratory testing.
6
very day at school as a youngster, Carole Anderson was sent
into the hallway for her morning snack so that she wasn’t
eating in front of the other children. She
remembers the strict 1,200 calorie diet,
being hungry and always looking forward to the next snack or meal.
“At the time, you couldn’t waver from
the diet or the amount of insulin you were
taking. It was set in stone. There just
wasn’t as much known as there is today.”
Diabetes has been a part of Anderson’s
life for 41 years—since the age of nine. For many
years, she has been regularly making the trip from
Sparta to St. Joseph’s Health Care, London for the
expert diabetes care and education she needs to
stay healthy. Recently, those visits became more
pleasant and convenient.
“It’s so airy and bright,” Anderson said during her first visit to the brand new diabetes clinic
space at St. Joseph’s. “This is great. After my clinic
appointment, I’m going to pop in to see the nurse
about my insulin pump.”
Centralized Services
All diabetes care, education and research
at St. Joseph’s is now located in one area, providing patients with more efficient access to
many specialized diabetes and endocrinology
services. Collectively, these services make up
St. Joseph’s Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology
and Metabolism.
The consolidation comes with the recent,
long-awaited move of the diabetes clinics into
12,600 square feet of new, specially designed
space located directly across from the Diabetes
Education Centre and diabetes clinical research
on the fifth floor of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
The clinics provide patients with a range of specialized care for diabetes mellitus and general endocrine disorders, including lipid disorders, pituitary/
adrenal/gonadal disorders and thyroid disease.
The new space is modern, spacious and wheelchair accessible. Baby changing stations and room
for strollers make it much more family friendly
for pregnant women receiving care for gestational
diabetes. A state-of-the-art procedure room for
thyroid biopsies is also part of the new clinic.
Patient Comfort
Just down the hall the clinical investigations unit
(CIU) is also enjoying new space. The CIU provides endocrine testing for patients with pituitary
tumors, thyroid disorders, adrenal tumors and
other endocrine diseases. These tests often take up
to five hours and the new space provides a comfortable setting for the patients.
“A centrally located interdisciplinary team,
including researchers, will allow for just-in-time
intervention, greater collaboration and improved
communication among clinicians,” says Karen
Dyer, director of medicine services at St. Joseph’s.
“While our researchers focus on innovation and
discovery, our interdisciplinary team of care
providers and educators work to support our
patients’ goals and health care needs, providing
a continuum of services to ensure optimal health
and quality of life.” online
E
By Dahlia Reich
On the Leading Edge
For more information on
St. Joseph’s Centre for Diabetes,
Endocrinology and Metabolism, go
to www.sjhc.london.on.ca/sjh/
programs/endo/endo.htm.
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Stratford Festival
1982, The Mikado
Preserving
Craft
the
An acclaimed costume
and set designer praises
St. Joseph’s surgical artistry
T
By Jennifer Parraga
he lights dim, the actors take their marks
on stage and the curtain rises. Instantly,
the audience embarks on a journey to
a different time, an exotic location and
into the lives of the characters as an evening of
theatre begins. For tens of thousands who have
taken that journey at the Stratford Festival or while
enjoying the ballet or opera in Canada and beyond,
there’s no doubt they have encountered the artistry
of Stratford’s Susan Benson.
With nearly 300 stage productions around the
world to her credit, Benson, a costume and set
designer, is very much part of the fabric of international theatre. And now St. Joseph’s Health Care,
London can boast a minor role in the future great
works of the artist.
A Prestigious Background
Having worked with the elite of Canadian stage,
Benson has created extraordinary costumes and
set designs for numerous productions at Stratford
Festival, where she was head of design from 1981 to
1983. She has also designed for other prestigious theatres, as well as ballet and opera companies, most
recently for Madama Butterfly with the Canadian
Opera Company. Her costumes have been regaled
for their historical detail.
Benson’s love of art and her gift to theatre has
been rewarded; she is the recipient of eight Dora
Mavor Moore Awards, an Academy of Cable
Television’s ACE Award for The Mikado, and more.
But decades of intricate sketching, drawing,
and building quarter-inch scale set models for
the theatre took a toll on her hands and fingers
and Benson developed severe carpal tunnel syndrome. As the years passed, the pain got worse.
Eventually referred to the Hand and Upper
Limb Centre (HULC) at St. Joseph’s Hospital, the
artist came under the care of Dr. Jim Roth.
“He spent a great deal of time with me, asked
me about my work, really listened to me, was
warm and friendly and treated me like a human
being,” says Benson. “You can see how he mentors and influences his students, too. Each one
approached me with the same amount of care
and consideration.”
Stratford
Festival 2005,
Fallen Angels
Surgery Day Approaches
If Benson was to continue to use her hands,
she would require surgery. Dr. Roth would
perform an operation taking a tendon from her
forearm to replace the arthritic bone at the base
of her thumb.
Benson was nervous. As an artist, her hands
are her tools. But as surgery day approached, she
began to feel more confident thanks to the preparation provided by the perioperative nurses and
assurance from Dr. Roth and the anesthetist.
Benson spent six weeks in a cast and several
months in physiotherapy. Her hand is healing and she’s slowly returning to her art. She is
extremely grateful for the care, compassion and
continued support she receives from everyone
at St. Joseph’s. The acclaimed designer gives the
HULC team a standing ovation for their artistry
in the operating room. Vim & Vigour • SUMM ER 2010
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faces of St. Joseph’s
Team Players
A medical innovator and a financial expert are a good fit
for the collaborative environment at St. Joseph’s
Compelled to Volunteer
Peter Mastorakos
A passion for the cause, a belief in the importance of giving back to the community and an
appreciation for the culture of St. Joseph’s Health
Care, London were the motivating factors for
Peter Mastorakos to join the board of directors of
St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation.
Mastorakos’ family has experienced the delivery of care at St. Joseph’s first-hand. His mother
lives at Mount Hope Centre for Long
Term Care. “The care from the staff
and volunteers has been great,” says
the financial expert. “My family’s
connection to St. Joseph’s certainly
provided me with yet another compelling reason to volunteer on the
foundation’s board.”
Mastorakos, senior vice president
of Highstreet Asset Management,
hopes to bring commitment and a
strong community voice to his new
volunteer role. “I believe it’s key
for board members of non-profit
organizations to be the eyes and ears
of the community.”
The enthusiasm and dedication of
staff and volunteers at the foundation “is nothing
short of amazing,” he adds. “I am pleased to be a
member of this team.”
people communicate with one another and with
patients and the empathy shown here are key to
that uniqueness.”
After training at St. Joseph’s, Dr. Lewis spent
three years at the University of California, Los
Angeles, where he worked alongside a neonatalogist and began exploring new research interests
in the use of surfactant. At the time, surfactant
was commonly used with premature infants,
but not adults. Dr. Lewis studied how it could
be used with adults suffering from severe lung
injury. His research continues today.
In addition to managing a very busy clinic
at St. Joseph’s Hospital and his lab at Lawson,
Dr. Lewis currently serves as assistant dean of
clinical research and a professor of medicine and
physiology at the Schulich School of Medicine at
the University of Western Ontario. He recently
set up the MD/PhD program, which he hopes
will inspire more physicians to broaden their
own careers into research.
The key to managing his hectic and illustrious
career is relationships, says Dr. Lewis. “I have
been fortunate to be surrounded by very good
people.” ‘A Unique Place’
St. Joseph’s Health Care, London has been a part
of Dr. Jim Lewis’ life for nearly 30 years. It’s where
he completed his internship, served as chief medical resident, and did his residency in respiratory
medicine, and where he now practices as a general respirologist. He also leads a research team
at the St. Joseph’s site of Lawson Health Research
Institute (Lawson).
“St. Joseph’s is a very unique place,” says
the physician. “It’s hard to define, but the way
8
Dr. Jim Lewis
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‘Last Stop
On the Road’
At the Breakfast of Champions, Mary Walsh
will share her struggle with alcoholism
By Jennifer Parraga
A
n accomplished actress, comedienne
and political satirist, Mary Walsh has
been entertaining Canadians for more
than 20 years. Best known for her roles
in the critically acclaimed This Hour Has 22 Minutes
and CODCO, she is the recipient of more than 30
Gemini Awards and The Order of Canada.
But while Walsh was eliciting joy and laughter
across the country with her well-known characters, privately she was battling personal demons.
Alcoholism and an overwhelming sense of abandonment were struggles that would eventually
bring her to “the last stop on the road.”
“It was an internal hitting of rock bottom,” she
explains. “I reached a place where physically,
mentally and spiritually I had hit rock bottom.”
It was then she began treatment for her addiction to alcohol.
Now 17 years later, Walsh is taking to the stage
with some very different material. She’s the featured speaker at the 2010 Breakfast of Champions
on May 6 presented by St. Joseph’s Health Care
Foundation and the Canadian Mental Health
Association.
Raising Awareness
“Addiction is devastating and destructive,” says
Walsh. “When you have an addiction, every part
of your life is affected, and everything else in life
becomes secondary. So many people in this society suffer from addiction and so many people
who aren’t addicted suffer from the results of
addiction. It makes me terribly sad knowing that
people with mental illness and addiction don’t
always receive help those suffering from physical
diseases do. That’s why
I have chosen to speak
about this topic. “
By sharing her own
struggles, Walsh hopes to
reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
and addiction and raise
awareness about the need for increased support
for people living with those conditions.
Walsh believes some good things are happening thanks to the Kirby report—which sets
out a national strategy on mental health and
addiction—and the work of organizations and
dedicated individuals helping to improve the
lives of those struggling daily with addiction and
mental illness. A special feature of the Breakfast
of Champions is the presentation of the Champion
of Mental Health award, which honours an individual or organization for excellence in mental
health care.
After overcoming her
personal trials, Mary
Walsh is reaching out
to others in need.
Benefiting Mental Health
The event is also a major fundraising initiative,
with proceeds going to mental health programs
in the London region. This is the fourth year
for the breakfast, which has brought in nearly
$70,000 in net proceeds for community programs
supported by St. Joseph’s Health Care, London
and the Canadian Mental Health Association
London-Middlesex.
Walsh is pleased to be part of the Breakfast of
Champions. In her lifetime, she hopes to see less
loneliness, suffering and misery for those living
with an addiction or a mental illness. Vim & Vigour • SUMM ER 2010
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Living Our
Mission
They are drawn by the desire to help and feel blessed with the skills to do so. Every year,
dozens of staff and physicians across St. Joseph’s Health Care, London leave the comforts
of home and their well-equipped workplace to attend to those suffering from a lack of life’s
most basic necessities in remote corners of the globe. Bringing with them knowledge, compassion and the spirit of caring, they are living the mission of St. Joseph’s in extraordinary
ways. On the following pages, learn how some of these individuals are spending their
vacations, and own money, to make a difference so far from home. By Dahlia Reich
Steph Card
is a corporate facilitator at
St. Joseph’s, where she creates and assists with learning
opportunities for staff that will enhance their careers as
well as patient care.
Living the Mission
Partnering with various groups, Card provides training,
translation and health education and generally helps people
with strategies for development in their communities. She
has made more than a dozen trips to various countries,
including Ecuador, where she also lived for a year, Dominican
Republic, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
The Rewards
ABOVE: Steph Card
shares a quiet moment
with Rosileidy, then
age 5, in Juan Tomas,
Dominican Republic.
LEFT: Steph Card helps
out with a school health
screening program in
Juan Tomas, Dominican
Republic, during which
500 children received a
full health assessment.
50
For Card, who has made multiple trips to the same communities, “it’s no longer about ‘that place on a map’ or helping
‘those people.’ It’s about friends, faces and relationships. It
hurts a lot more to hear of the death of a child when a face
and name pop up. It’s equally more meaningful to celebrate
with friends when improvements in health are made and
success is seen.”
Rosileidy was a beautiful three-year-old the first
time Card met the toddler. “The reddish hair—a sign of
malnutrition—distended belly and lack of clothing showed
her poverty, and the lab results told us she had three parasites,” recalls Card. “The house where she and her eight
siblings and mother lived was infested and falling over. The
last time we saw her, she was six and helping with the construction of her new house being built by the municipality
because we were able to take pictures and plead their case.
Rosileidy looks healthier and happier. She is going to be a
leader in this community, I can tell.”
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Pam Wilton
is a nurse and educator with the
chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) program at St. Joseph’s
Hospital. She is also president of the Canadian Hemophilia Society.
Living the mission
Wilton works with people in South Africa who have bleeding disorders—mostly hemophilia—their care providers, and the South
African Hemophilia Foundation to develop standards of care and
provide advocacy, volunteer development and planning. Her last
visit was in June 2009.
As a mom to a son with hemophilia, Wilton and her husband
have benefited from the information and support available through
the Canadian Hemophilia Society (CHS). “I have learned a lot in
20 years; raising our son, volunteering and nursing. The CHS has a
strong history of advocacy and we produce high quality educational
tools for patients, families and health care providers. So when asked
to help the South African Hemophilia Foundation, I knew we had
something to offer. The fact that I am a nurse opens doors that may
not otherwise be opened.”
The rewards
“I met a young man named Happy when I was in Johannesburg
the first time. The CHS group was touring the hospital. We were
on the hematology inpatient unit in a ward with six beds. Happy
was in the first bed. He was clearly in pain. I have seen that same
look in my own son’s eyes. He tried hard to smile. I learned Happy
had severe hemophilia and had developed inhibitors—his body was
fighting the factor replacement product that stopped his bleeding.
He required large quantities of factor because of his inhibitors but
with only a limited supply, the hospital had decided to stop his therapy. I met with the administrator and tried to make Happy’s case, as
coached in advance by his nurses. I also spoke with one of the pharmaceutical representatives who had joined the tour. The following
morning, we received word the pharmaceutical company had come
through with sufficient product to complete Happy’s therapy. I was
delighted. I had done what any mom would do. I had done what any
nurse would do. Politically speaking, it was perhaps not one of my
finer moments. I did interfere. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!”
Maureen Loft takes a side
trip to visit a volcano site in
Guatemala.
Maureen Loft
is a nurse
practitioner with the orthopedic program at
St. Joseph’s. She works with patients who have
undergone hip and knee replacements.
Living the mission
Loft volunteers with Operation Walk - London, a
non-profit group of nurses, surgeons, physiotherapists, technicians and others who provide joint
replacement to those with debilitating bone and
joint conditions in developing countries. During
her most recent trip to Guatemala in November
2009, the team performed 68 hip and knee
replacements in only three and a half days.
The rewards
Pam Wilton with children from a settlement on the outskirts of Cape Town
in 2005.
“The patients and their families are extremely
grateful to the team for their new lease on life. Many
patients are completely immobilized by their knee
and hip disease. With the knee or hip replacements
they receive, they are able to move again and help
to provide for their families. Being able to walk
without pain can transform their lives. I am very
thankful for the opportunities I’ve had—getting an
education, working in a role that I love, and raising
a family in a country that is safe. Helping someone
to regain the ability to walk pain free seems like a
small return on my part.”
Vim & Vigour • SUMM ER 2010
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Members of
the ENT team,
from left: Mary
Jayne Brown,
Dr. Ralph
Ruby, Yvonne
Triesman, Lynne
Wohlfahrt and
Johann Pinto
The ear nose and
throat team
Several current
and former staff and physicians from the ear,
nose and throat program at St. Joseph’s travelled to Guyana in July 2009. They included:
Dr. Ralph Ruby, otolaryngologist; Lynne
Wohlfahrt, nurse; Mary Jayne Brown, secretary; Johann Pinto, audiologist (now working
in Strathroy); and John Lenk, former audiovisual technician at St. Joseph’s. Yvonne
Triesman of London Health Sciences Centre
(LHSC) also travelled with the team.
Living the mission
Brenda Done
is a nurse with the infectious
diseases care program at St. Joseph’s, where she has been caring
for people with HIV since the disease mysteriously appeared in
the mid-1980s.
Living the mission
Every one to two years, Done travels with Global Medic Force,
an organization helping local health professionals in developing
countries gain the knowledge and skills they need to care for their
own patients and build sustainable programs. As a result, thousands of patients now receive HIV care that didn’t exist before.
Done has been to South Africa, Ethiopia, Lesotho and Nigeria.
The rewards
“It’s very rewarding to see the commitment to professional development in these desperately overcrowded, under-resourced clinics
and to see them improve their skills with only a little support. I
always learn more than I teach on these trips and come home
re-inspired to improve my own practice.”
Brenda Done with a young HIV patient in
Prieska, North Cape Province, South Africa.
Recruited by Triesman, a Guyanese-born
former administrator of the ear, nose, and
throat department at LHSC, the St. Joseph’s
team joined with an American group to provide otolaryngology and audiology services
to the remote areas of Guyana. Together, the
Canadian and American teams treated about
800 patients in four days.
The rewards
“To hear these beautiful Guyanese people tell
you about their conditions and illnesses and
the insufficient health care makes us all want
to do our part and help in what little way we
can,” says Brown.
During the trip last summer, Dr. Ruby met
31-year-old Kwesi Nelson, whose face was
severely distorted due to a tumour in his jaw.
The growth was causing him great pain and
threatened to cut off his breathing. With the
surgery not possible in Guyana, the team is
now exploring bringing the young father to
London for care and raising money to do so.
“I could not just walk away,” says Dr.
Ruby. “I knew we had the available resources
in London and felt we had to give it a shot.”
52
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Susan Poirier, far right, and two nurses from the
Canadian Medical Delegation take a break in the Yemen
sun at the University of Science and Technology in
Sana’a, where the three taught a chemotherapy course
to Yemeni care providers.
Susan Poirier
is a pharmacist
at St. Joseph’s Parkwood Hospital, working with the
palliative care team and transitional care unit.
Living the mission
For three weeks every year, Poirier travels with the
Canadian Medical Delegation, a multidisciplinary
group of health care professionals, to provide education, advice and support to the National Oncology
Centre in Sana’a, Yemen, and the Government of
Yemen. She shares her knowledge on the provision
of safe and efficient oncology services with Yemen
pharmacists and nurses.
The rewards
With more than 20 years as an oncology pharmacist,
Poirier feels she has much to give. “I love to teach. I
am able to share my clinical and managerial experience as an oncology pharmacist. It’s just so gratifying
to be able to participate in patient rounds in Yemen and
make suggestions based on what has been done and
what the Yemeni people are capable of doing. And it’s
very rewarding to go back year after year and see the
improvements.”
Last year, Poirier and two nurses taught a chemotherapy course to several nurses and pharmacists
from across Yemen. “It was very rewarding to see the
enthusiasm from the participants as we shared our
knowledge with them and they in turn shared their
experiences with us.”
Tim Bourgard
This joyful young
boy, a sponsored
child from one of
the poorest districts
outside La Paz,
Bolivia, was one of
many youngsters
Tim Bourgard and
his team enjoyed
meeting during
their travels.
is a photographer/videographer and coordinator of Multi-Media
Solutions at St. Joseph’s, which provides photography,
video, multi-media and conference support services
across the organization.
Living the mission
In November 2009, Bourgard travelled to
Cochabamba, Bolivia, to document in video and photos a leadership conference sponsored by Forest City
Community Church in London. The conference aimed
at supporting and developing local church leaders. In
Bolivia, about 60 per cent of the population lives in
poverty and in many areas, local churches are the only
sources of support and compassion. Yet these churches
are often as poor and needy as the people they serve.
Strengthening the leadership of these churches is seen
as one way to directly impact the lives of Bolivians.
The rewards
More than 800 church leaders attended the conference, spending up to eight hours on rickety buses to get
there. “They were trained, encouraged and inspired,”
says Bourgard. “They went back to their towns and
villages armed with new strategies, vigour and vision
to better care for their communities. I have never seen
such poverty and pain as I did in Bolivia. The saddest
part was looking into the eyes of a sick and emaciated
mother and seeing only desperation. By enabling and
supporting these church leaders, we can help to change
that desperation to hope.” Vim & Vigour • SUMM ER 2010
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Finding a
Pamela Zabel
Mike Kovacs
Way
By Michele Martin
The solution to the worldwide shortage of medical isotopes may be found in London. Scientists
at Lawson Health Research Institute will receive
more than $1 million for research into medical isotope alternatives.
When the Chalk River nuclear reactor shut
down in May 2009, it triggered a global health
care crisis jeopardizing critical diagnostic and
treatment services for patients. The reactor
normally produces more than half the world’s
supply of medical isotopes used to detect cancer
and other illnesses. Hospitals have been scrambling ever since to care for patients requiring
nuclear imaging.
In November 2009, seven projects across
Canada were chosen to receive a total of $5.4
million from Canadian Institutes of Health
Research (CIHR) and Natural Sciences and
Engineering Research Council of Canada
(NSERC). These projects will seek non-nuclear
reactor technology alternatives to address the
shortage of Technetium-99m, a commonly used
medical isotope.
“Pursuing discovery in this area will ensure
that Canadians can receive timely cancer screening and treatment services into the future,”
says Dr. Morag Park, scientific director for the
Institute of Cancer Research, part of CIHR.
Dr. Gerry Wisenberg
54
Lawson Health Research Institute is
the research institute of St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London and London
Health Sciences Centre. The following projects are among those receiving funding to explore medical isotope
alternatives:
ONLINE
On the Trail
Lawson
researchers are
on the forefront
of solving the
isotope crisis
• Under
the leadership of Pamela Zabel and
Dr. Muriel Brackstone, Lawson scientists have
been granted $541,339 over two years to test
a new product patented through Lawson’s
Business Development Office, now a part of
WORLDiscoveries™. The product is a modified
Technetium-99m formulation for use in the diagnosis and monitoring of the spread of breast cancer in the lymph nodes. By using the product with
a type of lymph node imaging, scientists hope
to eliminate the need to remove all of the lymph
nodes in the area, reducing the risk and severity
of the biopsy procedure. The product may also
prove useful for other clinical procedures, including liver, spleen and bone marrow imaging.
• Lawson scientist Mike Kovacs will work with
the BC Cancer Agency and TRUIMF, a worldleading physics laboratory, to determine if medical isotopes produced from cyclotrons are a viable
alternative to isotopes produced by nuclear reactors. The project has received $1.3 million over
two years.
• Lawson scientist and cardiologist Dr. Gerry
Wisenberg will work with the University of
Ottawa Heart Institute to develop and test new
radioactive tracers for their use in diagnosing
heart disease. The two-year, $1.1 million project,
will help to fast track production and distribution
across Canada. Explore Lawson
For more information on Lawson Health
Research Institute and other critical
health care projects under way, visit
www.lawsonresearch.com/v1.0/website.
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INSPIRED TO GIVE
Making
Miracles
at Mackie’s
A family’s experience at
St. Joseph’s prompts a
wave of generosity
O
By Jennifer Parraga
AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE
It was this feeling that motivated the Lale family
to come up with a way to give back to St. Joseph’s.
After making a donation in support of the NICU
and establishing “Dylan’s Fund,” they decided
to get their restaurant patrons involved, too.
Donation jars, complete with photos of Dylan,
encouraged customers to make a donation in
support of all infants cared for in the NICU.
The response was overwhelming and continues today. Donations received support the purchase of electronic thermometers. With infection
The popular Mackie’s
restaurant on the beach at Port Stanley
control paramount in the NICU,
each infant requires his or her
own thermometer, which is a
necessity in the delivery of care.
Now four years old, Dylan is
healthy and thriving, and he’s a
big brother. Although returning
to St. Joseph’s is still an emotional
experience for his parents, there
was no question it’s where they
wanted their second child to be
Dylan Lale, left, with dad David, mom
Danielle and baby sister Deanna
born. In October 2009, the Lale
family welcomed Deanna into
the world weighing a robust 9 pounds, 4 ounces.
Unlike Dylan’s dramatic experience, she was
home in 24 hours.
Grateful for their healthy family, the Lales say
the donation jars are staying put. They are now a
staple at Mackie’s, alongside the orangeade, hot
dogs and fries.
“We were amazed by what the team at
St. Joseph’s was able to do to help our family,” says
Danielle. “We want to continue to help.”
ONLINE
rangeade, hot dogs and fries—it
just wouldn’t be summer in Port
Stanley without them. The favourite
snack food is a well-known tradition
at the popular lakeside restaurant Mackie’s. But
there’s another tradition being served up at the
beach hangout, and it’s making waves far beyond
the sunny shores of Lake Erie.
For the last four years, Mackie’s has been raising funds for the neonatal intensive care unit
(NICU) at St. Joseph’s Health Care, London. It all
began with the birth of tiny Dylan Lale, whose
grandmother, Cheryl, dad, David, and uncle,
Greg, own and operate the famous eatery.
Born at just 26 weeks gestation, Dylan spent
two months in the NICU and endured countless tests and procedures as nurses and doctors
worked to keep him alive in what would be an
emotional roller coaster ride for his parents.
“We didn’t ever expect to be in this position;
we were floored with the whole experience,” says
Dylan’s mom, Danielle. “We felt very lucky, however, to live so close to a hospital of the calibre
and expertise of St. Joseph’s.”
Where to Give
Donations to St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation
can be directed to any St. Joseph’s program or
research initiative that has special meaning to you.
For more information on giving, call 519-646-6085
or go to www.sjhcfoundation.org.
Vim & Vigour · SUMM ER 2010
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Giving With Impact
The True Impact
of a Dollar
Whether it’s raising funds for local health
care or sending supplies to Haiti, every
donation makes a difference
By Michelle Campbell
Michelle Campbell is president and CEO of St. Joseph’s
Health Care Foundation
and vice president of fund
development at St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London. A
leader in the field of philanthropy, Campbell is the
author of many articles
on the subject and speaks
at conferences nationally
and internationally.
56
E
ach of us remembers a time when a dollar went a long way. I recall going to
the Saturday matinee as a child and the
dollar my parents gave me covered the
price of admission and the popcorn. Remember
all the great candy you could buy for 25 cents at
the local store? With those gentler days in the
distant past, we’re sometimes left to wonder what
a dollar can still buy us.
The phrase “every dollar counts” or “every dollar makes a difference” has been overused in charitable work, leading donors to question whether
their single dollar really can make a difference.
But those phrases are used because … well,
they’re true. Charitable organizations maximize
the use of a single dollar by pooling it with others to create human impact. If you think about
your charitable giving in terms of impact as well
as amount, you can start to see the true power of
your dollar.
When we witness human tragedies like the
earthquake in Haiti, we often feel helpless. Can
my own small act of kindness make a real difference? Within hours of the disaster, community
events began mobilizing with people across our
region and around the world raising funds and
collecting supplies. The local “Tents for Haiti”
effort is one such example. In just days, a truckload of camping tents was collected and shipped
to Port-au-Prince. A single tent may not seem like
much, but imagine the value for a family who has
lost everything. Imagine the impact of hundreds
or thousands of tents.
Our health care environment is filled with
similar examples. Dollars from many donors
come together to achieve significant milestones,
such as a new MRI machine for the community,
state-of the-art operating rooms or a landmark
research facility. On a smaller scale but no less
important, donations have collectively purchased
essential baby thermometers in the neonatal
intensive care unit, special pressure reducing
mattresses for our patients, examination tables
and so much more.
The motivation for philanthropy, however,
isn’t primarily about the amount. It’s about the
gesture of giving itself. Not only does it send a
message of hope to those in need, but it also sets
an example. When someone contributes, regardless of the amount, it inspires others to act. We’re
moved when we see small children bring their
carefully collected jars of pennies and nickels to a
charity event. If they can do it and believe they’re
making a difference, so can we.
So what can one dollar do? The possibilities
are limitless. When blended with the contributions of others, that single dollar grows, stretches
and does great things. It can, and does, have
enormous impact. A single dollar does make
a difference. Vim & Vigour • SU M M E R 2 0 1 0
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St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation
268 Grosvenor Street
London, ON
N6A 4V2
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