MUHC Today

December 9, 2013

Great turn-out for inaugural Cardiology lecture at the MGH

The Osler Amphitheatre at the Montreal General Hospital was filled nearly to capacity for the Cardiology Departments inaugural Heart Health lecture held on November 6. The evening featured some of the Divisions expert cardiologists who talked about everything from heart attack myths to prevention to the latest in heart interventional procedures being pioneered at the MUHC. Dr. Nadia Giannetti, director of the Division of Cardiology, moderated the free event. She was joined by presenters Dr. Murray Kornbluth, Drs. Nicolo Piazza and Giuseppe Martucci, Dr. George Thanassoulis, and Dr. Martin Bernier. It was a gift of information that was very much appreciated, said Olivier, who attended the lecture out of his interest for human sciences. I wasnt aware of the technological advancements in heart procedures being used. Its extraordinary. Chandrakant Abhani, who went with his brother Mukesh, said he appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from some of the MUHCs top cardiologists on important health matters, as well as the fact attendees could ask questions at the end. They gave a really good explanation of the heart and how it works, Abhani said. It was very informative and anybody could understand it. It was really good for the layman. If you are interested in being informed of upcoming cardiology lectures, you can send your contact information to caroline.alcaraz@mcgill.ca or call 514 934-1934, ext. 34630.

MUHC Today

December 9, 2013

Its that festive time of year!

Dates for our MUHC holiday parties are as follows: Royal Victoria Hospital and Montreal Neurological Institute December 11 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. @ H4 Employees Lounge Montreal Childrens Hospital December 11 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. @ Cafeteria Montreal General Hospital December 12 from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. @ Livingston Hall The Lachine Hospital & Camille-Lefebvre Pavilion December 12 from 10:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (day shift) December 12 from 4:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (evening shift) December 13 from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. (night shift) @ Cafeteria

We look forward to seeing you there! Happy Holidays!

MUHC Today

December 10, 2013

Dr. Mulder delivers keynote lecture at international conference in Finland

This summer Dr. David Mulder, one of the MUHCs top trauma surgeons, travelled to Helsinki, Finland along with some colleagues to deliver the keynote address at the International Society of Surgery Congress. Dr. Mulder is a passionate physician and a renowned surgeon, having served as chair of the McGill Department of Surgery for a combined 10 years. He is also one of the key reasons why the Montreal General Hospital is among the top trauma centres in Quebec, having successfully made the case for its designation as a tertiary trauma care centre. He is an Order of Canada recipient, has a Montreal General Hospital Foundation trauma research chair named in his honour, was the chief physician for the Montreal Canadiens for 13 years and served as president of the NHL Team Physicians Society from 2003-2006. We sat down with Dr. Mulder to ask him about the Helsinki conference and what it was like to share his expertise half a world away. Q: What did it mean to you to be chosen as the 2013 Donald D. Trunkey Trauma lecturer for the International Surgical Week conference? A: I was deeply honoured. This type of recognition was the highlight of my career and allowed me to proudly wave the MUHC flag. Q: How did it feel to be speaking to some of the worlds top surgeons? A: I was very humbled to have the opportunity to address some of the worlds greatest talent in this field. It was also a great opportunity to present the exciting work of my MUHC colleagues and the leading role the McGill group is taking in global trauma care under the direction of Drs. Tarek Razek, Dan Deckelbaum, Kosar Khwaja and Paola Fata. Q: What projects did you speak about specifically? A: I told the Congress about the work of Dr. David Fleiszer and the success he and his team at the Patient Education Office have had in improving the patient learning experience through the use of online and interactive Patient Education Guides. I also spoke about Dr. Kevin Lachapelle and his work as director of the Arnold and Blema Steinberg Medical Simulation Centre at McGill, which has provided the Canadian army with trauma training for its role in Afghanistan. Q: Trauma is a serious subject matter. What was one of the lighter moments of your trip? A: While the Finnish TV news channel was moderately interested in the conference, they were much more keen to talk hockey. They wanted to learn what the NHL is doing on the issue of concussions. This is a major concern in Finland, which is why they are currently looking at adopting new flexible boards for their arenas. Naturally, there was also considerable interest in their favourite son Saku Koivu and his role as Captain of the Montreal Canadiens.

MUHC Today

December 10, 2013

Dr. Donald Trunkey and Dr. David Mulder

MUHC Today

December 11, 2013

Big gains for Centraide Campaign 2013 thanks to our generous MUHC donors
The 2013 Centraide Campaign has come to an end and once again the generosity of our employees was overwhelming. This year we raised close to $40,000, a 20 per cent increase compared to last yeara demonstration of the great generosity of our MUHC family. This year, all donors were eligible to participate in a raffle to win the value of a monthly STM Bus-Metro pass, generously donated by the MUHC Parking Services. The 2013 Centraide Campaign Committee is pleased to announce that the winners of the raffle are: Montreal General Hospital: Montreal Childrens Hospital: Royal Victoria Hospital: Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital: Carole Gumbley Dale DellElce Diane Weidner Adina Gordon

There was also a three-month value of an STM Bus-Metro pass that was drawn between all donors who gave $500 or more. The 2013 Centraide Campaign Committee is pleased to announce that the winner of the raffle is: Susan Drouin Congratulations to all of our winners! And a big thank you to Jamil Bhatti from Human Resources who was instrumental in making this campaign a success and to all of our donors who found it in their hearts to give to the most vulnerable in our communities, especially at this time of year when giving means so much. Best wishes to everyone for the Holiday Season, Rocco Montesano, MUHC Associate Director, Human Resources Chair of the Centraide Campaign Committee

MUHC Today

December 11, 2013

Canadian researchers lead groundbreaking discovery in deadly childhood cancer

A new study by Canadian researchers may pave the way for more effective treatment of an aggressive and deadly type of brain tumour, known as ETMR/ETANTR. The tumour, which is seen only in children under four, is almost always fatal, despite aggressive treatment. The study proposes a new model for how this brain tumour develops and suggests possible targets to investigate for novel therapies. These findings, recently published in Nature Genetics, also shed new light on the complex process of early brain development. The study was led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), the McGill University and Gnome Qubec Innovation Centre, and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and funded by the Cancer Research Society. We undertook this study because we wanted to learn what was driving the growth of these tumours and how best to treat them, says the studys co-principal investigator, Dr. Nada Jabado, hemato-oncologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital of the MUHC and an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McGill University. This is a very aggressive disease with poor outcomes for patients; we urgently need better treatments for these kids, and this study, which helps us better understand what happens in this tumour, moves us a little closer to that target. Our recent collaborations with Dr. Jabados and Dr. Majewskis labs and other colleagues have provided opportunities to take our initial discovery of this entity closer to finding innovative treatments for this disease, which we believe is an important, yet underrecognized, infantile brain tumour, says co-principal investigator Dr. Annie Huang, a brain tumour specialist at SickKids and senior scientist in Cell Biology at SickKids Research Institute and associate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto. In 2009, her group had made the initial discovery that several forms of deadly brain tumours in young children were in fact this single entity (ETMR/ETANTR), characterized by a unifying genetic marker. For the study, the research team produced genomic profiles of the ETMR/ETANTR tumors, and also integrated and analyzed data from five massive publicly available data sets. Their analysis suggested that, in patients with ETMR/ETANTR, a developmental pathway a process involved in the early formation of an organ in an embryo is somehow hijacked. As a result, patients produce a specific form of an enzyme known as DNMT3B far later in development and in far greater quantities than normal. Genomic approaches are offering unprecedented opportunities to understand cancer, explains co-principal investigator, Dr. Jacek Majewski, associate professor in the Department of Human Genetics at McGill University and a researcher at the McGill University and Gnome Qubec Innovation Centre. In the past, researchers would meticulously follow individual genes and proteins to try to piece together what goes awry in a tumour. Today, we can rapidly look at the entire genome and, using computational analysis, identify the incorrectly produced genes all with very little prior knowledge of the biology of the disease. In the case of the ETMR/ETANTR, within a few months we were able to go from tumour to a very promising target gene DNMT3B. Abnormalities in DNMT3B have previously been linked to a range of cognitive problems. Forms of this enzyme are also seen in some leukemia and breast cancer types, and are often associated with poor outcomes. The research team found that, in patients with ETMR/ETANTR, the enzyme was present in huge quantities and at a stage of development

MUHC Today

December 11, 2013

when it should not be present at all. From a clinical point of view, the results of this study suggest DNMT3B may be a suitable target for future therapies designed to combat ETMR/ETANTR. We now want to see if we can control the production of the enzyme in the tumour, and if doing so enables us to stall its growth, says Dr. Jabado who is also a researcher in Medical Genetics and Genomics at the RI-MUHC. This is a great example of how research can produce exciting and at times groundbreaking results, and we are thrilled to have contributed to this study that will hopefully help to save childrens lives, and hopefully get more studies of its kind off the ground, states Andy Chabot, President and CEO of the Cancer Research Society. Findings from this study will be added to a global tumour registry and ETMR/ETANTR tumour bank established by Dr. Huang, which has collected nearly 100 of these rare tumours to date. Although more research is needed, the prospects for developing an effective treatment are becoming steadily brighter as scientists learn more about ETMR/ETANTR. Importantly, these findings highlight how studying rare pediatric brain tumours can provide invaluable insight into unsuspected molecular mechanisms of brain development. [READ MORE]

Dr. Nada Jabado and Dr. Jacek Majewski, two co-principal investigators of the study at the laboratories of the Gnome Qubec Innovation Centre and McGill University

MUHC Today

December 12, 2013

Fundraising Flash December 12, 2013

Coming Soon
Sunday December 22: Carol for a Cure What better way to spread some holiday cheer than Christmas caroling for a cure! Members and supporters of Team RockStarr will be caroling outside National Foods in Westmount, with all proceeds benefiting the Cedars Breast Clinic at the MUHC. The public is encouraged to make a donation on site, to enjoy the performance and to even join in on the fun! Location: 4903 Sherbrooke Street, Westmount; Time: Noon to 3 p.m.

MUHC Today

December 12, 2013

Official closing of the Lachine Hospitals Centennial year: a record for the foundation
The Lachine Hospitals Centennial year officially drew to a close at a special ceremony held at the Camille-Lefebvre Pavilion on Thursday, December 5. Many dignitaries were on hand to mark the end of this milestone year, which saw numerous events held throughout 2013 to celebrate 100 years of excellent care provided to patients at the Lachine Hospital. It was the perfect opportunity to remember the institutions values and rich history. The Centennial events also helped the Lachine Hospital Foundation achieve its goal of raising $3 million as part of its Best Care for Life Campaign, launched in 2009. Jacques Filion, chair of the Foundations board of directors, delivered the news that the goal had been surpassed with a total of $3.1 million raised. On behalf of the Foundations board of directors and the citizens of Lachine and beyond, I would like to thank members of the Campaign Cabinet who have invested their time and energy and made personal and corporate commitments to ensure the success of our campaign. Thanks to the generosity of many donors and community partners, the Lachine Hospital will continue to fulfill its mission of providing the best care to patients and their families in a modern hospital that will be a centre of excellence in geriatric medicine, bariatric surgery and ophthalmology.

The Campaign Cabinet of the Best Care for Life Campaign, Lachine division, chaired by Lachine mayor Claude Dauphin.

MUHC Today

December 12, 2013

The Lachine Hospital Centennial Committee, chaired by Claude Dauphin, mayor of Lachine, and Franois Ouimet, MNA for Marquette.

MUHC Today

December 12, 2013

Mo Bros reach for the razor and say goodbye to their Mo until next year
More than 173,000 Canadians raised over $28 million for mens health initiatives as part of the seventh annual campaign for Movember. Meet a few of the MUHC Mo Bros that took up the challenge:

Olivier Mayrand-De Arteche M.Sc. Occupational Therapist, Student Coordinator - RVH & MNH sites "Wow, that's a 'stache!" For Olivier, having a mustache was a real topic of conversation; everyone wanted to talk about the stache. As much as he enjoyed his manly new look, he did find it a bit itchy. He was glad to raise awareness and encourages more MUHC members to participate next year!

MUHC Today

December 12, 2013

Patrick Quisil Nurse, 15th floor at the MGH

Dr. Armen Aprikian Dr. Aprikian raised over $12,000 for Procure. http://www.lesdefisprocure.ca/fr/challenge/122/donation

MUHC Today

December 12, 2013

Maurice Dansereau Offset printer, MUHC printing office The death of his father-in-law from prostate cancer is what motived Maurice to participate and raise funds for Procure. Having proudly worn a mustache for 30 years, Maurice is quite accustomed to this look and likes the style!

Robert Sutherland Unit coordinator, MGH dialysis L2-500

MUHC Today

December 12, 2013

NEW! MUHC 2015 updates front and centre

Today, the MUHC has launched a front page of our Intranet that will help keep you as informed as possible as we progress through the most significant transformation the MUHC has undertook in years. The new tool is housed on the main page and appears as four quadrants, which represent the following: The Transfers of services from their current sites to either the Glen, Montreal General or the Lachine sites (New MUHC); Preparation for the Transition and the Workforce planning associated with MUHC 2015; Our progress towards a culture of Performance and Continuous Improvement as we aim to balance our budget by end of March 2015; Implementation of our clinical plan in partnership, notably with RUIS institutions. To obtain information about these quadrants, you can simply click on each image. The contents behind each quadrant will be regularly updated as information becomes available. The Public Affairs and Strategic Planning department will send out alerts when significant information is added. Spring 2015, will mark a major milestone in the history of our healthcare centre. Together we will see it come and go. Our hope is we will approach it with much excitement, harnessed with a clear understanding of the roadmap that will get us there. If you have any suggestions or concerns, please email public.affairs@muhc.mcgill.ca or for questions please use our Straight Talk forum, which you will find on the Intranet or use dialogue@muhc.mcgill.ca.

MUHC Today

December 13, 2013

From heart failure to heart transplant

One patient tells the tale of how he went from facing death to making his lifelong dream a reality with the help of the MUHC I was 43 when I had my heart transplant. I have been a personal trainer most of my adult life. This was not supposed to have happened. I first suspected I had something wrong when I took a client for a run and she out ran me. But it wasnt until I was carrying my sons hockey bag up some stairs that I really started to worry because after a few steps I was totally out of breath. I was 39. That was the beginning of my story with heart disease. I was ultimately diagnosed at the Lakeshore Hospital with cardiomyopathy, which means my heart was enlarged and not pumping enough blood. From there I was referred to the Heart Failure Program at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). According to the docs, I was a ticking time bomb. I immediately received an angioplasty and then a pacemaker, both at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH). For six months I felt great but then my health started to drastically decline. I finally had to face a very scary reality: I would need a heart transplant to survive. But my body was in no shape to be able to sustain such an invasive surgery. So I was given a mechanical heart, called an axial flow device, as a bridge to improve my health enough to be able to undergo the transplant. This technology not only kept me alive, it made me stronger. It's been two years since I had my heart transplant at the RVH and I have never felt better. I will never forget the care I received at the MUHCfrom my cardiologist coming into the hospital only three weeks after giving birth to talk to me about the mechanical heart, to my nurses who were truly my guardian angels. Thanks to the exceptional care I received, and to the support of my amazing wife and children, I am not only alive, I am thriving. In fact, I finally did something I have always wanted to: I opened my own fitness centre. Thank you! Shelo Florestal Click here and watch the videos for a behind the scenes look at how our teams work together to provide the best care possible to our heart failure and heart transplant patients