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The Magazine of The Jgh faMily VoluMe 1, nuMber 2 • fall 2017

child Psychiatry50 years of Caring for Children and their families

publiCaTions Mail agreeMenT # 0041093507

cardiovascular Program azrieli heart Centre inaugurated thanks to transformative gift

the Role of humour in care ha-ha moments improve quality of life for patients

P.11 Behind the scenes The new hybrid surgical suite in pavilion K.

P.15 community Action Community-led events and initiatives are having a big impact.

P.21 Recipes healthy lentil soup.

P.22 true Devotion Volunteer rona Davis champions campaign in support of hospital-wide program for the elderly at the Jgh.

P.24 in the news Director of lDi appointed acting president of Cihr. a tribute to Dr. Mark Wainberg (1945-2017).

P.25 new at the JGh new pathology laboratory empowering better care for patients. new imaging technique for better management of prostate cancer. Wall of hope greets parents of premature infants.

P.27 in the Pipeline new radiology clinical decision support system to provide significant improvements in patient care. e-cigarettes could

prove helpful in getting smokers to quit.

P.29 Research & Development unlocking the potential of stem cell therapy. pursuing novel

research in blood stem cells and hematologic oncology.

P.31 health tips five questions to ask when searching for reliable medical

information online.

P.32 Vital initiatives renovation of the psychiatry inpatient unit.

P.34 thank You We are grateful for your commitment and continued support.

P.36 calendar of events a comprehensive listing of upcoming events at and around the Jgh.

P.4 child Psychiatry 50 years of caring for children and their families.

P.8 the Azrieli heart centre azrieli heart Centre inaugurated thanks to transformative gift.

P.12 hospital opportunity Program for students for the past 45 years, hops has helped secondary V students explore a possible career in medicine.

P.14 the Role of humour in care ha-ha moments improve quality of life for patients.

Regular Features contentsVolume 1, numBeR 2

2 Jgh insiDer fall 2017 | jgh.ca

editor:Pascal Fischer

Contributing editors:tod hoffmanhena Konhenry mietkiewiczmindy salomon

graphic Design:marie-claude meilleur

Translation:François Aubémarie-Josée lavoielouise trépanier

printer:tlc Global impressions

photography:JGh Audio-Visual services

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Centre de développement de l’enfance et de la santé mentale – Pavillon Ruth et Saul Kaplan Centre for Child Development and Mental Health– Ruth and Saul Kaplan Pavilion

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child Psychiatry50 Years of caring for children and their Families

Based in the Ruth and Saul Kaplan Pavilion on Côte Saint-Catherine Road, the JGH Centre for Child Development and Mental Health has gained widespread acclaim—and helped countless youngsters—for a strategy that involves not just the child, but a collaboration among parents, siblings, teachers, therapists, nurses and allied health professionals.

For four days a week, the Centre’s 56 children—half under the age of 7, the rest between 8 and 12—attend classes and receive therapy in an environment that, with its teachers, classrooms and gym, closely resembles a school.

However, Dr. Jaswant Guzder, the Centre’s former Director, who retired this past summer after more than 40 years at the JGH, notes that “we are not a school—we are a treatment facility. We are coaching children and their families to help give them the strength to master the regular school, which is the goal of treatment.”

This is why it’s so important for the student-patients to return to their regular schools for one day a week, says Dr. Guzder. For this to happen, close contact between the Centre’s staff and the children’s teachers is essential.

“We’re always fine-tuning what we need to do, in order to help the school and the community accept that child back.”

Although the specially designed facilities of the Ruth and Saul Kaplan Pavilion were opened in 2010, the team ap-proach that Dr. Guzder describes is a direct descendant of the philosophy—both revolutionary and evolutionary—behind the Child Psychiatry Service when it was launched in 1967.

Dr. Ronald Feldman, who was the inaugural Director of Child Psychiatry and held that position until 1977, explains that he largely departed from the psychoanalytic approach that was commonly used at the time. Instead, the JGH undertook what he calls “a dramatic shift” toward a behavioural and academic approach.

Unfortunately, the facilities were often less than ideal. Until 2010, the service was spread over a number of locations including, at various times, the Institute for Community and Family Psychiatry (where adults were treated) and Pavilion A (the former dormitory rooms and classrooms of the JGH School of Nursing).

half a century after introducing a multi-disciplinary team approach to treating children with psychiatric and emotional problems, the Jgh Child psychiatry service is celebrating its landmark 50th anniversary as a Montreal pioneer.



Rosemary Short, who retired this past summer after 27 years as Head Nurse and a total of 34 years at the JGH, remembers that in Pavilion A, the children naturally needed to let off steam, “but all we had there was the corridor. We didn’t really have a space that was suitable for them.”

The new building, on the other hand, is “our dream come true,” Ms. Short adds, because its modern, airy, light-filled space is so conducive to treatment. This has al-lowed staff to be even more effective at “making a difference in the lives of these children and their families.

“Before they came to us, they really didn’t have a voice, and now, for first time, they no longer felt they were alone. At last, they were in contact with other people who were having similar experiences.”

“There’s no question that when children and their parents see us, they’re coming to a child psychiatry hospital,” adds Dr. Paola Habib, who became Director of Child Psychiatry this past summer. “But they’re also pleasantly surprised by this building, because the setting helps lessen any possible stigma of coming here.”

What impressed Dr. Habib when she joined the JGH in 2015 was “its culturally oriented approach, with a strong emphasis on family therapy and therapy in general, as opposed to just medication. And everyone on our staff—whether psychiatrists, psychologists, psycho-educators, front-desk staff or secre-taries—has real passion for their work. It’s more of a vocation than a job.

“I’ve worked in a number of countries, and I can tell you that here at the JGH, I get an especially strong sense that everyone is doing their utmost to address the needs of each patient. This is child psychiatry the way I’ve always dreamt of practicing it.”

Dr. ronald feldman

Dr. Jaswant guzder

Dr. paola habib


On its 50th anniversary, the JGH Division of Child Psychiatry received a most wonderful gift from the RBC Royal Bank: a donation that will help ensure the expansion of its unique mental health initiative for high-risk adoles-cents. These young people suffer from emotional and be-havioural disorders, including anxiety, depression, school refusal, aggression, trauma and abuse. They are also making a transition from hospital-based care to community care.

The Transitional Care program, launched in 2001, is staffed by a social worker and two psycho-educators, who pro-vide six months of crucial follow-up and support services to children and their families after discharge from Child Psychiatry Day Hospital Services. Continuity of care and quick response time are central features of the program. The aim is to aid in the child’s successful reintegration into school and the community.

“With this donation, we wish to bring about change that will help young Canadians become better prepared for the future, build their resilience and self-confidence, and enable them to pursue a path to success,” states Martin Thibodeau, President, Quebec Headquarters, RBC.

Thanks to RBC’s donation, the Division of Child Psychiatry will be able to expand the program to include 13- to 18-year-olds who have mental health problems—especially those who are entering high school, those who

need assistance in returning to school, and those who have difficulty dealing with the transition to secondary school and preparing for CEGEP. The Transitional Care team also will be able to help youths, who are in group homes under Youth Protection, to make the transition to independent housing, as well as youths moving from their parents’ home to independent living. The division also will hire a research assistant to collect evaluation data and acquire computer equipment, portable tablets and cell phones that will en-able the team to be more efficient and available to respond to the needs of youths, parents and school staff.

“The Transitional Care program, which provides continuity of care, helps parents to serve as advocates for their chil-dren,” states Dr. Paola Habib, Director of the Division of Child Psychiatry. “It also assists educators in maintaining the adolescents in their community schools, while filling an important gap in the continuum of care of Quebec’s mental health system.

“RBC’s thoughtful support will make a life-long difference for youths who are coping with mental illness by allowing a greater number of our vulnerable adolescents to bene-fit from the inclusive, compassionate and comprehensive care they need to enjoy the healthy and productive lives they deserve.”

major Gift from RBc enables expansion of innovative Psychiatric transitional care Program


“What do I tell the children?” This is often the biggest concern when a parent is diagnosed with cancer.

“They don’t want to upset their kids,” notes Sandy Lipkus, Coordinator of Hope & Cope’s En Famille program. “They don’t know how much information to give, what words to use, and they don’t want to disrupt the household routine.”

The program offers emotional and practical support to young families with children under the age of 18, in which a parent or grandparent has cancer. When meeting with pa-tients for the first time, Ms. Lipkus distributes copies of specially designed information kits, and then reviews rele-vant sections with parents to help them determine which tips, suggestions and strategies will work for their families.

This support is needed because children often experience strong and frightening emotions, such as anxiety, embarrass-ment, loneliness and/or guilt. Teenagers who may be forced to take on additional responsibilities, such as walking young-er siblings to school or packing lunches for the family, can feel stressed out and resentful. These changes in routine, and

fears of what will happen to them if a parent’s situation takes a turn for the worse, can be very hard on children.

That’s why Ms. Lipkus recommends that parents relay the diagnosis to their children’s teachers, school principals, coaches and instructors of extra-curricular activities. “This will help them make sense of any behavioural changes and allow them to interact with children in a more helpful way,” she says.

Through the En Famille program, parents also have access to a library stocked with a wide variety of books in English and French for every age group, including illustrated books for very young children and interactive workbooks for older children and teens.

A bald “Kimmie” doll, complete with wigs and scarves, is used to help take the fear out of hair loss, and blank journals are available for children who may benefit from writing down their thoughts and feelings, which they may keep private or share with their parents.

“Children often have difficulty putting their emotions into words, so creative outlets that serve as a springboard for discussion are very helpful,” explains Ms. Lipkus. For this reason, each year, the pro-gram offers special sessions, such as drumming workshops, or art activities, such as making puppets and masks, which are then used to act out common scenarios related to feelings and fears around cancer. Peer mentoring, professional refer-rals, private or family life coach-ing sessions, an annual summer barbecue and a volunteer-driven meal program known as Kerry’s Kitchen, round out the program.

For more information, please contact sandy lipkus, 514-340-8222, ext. 22591, or visit https://cancerfightclub.com/young-with-children/.

en Famille Program supports Young Families Dealing with cancer

at the annual en famille barbecue, young families enjoy great food and family-friendly activities such as bean-bag toss and cupcake decorating.


The introduction of special cross-training programs for certain JGH cardiovascular nurses has been instrumental in enabling life-saving treatment to begin more quickly than ever before for heart attack patients who have just arrived in the Emergency Department.

This is just one of the dramatic improvements—some already under way, others yet to be implemented—that have become possible through the Azrieli Heart Centre, officially launched at the JGH on September 18 with a remarkable $20 million gift from the Azrieli Foundation.

Along with an additional $5 million for new intensive care facilities in the recently named Azrieli Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Unit and $1 million for research, the com-bined $26 million gift ranks as one of the most generous acts of philanthropy in the history of the JGH and the single largest in the current JGH campaign.

According to Dr. Lawrence Rudski (JGH Chief of Cardiology) and Serge Cloutier (Associate Director of Nursing - Critical Care and Cardiovascular Units), the new training program that began earlier this year has provided skills to many nurses from the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit to start delivering care in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. Similarly,

Cath Lab nurses are now able to begin providing care in the Cardiac ICU.

As a result, when heart-attack patients arrive in the Emergency Department—often to have a coronary artery or other essen-tial blood vessel repaired or unblocked—they receive much faster treatment than was the case just six months ago. Now that the nurses have completed their basic training, a more sophisticated form of training will be provided. This is a re-flection of the JGH’s longstanding recognition of the value of collaboration among physicians, nurses and a wide range of allied health professionals.

Dr. Rudski, who is Director of the hospital’s Integrated Cardiovascular Program and the Azrieli Heart Centre, ex-plains that when the nurses receive training outside their main area of specialization, a larger pool of professionals is capable of responding more effectively in a wider range of life-threatening circumstances.

The results, which Dr. Rudski describes as “phenomenal”, have enabled the JGH to consistently meet the target of the Ministry of Health and Social Services for the amount of time elapsed before catheter-based interventions, such as an angioplasty, are begun for heart-attack patients.

Azrieli heart centre inaugurated thanks to transformative Gift

Cutting the red ribbon to inaugurate the azrieli heart Centre are (from left) Dr. lawrence rosenberg, president and Ceo of Ciusss West-Central Montreal; Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre; Dr. gaétan barrette, Minister of health and social services; edward Wiltzer, Chair of the Jgh foundation; stephanie azrieli of the azrieli foundation; Dr. naomi azrieli, Ceo of the azrieli foundation; and Dr. lawrence rudski, Jgh Chief of Cardiology and Director of the azrieli heart Centre.


“The Nursing Department is extremely grateful to the Azrieli Foundation for such a generous donation,” Mr. Cloutier adds. “It will allow us to continue to improve our expertise and the quality of the care that we deliver to our patients.”

The focal point of the Azrieli Heart Centre is the cardiovascular area in Pavilions K and E. Although the Azrieli family waited until September 18 for their offi-cial announcement about the donation, the Heart Centre and the ICU began receiving some of the funds earlier this year.

Dr. Naomi Azrieli, Chair of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Azrieli Foundation, says her family is “blessed to have had an opportunity to do a lot of good work with a number of organizations this year, and we wanted each of them to have their time in the spotlight.

“By waiting until now for this announcement, we’ve found the right moment to give the Jewish General Hospital the attention it deserves. We wanted to find the best way to talk about the great work the hospital is doing and how we can support it.”

Particularly compelling, she explains, was the proposal for the Heart Centre, which will have “a transformative impact on patient care, with a ripple effect that will be felt throughout the hospital. It will help the institution play an even greater role in Montreal, Canada and the world.”

The gift to the Intensive Care Unit is, to a significant degree, an expression of gratitude for the care that was pro-vided in the ICU to Dr. Azrieli’s father, David J. Azrieli, shortly before his death in 2014. “Over the years, a number of relatives and friends have been treated there, Dr. Azrieli says, “and it was a uniformly excellent patient- care experience.”

Dr. Michael goldfarb, a cardiologist, has been recruited to serve as Director of Quality for the Cardiac intensive Care unit. among his duties will be to study how to apply the quality-enhancing activities of iCus (such as the azrieli Medical and surgical iCu) to patients in the Cardiac iCu. although this approach seems sensible, it has not yet been tested in cardiac patients.

The number of patients receiving robot-assisted cardiac surgery is expected to grow substantially, perhaps even to double, in the coming years.

The Jgh now has its first fellowship in geriatric cardiology. it offers cardiologists an opportunity to develop a greater expertise in geriatrics, and vice versa, through a combination of research and clinical exposure.

an endowment has been provided for a fellow in cardiac imaging. one new fellow will be recruited annually, either to study alongside a physician in echocardiogra-phy or to participate in the Jgh’s multi-modality imaging fellowship, which is unique in Canada.

funds have been allocated to support the research of Dr. David langleben, former Jgh Chief of Cardiology, who is a leading international expert in pulmonary hypertension. Dr. langleben’s research extends from basic cellular physiology to cutting-edge clinical trials.

With the support of the Azrieli heart centre, the following initiatives are now under way:

The azrieli heart Centre hopes to acquire an Mri (magnetic resonance imaging) machine for research purposes, and to share it with researchers in other Jgh specialties.

a simulation centre is envisioned that would train many types of heart-related healthcare professionals to work together more closely within teams.

The Division of Cardiology, in its role within the integrated health and social services university network for West-Central Montreal, would like to develop or strengthen links to community services. These ties are of importance, since in-hospital care is just one element in a cardiovascular patient’s trajectory of care.

included in the “wish list” is the development of digital tools to improve efficiency and ensure that patients get the most appropriate tests for their specific medical conditions. also on the list are tools to ensure up-to-date and detailed communication among the professionals involved in patient care.

Also planned or under discussion:

Dr. naomi azrieli, Chair of the board of Directors and Ceo of the azrieli foundation.


The Foundation supports scientific research and medicine; higher education; Holocaust education; music and the arts; youth empowerment and school perseverance; architecture; and quality-of-life initiatives for people with developmental disabilities.

In certain instances, the Foundation operates its own programs. For example:

• The Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program collects, archives, publishes and distributes the memoirs and diaries of Holocaust survivors in Canada.

• The Azrieli Fellows Program provides generous financial support to top researchers at seven of Israel’s universities, enabling them to use their training to become leaders in their fields.

• Every two years, the Azrieli Music Prizes presents an award of $50,000 to each of two composers of new Jewish music. The gala to celebrate the second award will be held in Montreal in October 2018.

In addition, the Azrieli Foundation provides funding to such organizations and institutions as Les Écoles Azrieli Schools in Montreal, the Miriam Foundation in Montreal, CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars, Brain Canada, and the Azrieli School of Medicine at Bar Ilan University in Israel.

About the Azrieli Foundation

The Azrieli Foundation was established in 1989 to realize and extend the philanthropic goals of the late David J. Azrieli, C.M., C.Q., M.Arch.

Its mission is to empower individuals, facilitate innovation, and increase knowledge and under-standing in the search for practical and novel solu-tions. It encourages creativity and artistry, while ensuring Jewish heritage, memory and a vibrant Jewish future in Israel and elsewhere in the world.


the new hybrid surgical suite in Pavilion K

The new hybrid operating room in Pavilion K is a marvel of sophistication. It is filled with advanced medical imaging devices and the most up-to-date digital surgical tools, such as a sophisticated angiography system, articulated arms for services, high-tech surgical lights, integrated multimedia de-vices and more. As such, the suite can accommodate surgical and imaging procedures in the same location to make treat-ment safer and easier for patients, as well as faster and more efficient for staff

The new $4 million suite, which received funding from the provincial government and from generous private donors, is one of the few such facilities in North America. The combi-nation of high-resolution imaging devices, such as a highly advanced x-ray fluoroscope (known as a C-arm), with an op-erating room allows for the concurrent use of robotic surgery and angiography, enabling JGH vascular and cardiac surgeons, as well as cardiologists, to perform advanced cardiac, vascular and hybrid procedures. Using on-the-spot 3D imaging, with images displayed on a giant screen alongside the operating table, these types of interventions are far less invasive and more precise, considerably reducing the amount of discomfort and recovery time for patients.

The adaptability of the hybrid surgical suite enabled the JGH to make history this past February, becoming the first hospital in Quebec where just a single surgical session was re-quired for a robot-assisted coronary bypass—performed by Dr. Emmanuel Moss—and the insertion of stents to prevent

blockages in the patient’s coronary arteries. As more such procedures are performed, and as staff use the hybrid room more and more, the JGH will be developing the expertise to become a leader in this type of treatment in Canada.

A video showcasing the main features of the new JGH hybrid operating room can be accessed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02L7IsER0sg or by typing “Hybrid operating room at the JGH” in the YouTube search bar.

BehinD the scenes


hoPs – hospital opportunity Program for students

Since the JGH is a teaching hospital, you’re bound to see medical students on their rounds. But look a little closer. Don’t some seem awfully young? Could they actually be… teenagers?

Indeed they are, but they’re not medical students – just Secondary V students getting a behind-the-scenes look at what daily life is actually like in a major hospital. They’re enrolled in the Hospital Opportunity Program for Students (HOPS), to give those students interested in health science a practical exposure to medicine as a possible career.

HOPS was launched almost 45 years ago as a joint initiative of the JGH Auxiliary and the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) Student Services Department. Each year, about 55 students are accepted for two six-week rota-tions through various hospital departments, including Cardiology, Colorectal Surgery, Dentistry, Dermatology, Emergency Services, Geriatrics, Research, Orthopedics, Otolaryngology. All participants in the program must be well-rounded students with high marks and a keen interest in medicine or science.

Does it work? Just ask any of the HOPS “graduates” who have returned to the JGH as full-fledged professionals, including Dr. Allan Lisbona (see accompanying article),

Dr. Jamie Rappaport (Otolaryngology), and Dr. Jonathan Wyse (Gastroenterology).

Most recently, Uri Bender, a third-year medical student at McGill University, popped into The Auxiliary to say how fondly he remembers his experiences in HOPS! He is currently on a rotation at the JGH in the Division of Vascular Surgery with a goal of becoming a trauma surgeon.

For more information, please contact the JGh Auxiliary at 514-340-8216 or at [email protected].

a group of hops students with Dr. roberta shear (centre), Director of obstetrics and obstetrical ultrasound at the Jgh Department of obstetrics and gynecology.

hops student, Dimitri lambrinakos from Westmount high school.


Passing on the Passion…

“When I was growing up, I always had an interest in health care,” recalls Dr. Allan Lisbona, who now works in the JGH Department of Dentistry as Director, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, as well as serving as Site Director of the hospital’s General Practice Residency Program. His greatest influences were his father, Dr. André Lisbona, a long-serving JGH radiologist and departmental chief and his mother, Glenda, a physiotherapist. But HOPS was there, too, giving Dr. Allan Lisbona that extra, little push of motivation.

Dr. Lisbona’s involvement in HOPS dates back to 1990 when, oddly enough, no rotation was offered in Dentistry. But the circle was eventually closed when he joined the JGH in 2006.

Dentistry is not Dr. Lisbona’s only passion. In 1997, he won a gold medal at the Macabbiah Games as a goalie on the men’s open ice hockey team in Israel. He returned to Israel in 2013 with the Masters hockey team to capture a silver medal. Both teams were coached by former Montreal Canadiens coach, Jacques Demers. Being a husband and father of three, along with the demands of his professional role, has forced him to retire his goalie pads.

Through it all, Dr. Lisbona has retained a soft spot for HOPS, and he’s happy to join in showcasing the Department of Dentistry as part of the rotation schedule. “The students consistently show a high level of interest,” he says, “asking pertinent questions – the interaction is more wanting to be here, not having to be here”.

Join ouR VolunteeRs!Join our team! Volunteer your time and skills at the Jewish General hospital (514-340-8222, ext. 25983/25984), the JGh Auxiliary (514-340-8216), hope & cope (514-340-8255) or the JGh Foundation (514-340-8222, ext. 23069). by sharing your time, you will make a positive difference in the lives of others—and enrich your own.

AsK ouR eXPeRtsDo you have any questions about a medical condition or treatment, or any health-related topics? Send them in and we’ll have them answered by experts from the Jewish General Hospital in an upcoming issue of the JGH Insider. Send your questions to the JGH Insider, 3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, A-107, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, or to [email protected].

This feature is provided for informational purposes only. The answers posted by JGH experts are not intended to be a substitute for individual medical advice in diagnosing or treating a health problem.

tAKe A touRWould you like to experience a “behind-the-scenes” look at the Jewish General Hospital? The JGH Foundation of-fers tours to visitors with advance notice, and on a limited basis. Tours last approximately one to two hours and pro-vide visitors with a glance at our state-of-the-art facilities. It also gives them an opportunity to hear from the physicians and nurses who are shaping the future of health care at the JGH and beyond. Please note that taking a tour involves a significant amount of walking and standing.

For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact larry sidel at 514-340-8222, ext. 21922 or [email protected].


ha-ha moments improve Quality of life for PatientsIt’s a sight that causes people to do a double-take: once a week, two clowns roam the corridors, waiting rooms, and upon request, patients rooms at the Jewish General Hospital, eliciting smiles and laughter wherever they go. The presence of the clowns, who are part of the Dr. Clown program, is made possible thanks to the longstanding support of The Auxiliary.

With their red noses and playful approach, the clowns provide welcome respite from the stress and rigors of treat-ment. “When you’re able to laugh, you are fully in the present moment. It takes you out of your suffering,” noted Melissa Holland, one of the clowns who visits patients and co-founder of the Dr. Clown Foundation, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. “Our goal is to empower patients by lifting their spirits and providing a comforting presence,” she added.

Nancy Rubin, Director of The Auxiliary, attested to the popularity of the program, particularly for patients who are isolated and in distress. “Bringing comfort to patients through innovative programs like Dr. Clown is a core mission of The Auxiliary,” said Mrs. Rubin.

The physical and emotional benefits of laughter are perfectly clear to ovarian cancer survivor Corie-Jay Belinsky, who truly believes that laughter is the best medicine. For two years in a row, she has nabbed a front-row seat at a free stand-up comedy show at Hope & Cope’s Cancer Wellness Centre. The show is produced by Comedy Gives Back in association with Just for Laughs (JFL) and features top stand-up comics who are in Montreal for the JFL Festival. In fact, last year, with her doctor’s permission, Ms. Belinsky delayed a procedure by 24 hours in order to attend the

show, which she called a turning point in her ability to cope with the side effects of chemotherapy. “That day changed everything,” she recalled. “It reminded me that you can’t change the diagnosis - you just have to get through it, so you might as well laugh. Watching stand-up comedy videos and participating in Hope & Cope’s wellness programs really helped me through the toughest moments.”

For more information about Dr. clown, visit www.fondationdrclown.ca/

to read more about the comedy show at hope & cope’s cancer Wellness centre, visit www.hopeandcope.ca/experiencing-transformative-

power-laughter-thanks-comedy-gives-back/

Members of the Dr. Clown program spread laughter throughout the Jgh.

stand-up comics take a bow in the company of hope & Cope executive Director suzanne o’brien (left), and Comedy gives back co-founders zoe friedman (second from left) and Jodi lieberman (sixth from left).


unprecedented support for Vital mental health services at the JGh

On May 7, the Jewish General Hospital Foundation and The Auxiliary held their 3rd annual CIBC MINDSTRONG fitness event at Midtown Sanctuaire. An unprecedented $1.8 million net was raised to support mental health services at the JGH. With a fundraising cost ratio of only 3 per cent, CIBC MINDSTRONG was one of the most cost-efficient fundraising events to be held in Montreal this year. Over 250 participants, including 50 nurses as well as staff from the Psychiatry Department and JGH, engaged in all-day exercise activities from tennis to spinning, boot camp and yoga.

Highlights of the day included a heartfelt welcome video from Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and a performance by singer/songwriter Isaac Basal. The honourees, Vince and Maria Guzzo, were commended for their support of youth mental health. The MCs, TSN690’s Tony Marinaro and TV host and social advocate Malik Sha-heed, kept the crowd entertained and pumped for success!

CIBC MINDSTRONG was preceded by the 2nd Stop the Silence Benefit Concert, featuring La Voix TVA finalist David Marino and friends, at the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts on April 4. The funds raised are

supporting the much-needed renovation of the JGH Psychiatry Inpatient Unit, as well as the maintenance and enhancement of many crucial mental health programs that help thousands of patients each year.

“Every day, we face the devastating effects of mental illness on patients and families,” emphasizes Dr. Karl Looper, JGH Chief of Psychiatry. “These in-clude common disorders, such as depression, anxiety and addiction, as well as severe mental illness, including bipolar and psychotic disorders and the tragic consequences of mental illness, poverty, social isolation and suicide. It’s a huge comfort to have the support of Montrealers in addressing these challenges.”

communitY Action


2017 lDi / tD Bank scholarship Recipients

the lady Davis institute (lDi) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2017 lDi / tD Bank scholarships:

• emma Fowler,

a Master’s candidate in

Dr. Mark basik’s

cancer lab

• Yi lian,

a phD candidate in

Dr. laurent azoulay’s

epidemiology group

• sahil sharma,

a phD candidate in

Dr. Marc fabian’s

cancer lab

• Kaiqiong Zhao,

a phD candidate in

Dr. Celia greenwood’s

epidemiology methods

group

The scholarship supports

and extends the research

profile of the student and

the research capabilities of

the supervisor, while com-

plementing the funding

that investigators receive

from government and

non-government agencies.

The lDi is grateful to

TD bank for supporting

the Jgh foundation’s

capital campaign and

its mission to advance

health research.

Bringing hope to a Forgotten GenerationCancer patients between the ages of 18 and 39 have unique clinical and psychological needs that often cannot be met in a pediatric or conventional adult oncology setting: the types of their cancer, their biology and the psychoso-cial challenges that are intrinsic to their juncture in life render the management of these patients unique and complex. This “forgotten generation” has survival rates lower than those of pediatric-age children and mature adults.

So when a young cancer survivor, Biagio Pagano, wanted to find a way to give back, he turned to the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program (AYAOP) at the Jewish General Hospi-tal. The AYAOP, created in 2003 and directed by Dr. Petr Kavan, is the first oncology program in Canada specifically designed to address the distinctive problems and needs of cancer patients in this age group. Building on a multidis-ciplinary approach with close interdisci-plinary collaboration among all McGill University institutions, the program leads the country in providing this highly vulnerable segment of the population with access to comprehensive care that is tailored to their special needs.

In 2013, along with the St. Brendan’s Knights of Columbus Council #14693, of which he is a member, Mr. Pagano es-

tablished a fund at the JGH Foundation and started a fundraising campaign, Cents of Hope. Its goal was to collect spare change to donate to the AYAOP by placing containers in various places across the city, such as churches and schools.

“I had this idea of children helping children,” says Mr. Pagano. “I wanted to sensitize this special age group and make these kids aware of other kids just like them who may be less fortunate and in need of help.” He felt that Cents of Hope was the perfect way to reach out to adolescents and young adults, and to demonstrate to today’s youth that a little can go a long way. “We want children to participate and contribute as best they can, with pennies, nickels and dimes. We want them to understand that their small change can make a better tomorrow and give others hope.”

To date, the campaign has raised a total of $26,169.42, providing vital support for a program that is mostly funded by private donations. Added to funds raised by Biagio’s Cells Angels team in the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers, the grand total stands at $45,980.62.

For more information on the AYAoP, please visit jgh.ca/en/adolescentand youngadultoncologyprogram or mcgill.ca/aya-oncology/.

to support the program, please visit jghfoundation.org/en/donations/products?id=463 or call the JGh Foundation at 514-340-8251.

For more information about cents of hope, please contact Biagio Pagano at [email protected].

communitY Action


unmasking lung cancer

Having lost her mother and best friend to lung cancer in 2010, Fraida Saxe committed herself fully to changing the prevailing misconception that lung cancer is a smoker’s cancer. She also was determined to help find a cure for this silent killer, which claims more lives than any other form of cancer every year in Canada.

Accordingly, Ms. Saxe founded the LUNGevity Masquerade Party, the first ever fundraising event devoted exclusively to lung cancer awareness and research. In so doing, she is celebrating the life and memory of her mother and of all those who have lost their battle against this devastating disease. The event, first held in 2012 and again in 2014, raised over $200,000 net to sup-port the lung cancer research pro-gram of Dr. Jason Agulnik, who is JGH Director of Pulmonary Clinical

Research and Medical Director of Pulmonary Oncology at the Segal Cancer Centre. This program focuses on developing targeted therapies and ways of pinpointing the cancer as ear-ly as possible, when treatment has the greatest chance of success.

In 2016, Ms. Saxe met Stefanie Brodeur, whose mother had just been diagnosed with lung cancer. When Stefanie’s mother passed away a few months later at 52, both women re-alized they shared the overriding wish that no other family should have to endure the pain and suffering caused by this illness. So they decided to revive the LUNGevity event. “The way I see it, my mother had more options for treatment and trials than were available in previous years,” says Ms. Brodeur. “I couldn’t help but feel that LUNGevity, and events just like it, helped make these options available.”

“We wanted to continue this fundraiser in memory of our mothers, Rozie Saxe and Rosa Maria Corso,” declares Ms. Saxe. “Losing such incredible women, with such a passion to live despite their diagnosis, made us real-ize that the world cannot afford to lose anyone else to lung cancer. Our moth-ers wanted a cure, a remedy to unchain them from this atrocious disease. With the help and support of the communi-ty, we are hoping to get closer to our mothers’ wishes coming true.”

The 3rd LUNGevity Masquerade Party was held on September 14 at Salon Richmond in Montreal, with a Moulin Rouge theme. This year, the event raised close to $100,000. Thank you to all of the dedicated supporters for making it a huge success.

communitY Action


in loving memory of ivan Gardos

Ivan Gardos was kind, genuine and loving. He touched a great many peo-ple in his life. Children, in particular, were very fond of him, since he was always willing to play with them when the opportunity presented itself.

Last February, Mr. Gardos suddenly became very ill. He came to the JGH Emergency Department and was then admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he would spend his last days. “We were amazed by how friendly, dedicated, respect-ful and caring the staff was,” says his daughter, Jennifer Gardos. “The nurses were fabulous, sparing no effort to care for our dad and to make things as comfortable as possible for us. Some nurses from Emergency even came to visit us in the ICU!”

On March 1, Ivan passed away. He was only 67, and his untimely death was a devastating blow for his family and all those who knew him. “Over 600 people from all over the U.S., Canada and even South America

came to pay their respects,” says his widow, Eva. “Even children who had met him only once sent a message,” emphasizes his 10-year old grand-daughter, Julia.

To honour, celebrate and remember Ivan’s beautiful spirit and life, and the gift of love and laughter he bestowed upon all who had the good fortune to know him, the family contacted the JGH Foundation to establish the Ivan Gardos Memorial Fund for the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Intensive Care Unit. The fund can receive donations on an on-going basis and, as such, represents a positive and wonderfully tangi-ble way to keep Ivan’s memory alive while making a lasting difference in the lives of others.

Ivan’s grandchildren, Maya, Megan, Julia and Joey, came up with the idea of noting the names of the people who came to the Shiva house (house of morning) to pay their respects, and then making personalized bracelets for them.

“We wanted to thank our grandfa-ther for his kindness and show how much we love him,” says Julia. They also asked each recipient to voluntari-ly give as much as they want for the bracelet, with the goal of donating all the money collected to the JGH. “We were asking $5 per bracelet, but most people gave much more than that, and we ended up raising $270 within a few hours,” states Julia proudly.

“It was like a production line,” recalls his daughter, Allison Gardos. “Each one had a job to do and it took them only five minutes per bracelet. It was a wonderful way to honour their beloved grandfather’s memory and, at the same time, help the JGH continue providing care of the high-est quality with compassion. I’m so proud of them!”

To date, thanks to the generosity of family and friends, the Ivan Gardos Memorial Fund’s total is in excess of $5,000. As a result, Ivan’s name has been added to the Digital Wall of Honour in Pavilion K’s Agora, providing an additional vibrant and compelling dedication in his memory.

communitY Action

The gardos family (from left): ari zucker, Maya and Megan zucker, Jennifer, eva and allison gardos, sidney serour, Julia and Joey serour.


2017 national bank Molecular pathology fellowship Karine choquet named Recipient of 3rd Annual excellence in Research AwardKarine Choquet, a PhD candidate in human genetics at McGill University supervised by Dr. Claudia Kleinman from the Lady Davis Insitute (LDI) at the Jewish General Hospital, has recently been named the recipient of the 3rd Annual National Bank Excellence in Research Award. Es-tablished by the National Bank to advance medical research in the area of molecular pathology, this award is part of the bank’s longstanding commitment to the Jewish General Hospital (JGH).

Karine Choquet works in the crucial domain of bioinformatics applied to neurodevelopment and neu- rodegenerative diseases, such as leukodystrophies which affect one in 7,000 children and remain incurable. The National Bank Molecular Pathology Fellowship will help set a momentum for increased collaborations between bio-informaticians at the LDI, other researchers, and financial informaticians working with large datasets.

“It is thanks to the collaboration and generous support from private donors such as the National Bank that the

Walk-a-thon Raises over $500,000 in 10 Years!Alex Trichas and Nick, Chris and André Dimopoulos own a successful auto parts business. Thanks to the Dorval, Sources and St-Henri Auto Parts Walk-a-thon, an annual event that has raised over $500,000 in 10 years for Hope & Cope’s cancer exercise program, they also are making a name for themselves as skilled fundraisers who care deeply about the welfare of cancer patients.

First held in September 2008, this scenic, leisurely, seven- kilometre walk through St. Maxim Park in Chomedey, Laval, has become the charity of choice for enthusiastic members of the Trichas and Dimopoulos families, their friends, staff, customers and suppliers.

The low entry fee—a minimum of $25 in pledges is required for someone to register as a walker—combined with a mouth-watering BBQ and raffle, make this event a proven winner.

The Walk-a-thon is also a great motivator for the patients themselves, several of whom train for weeks in the gym of the Hope & Cope Cancer Wellness Centre, under the watchful eyes of the centre’s exercise staff and volunteers. As their stamina increases, so, too, does their motivation. Cheered on by their families, they take great pride not only in completing the walk, but in doing their part to raise funds for a program that has a profound impact on their physical health and their emotional well-being.

Held under sunny skies, on September 10, 2017, the 10th anniversary edition of this fundraiser was the best one yet. “We are deeply grateful to the many donors, walkers, cus-tomers, suppliers and employees who continue to make this day so successful,” says Alex Trichas, who singled out Gus Anagnostaras for his invaluable assistance.

Read more about the Dorval, sources and st-henri Auto Parts Walk-a-thon at http://hopeandcope.ca/five-fabulous-guys-one-amazing-fundraiser/. to learn about hope & cope’s exercise program, visit http://hopeandcope.ca/wellness/#exercise.

communitY Action

(from left) edward Wiltzer, Jgh foundation Chair; Michel bitar, national bank Vice-president, Commercial banking, Montreal, laval, north and West of Quebec, Karine Choquet, award recipient; Dr. alan spatz, Director, eileen & louis Dubrovsky Molecular pathology Centre; larry sidel, Jgh foundation senior Vice-president and Chief Development officer.

Walkers enjoy the scenic, family-friendly atmosphere of the Dorval, sources and saint-henri auto parts Walk-a-thon in support of hope & Cope’s exercise program.

Jewish General Hospital (JGH) remains at the forefront of medical research and continues to provide its patients with high-quality medical care,” emphasized Myer Bick, President and CEO of the JGH Foundation.


ladies in Pink for Women’s cancers

The women of the Elm Ridge Country Club, captained by Lise Gallant, held their 9th annual Ladies in Pink Golf and Bridge event on July 4. Decked out in pink, a full comple-ment of 144 golfers enjoyed a beautiful, sunny morning on Elm Ridge’s manicured links, followed by a delicious lunch and, in the afternoon, duplicate bridge directed by Norman Cohen.

“This year we broke all records, with a level of participa-tion in Ladies in Pink that had never been seen before at Elm Ridge,” states the Committee Chair, Dr. Lois Baron, Professor Emerita in the Education Department at Concordia University. The event also raised $8,300 net—the most ever—for the Segal Cancer Centre at the JGH. This is a truly impressive accomplishment, considering that each woman was required to make a donation of only $36 to participate.

The sale of mulligans and raffle tickets accounted for the rest of the amount collected.

“Ladies in Pink 2017 would not have achieved such success without the hard work and commitment of my fellow committee members, Eileen Erlick, Cindy Naimer and Arlene Tolensky, who were simply amazing,” Dr. Baron gratefully acknowledges.

Since 2011, this event has raised a total of $21,130 net to support cutting-edge research and clinical practice in women’s cancers at the Segal Cancer Centre.

Women interested in taking part in the 10th edition of Ladies in Pink next summer are invited to contact Elm Ridge Country Club at 514-626-3992 (extension 0) or to visit the Club’s Facebook page or website (www.elmridgecc.com) in spring 2018, for more details.

Wiseman house Reception Raises $25,000 for nephrologyOn April 27, close to 100 guests attended a cocktail dinatoire at the home of Hainya and Murray Wiseman. $25,000 net was raised from this eve-ning, benefiting the Sandra & Steven Mintz Ne-phrology Centre. As a hostess extraordinaire, Hainya spoke on The Art of Everything… And Then Some. The Mintz Family was represented by their daughter, Jodi. Both she and Dr. Gershon Frisch, of the Division of Nephrology, thanked the Wisemans, their guests and The Auxiliary for their support.

communitY Action


Many of us aspire to eat well. However, preparing nutritious meals can be particularly challenging for peo-ple coping with illnesses. Often, illness robs the body of its strength and appetite, and arduous treatments and their side effects can turn eating from a joy into a chore.

With this in mind, several years ago, a group of Hope & Cope volunteers put together a cookbook called Nourishing Hope with Recipes to Cope. The project was a labour of love for a group of dedicated volunteers and passionate cooks, led by volunteers Darline Rosenhek and Mariam Bowen. Recipes were solicited from cancer survivors and their caregivers, as well as several well-known chefs, au-thors, broadcasters and doctors who had experienced cancer firsthand and were happy to contribute to this cookbook. The recipes were tested in the Cancer Wellness Centre’s kitchen and reviewed by oncology dietitian, Nelda Swinton, and the cookbook is intended not just for cancer patients, but for anyone interested in healthy eating.

The cookbook sells for $10, with all proceeds supporting Hope & Cope’s healthy eating program, and is available for purchase at Hope & Cope’s Cancer Wellness Centre. Call 514-340-3616 for more information.

lentil soupCourtesy of Darline rosenhek

Makes 7 (250 ml – 1 cup) servings

15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil

250 ml (1 cup) onion, finely diced (1 medium onion)

3 cloves garlic, smashed, peeled and minced

15 ml (1 tbsp) ground cumin

7.5 ml (1 1/2 tsp) chili powder

250 ml (1 cup) celery, peeled and diced small (about 3 ribs)

250 ml (1 cup) carrots, peeled and diced small (3 medium)

750 ml (3 cups) chicken stock *

750 ml (3 cups) water

180 g (1 cup) lentils (le puy, or brown or red)

125 ml (1/2 cup) chopped parsley

10 ml (2 tsp) fresh lemon juice

freshly ground black pepper to taste

sauté onions in olive oil until translucent.

add garlic and sauté for a minute.

add celery and carrots, cumin and chilli powder and cook until vegetables have softened.

stir in the stock, water and lentils.

bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 40 minutes, or until lentils are very soft, stirring occasionally.

remove from heat.

in a food processor, purée about half of the lentils.

stir the purée back in to the pan.

add parsley, lemon juice and black pepper.

heat through.

*Can substitute chicken stock for beef or vegetable stock.

(Tip) lentils come in many colours; red, green, brown and yellow and are rich in fibre. unlike beans, they may cause less gas and there is no need to pre-soak them before cooking.

ReciPes

protein 9 g fat 3 g Carbohydrate 20 g fibre 5 g potassium 591 mg

nutrients per serving: cAloRies: 138


Rona Davis lending a helping handVolunteers are the backbone of the hospital and a big part of what makes the JGH the very special place it is. They also provide essential, behind-the-scenes support for the Foundation’s fundraising efforts, donating their time and talents to help with day-to-day operations, events, special activities and projects. Volunteers like Rona Davis reflect the tradition of selfless giving and caring that is at the heart of our continued success in empowering the JGH to remain at the forefront of innovation, scientific discovery and clinical excellence for the benefit of the people of Montreal and Quebec.

Rona Davis has been volunteering for the JGH and the JGH Foundation in many capacities since 2007, but her ties to the hospital span many more years than that. “All of my children were born here,” she says. “I am proud to have the opportunity to get involved with an institution like the JGH, which for me is the crème de la crème of Montreal hospitals.”

It all started when her husband, Robert, had to undergo surgery at the JGH in 2006. “Dr. Calvin Melmed, Chief of Neurology at the time, was so kind and caring,” she recalls. “To show our appreciation, we were determined to support him and his vision of build-ing a state-of-the-art stroke centre.” Rona and Robert went on to invite Montrealers to contribute, and the sig-nificant funds that they raised helped to ensure the success of the project. Since it opened in 2008, the JGH Edmond J. Safra Stroke Centre has

had a substantial impact on the quality of life of stroke patients, not only in Canada, but around the world— an accomplishment that makes both of them feel extremely proud and gratified.

In 2014, Rona was invited to join the Board of Directors of the JGH Foundation and become the chair of a fundraising campaign in support of a hospital-wide program designed for the elderly, the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). This program trains volunteers to assist staff in minimizing delirium and function-al decline in elderly patients during hospitalization (see side story on p. 23). “My mother, Faye Singerman, passed away at the venerable age of 102½,” Rona says. “She used to say that she was part of a forgotten generation that nobody cares about or visits. When I received the invitation, all of my mother’s words came back to me and I saw a chance to make a difference.”

With her leadership and dynamism, she has championed the HELP pro-gram, communicating its impor-tance with such impact that close to $500,000 has been raised from over 30 donors in little more than two years, leading to the launch of a pilot project in the JGH Division of Geriatric Medicine. These funds made it possi-ble to hire a program coordinator, ex- tensively train 18 highly qualified

volunteers primarily from CEGEPs and universities, and send staff to the annual international HELP confer-ences in Pittsburgh, to name only a few accomplishments. Rona also ap-proached the JGH Auxiliary to become a partner in the project. The Auxiliary agreed to direct a significant portion of the proceeds of its Philips Lifeline medical alert service to help fund the position of a program coordinator for an initial period of three years.

For Rona, the reason it’s so essential to support the HELP program is ob-vious. “In effect, we’re investing in our future,” she asserts. “We’re living lon-ger, and a long life also means greater chances of getting sick. As we grow older, we hope that somebody will care for us and that we will not be part of a forgotten generation. And that is a huge difference!

“If one has been fortunate to live a full and happy life, then it’s only right to give back,” Rona concludes. “The gratification and the feeling of fulfil-ment you get from helping others is tre-mendously satisfying. That’s why, when the opportunity to do so presented itself, I gladly accepted.”

Born and raised in Montreal, Rona is a retired consultant on gender issues and a book reviewer. She and Robert have three children—Caroline, Joanne and Bryan—and 10 grandchildren.

tRue DeVotion

tRue DeVotion

rona Davis (centre) with help volunteer andréa angelescu (left) and help Coordinator isabelle lamontagne.


the hospital elder life ProgramThe proportion of the population 65 and over in Quebec will almost double in the next 25 years. For these elderly individuals, hospitalization represents a pivotal event that can contribute to functional decline and/or an episode of delirium. This, in turn, can lead to delayed hospital dis-charge, disability, a diminished quality of life and, ultimate-ly, institutionalization. Yet, many of these consequences can be avoided or prevented.

Recently, the Minister of Health and Social Services mandated that each hospital develop a specialized approach to senior care, known as l‘Approche adaptée à la personne âgée (AAPA). This multifaceted, interdisciplinary pro-gram aims to improve health outcomes and patient/family experience for the elderly by ensuring that every facet of the hospital—from clinical practices to the use of physi-cal space—is geared towards preserving and promoting functional autonomy throughout hospitalization and after discharge.

Modeled from a program initiated at Yale University, which is currently in operation in more than 200 locations in 12 countries, the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) that is being implemented at the JGH complements the AAPA. It is a tried-and-true, volunteer-based program that assists hospital staff in minimizing delirium and functional de-cline in elderly patients. Its primary goals are to maintain cognitive and physical functioning of the high-risk elder-ly throughout hospitalization, to maximize independence upon discharge, to assist with the transition from hospital to home, and to prevent unplanned hospital re-admissions.

The program addresses risk factors that are known to contribute to cognitive and functional decline in older patients during hospitalization. Interventions by volun-teers include stimulation activities to maintain cognition, encouraging patient mobility, ensuring that hearing and vision aids are worn and that patients eat properly, providing empathetic support and information to family members on how to maintain the vitality of their elderly relative after discharge, and providing the personal attention and sup-port that vulnerable elderly patients need to heal and thrive.

The aging of the population makes providing elder-friendly care a priority, especially for a hospital like the JGH, which already treats a greater proportion of elderly patients (75 and over), compared to other Quebec hospitals. In fact, the JGH is recognized by the government as a Centre of Excellence in Geriatrics and Chronic Care.

To date, HELP has been successfully implemented as a pilot project in the Division of Geriatric Medicine, and the initiative is slowly but surely gaining ground across the hos-pital. Ensuring the expansion of the program to additional medical departments and services, and ultimately through-out the JGH, will require additional resources. These include more volunteers and training resources, as well as educational and promotional material for staff, patients and their families. Also of importance is the acquisition of specialized equipment to help seniors maintain autonomy of mobility, perception, feeding, stimulation, etc. The in-troduction of evaluative and analytic tools to measure the outcomes of the HELP initiative are being developed in conjunction with McGill University.

community support is crucial, since helP is entirely funded through private donations. For more information or to donate to this essential program, please contact Danyael cantor at 514-340-8222, extension 28844 or [email protected]. You can also visit the official helP website at hospitalelderlifeprogram.org for more detailed information.

tRue DeVotion


Director of lady Davis institute Appointed Acting President of the cihR

Dr. Roderick McInnes, Director of Research in the Lady Davis Institute at the JGH, was appointed Acting President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in March by the Honourable Jane Philpott, Federal Minister of Health.

In making the announcement, the Minister said, “Dr. McInnes’ track record of scientific excellence and knowledge of both the Canadian health research landscape and CIHR make him very well suited to take on this important new role.”

Among his many accomplishments, Dr. McInnes, an internationally recognized scientist, is the Alva Chair in Human Genetics and Canada Research Chair in Neurogenetics, and a Professor of Human Genetics and of Biochemistry at McGill University. From 2000 to 2010, he served as the inaugural Scientific Director of the Institute of Genetics.

“The CIHR is the engine of health research in Canada,” said Dr. McInnes. “It is a great honour to be asked to assume this important position at this critical time in the CIHR’s history.”

tRiBute – Dr. mark Wainberg (1945-2017)Dr. Mark Wainberg was one of the world’s pre-eminent experts on HIV/AIDS and its treatment. His pioneer-ing work included the development of an anti-viral drug that has been instru-mental in saving millions of lives around the world. He was also among the first scientists to identify the problem of HIV drug resistance.

What motivated Dr. Wainberg was not scientific inquiry alone, but his pas-sion and commitment to helping those affected or endangered by HIV/AIDS. This sense of urgency was particular-ly evident at international conferences, where the outspoken Dr. Wainberg did not hesitate to criticize governments that he felt could be doing more to fight the disease and help those in need, especially in developing countries.

Dr. Wainberg was head of HIV/AIDS research at the Lady Davis Institute (LDI), as well as Director of the McGill AIDS Centre, which is based at the JGH. He also served as Director of the LDI from 2000 to 2009. He was a Professor in the Departments of Microbiology and

Immunology, Pediatrics, and Medi-cine at McGill University. He was in-strumental in founding the Canadian Association for HIV Research.

Dr. Wainberg served as President of the International AIDS Society from 1998 to 2000, with responsibilities that in-cluded organizing the 13th International Congress on AIDS in Durban, South Africa, in 2000. He also co-chaired the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto in 2006, where he publicly challenged the Canadian government to support global efforts to fight AIDS.

DR. WAinBeRG’s mAnY honouRs incluDeD:

• officer of the order of Canada

• officer of the national order of Quebec

• Chevalier in france’s legion of honour

• fellow of the royal society of Canada

• honourary fellow of the royal College of physicians and surgeons of Canada

• Member of the Canadian Medical hall of fame

• recipient of the 2012 Killam prize for health science, one of Canada’s most prestigious awards

in the neWs


Pathology laboratory

The newly renovated and expanded 6,000-square-foot Pathology Laboratory, on the first floor of Pavilion G, is enabling the JGH Department of Pathology to rapidly perform a higher volume of vital diagnostic evaluations of tissue samples.

With more space, improved mechanical systems and the addition of a high-performance Laboratory Information System, the upgraded laboratory provides clinicians with the reliable results they need to more quickly establish ac-curate diagnoses and appropriate treatment plans. It also is enhancing the availability of information that is essential to monitoring and preventing disease, as well as assisting with research throughout the hospital.

“It is well demonstrated that about 60 per cent of clinical decisions in a hospital are based on results provided by the Pathology Division. This is especially true of cancer, where accurate diagnosis is of key importance in determining treatment options, establishing prognosis, monitoring the progression of disease, and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments. This renovation has allowed us to completely reengineer our flows to improve safety and efficiency. We are all very enthusiastic with the result, and deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity has made this renovation possible” states Dr. Alan Spatz, Chief of Pathology.

“We play a leading role in the clinical management of tumours, as well as in the development of new anti-cancer drugs,” explains Dr. Spatz. “Personalized medicine also relies on pathology to identify molecular drivers, improve diagnosis and administer the right treatment plan at the right time and with the right dose. As such, the new Pathology Laboratory is an indispensable partner of the Segal Cancer Centre and plays a central role at the JGH in improving the quality and extending the lifespan of a growing number of cancer patients.”

Along with the Eileen & Louis Dubrovsky Molecular Pathology Centre and the Maria Saputo Monticciolo Clinical Research Unit, the state-of-the-art Pathology Laboratory is empowering the JGH’s skilled pathologists to provide the best available healthcare services to individuals, families and healthcare providers in Montreal and throughout Quebec.

Wall of hope Greets Parents of Premature infants

The Karen & Murray Dalfen Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Pavilion K has an inspiring, new photo display, thanks to The Auxiliary’s Tiny Miracle Fund, chaired by Roz Rinzler. The Wall of Hope, which consists of 20 poster-sized photo-graphs of children, extends across two walls inside the NICU. They show NICU graduates holding their baby pictures, along with their names and birth statistics. The primary purpose of the photo display is to provide a message of hope for the parents of premature infants.

The photographs were taken in August 2016 during a Preemie Reunion at the JGH, to which former NICU patients, who were born weighing less than one kilogram, were invited to attend with their fam-ilies. The Tiny Miracle Fund extends a huge “thank you” to photographer Ryan Blau for donating his time and talent to this very special project.

The Wall of Hope is dedicated to the memory of Thelma Shapiro, who was a most valued member of the Tiny Miracle Fund Committee. Special thanks to the Shapiro family for their generosity in sponsoring this project.

neW At the JGh


new imaging technique for Better management of Prostate cancer

The Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Jewish General Hospital, head-ed by Dr. Stephan Probst, is now perform-ing 68Ga-PSMA Positron Emission Tomography/Com-puted Tomography (PET/CT) imaging under protocol, which represents a major ad-vance in detecting prostate cancer and managing recurrent and high-risk cancers.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-associated death in North American men aged 50 and older. “As is the case with most malignancies, accurate diagnosis, staging and risk- stratification are essential for optimal management and treatment of patients with prostate cancer,” states Dr. Probst. “With cutting-edge diagnostic imaging like PSMA PET/CT, prostate cancer patients have never had better care than today.”

PSMA PET/CT makes use of a protein that sits on the surface of every prostate cancer cell, called PSMA or prostate specific membrane antigen. A specially designed ligand bound to a radioisotope, Gallium-68, is injected into the patient. This allows for the detection of pros-tate cancer cells anywhere in the body more accurately than with traditional methods, while also avoiding false- positive results.

PSMA PET imaging offers the level of sensitivity and specificity required to detect and visualize metastatic prostate cancer in newly diagnosed high-risk prostate cancer patients and in those with recurrent prostate can-cer, allowing doctors to make better-informed treatment decisions which lead to better outcomes for these patients. As the radioisotope ligand that is injected as part of the PSMA PET/CT is very costly, private support has been and will continue to be crucial to empower the department to offer this test to as many prostate cancer patients as possible.

For more information or to make a donation, please contact the JGh Foundation at 514-340-8251.

neW At the JGh


e-cigarettes could Prove helpful in Getting smokers to Quit

Dr. Mark Eisenberg, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, is conducting the largest clinical trial ever devised to determine the effectiveness and safety of electronic ciga-rettes as a tool to help smokers quit their habit.

“The single most reversible cause of mortality in Canada is smoking,” emphasizes Dr. Eisenberg. “If we can succeed in getting smokers to quit, we can have a significant, positive impact on the health of Canadians, while reducing the economic burden of illness.”

Participants over the age of 18, who have smoked at least 10 cigarettes a day for more than a year and who are motivated to quit, are being recruited for the e-cigarette trial. Inves-tigators hope to involve 486 people. They will be randomly placed into one of three groups: nicotine e-cigarettes with individual coun-selling; non-nicotine e-cigarettes with indi-vidual counselling; or individual counselling alone. The treatment period will be 12 weeks, with follow-up for a year to evaluate their experience.

“The goal of our study,” he says, “is to determine whether e-cigarettes can be used as a tran-sitional tool from smoking conventional cigarettes to quitting completely.”

in the PiPeline

For further information about the clinical trial, contact Andrea hebert-losier, e3 trial coordinator, at 514-340-8222, ext. 23240, or [email protected].

Dr. eisenberg discusses the e-cigarette trial at http://bit.ly/2qWcAjK.


new Radiology clinical Decision support system to Provide significant improvements in Patient care

The JGH will be introducing the use of a clinical decision support (CDS) system for the ordering of all medical imaging procedures, especially high-cost modalities such as MRI, CT, PET and nuclear imaging. The objective is to build a single gateway portal for physicians to order all imaging procedures, ensuring that all diagnostics decisions are supported by evidence based knowledge.

CDS is a unified electronic order entry system designed to enhance clinical decision-making with on-demand, re-al-time, evidence-based guidance to improve health and healthcare delivery. The software uses rule sets to analyze and rank the appropriateness of a physician’s order for a diagnostic imaging exam. It then provides the physi-cian with feedback as to whether they should consider ordering a more appropriate procedure, as well as addi-tional information including the urgency of obtaining the study, how much radiation the patient will be exposed to, how expensive it is and whether it already has been performed recently.

By empowering physicians–—in collaboration with radiologists–—to choose the right imaging test at the right time and for the right reasons, CDS will contribute to reduce the number of inappropriate exams, thereby improving quality of care, minimizing waste and costs, and enhancing patient safety by reducing unnecessary exposure to radiation and intravenous contrast agents. This, in turn, will translate into an enhanced patient experience as well as improved efficiency.

Current evidence suggests a potential reduction of unnecessary and sometimes harmful procedures by anywhere from 5 to 30%. Given the annual volume of 200,000 radiology procedures performed at the JGH, there will be a significant impact in terms of quality of care and resource utilization. Reducing the volume of un-necessary examinations also will help reduce wait times for imaging tests at the JGH.

The JGH will be the first institution in Quebec to use this leading edge technology for referral management.

in the PiPeline

Stem cells are unique, in that they have the remarkable capacity to repro-duce and re-form themselves into spe-cific, functional cells when and where they are needed. They hold tremen-dous therapeutic potential, because they have the potential to repair and replace damaged tissue. If only we un-derstood exactly how they went about their incredible transformation and we could learn to replicate them at will.

Research to better comprehend how stem cells function has implications for a wide variety of diseases, as well as the process of aging.

The Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital has assembled a core of stem cell researchers as part of its Molecular and Regenerative Medicine group.

Dr. Nicoletta Eliopoulos focuses on how to use adult stem cells, such as mesenchymal stromal cells, for cell and gene therapy. This particular type of cell is promising because it migrates to places where tissues have been dam-aged and, therefore, may be suscepti-ble to manipulation for therapeutic benefit, for example, in cancer.

“Our research includes the isolation and expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells from bone marrow or adipose tissue and their subsequent gene modification for the delivery of therapeutic proteins for a variety of applications, which include kidney disease and cancer,” Dr. Eliopoulos explains. “Aside from being effective gene product delivery vehicles, these cells provide many additional benefits on their own, such as tissue protection and repair.”

Drs. Colin Crist and Vahab Soleimani are experts in muscle stem cells, which are responsible for maintaining skeletal muscle throughout lifetime. Dr. Soleimani studies how muscle stem cells repair damaged muscle and how they are maintained as stem cells within the muscle tissue throughout a person’s lifespan.

“We need to identify the mechanisms responsible for the proliferation, dif-ferentiation and renewal of muscle stem cells,” Dr. Soleimani says. “How do they become depleted in muscu-lar dystrophies? And why, with age, does the regenerative and reparative capacity of muscle stem cells decline?”

Research may make it possible to develop targeted drugs that could re-juvenate muscle stem cells in aging individuals, causing them to perform with the vigour they exhibit in youth.

“Real progress in stem cell-based therapies, especially with the goal of achieving a life-long graft, will cer-tainly require a better understanding of the biology of stem cells. How do they maintain dormancy? How do they replicate themselves when re-sponding to injury? We are working to answer these fundamental questions,” Dr. Crist says.

“Can we use muscle stem cells as a paradigm to discover how other tissue might be regenerated?” Dr. Soleimani wonders. “Stem cells hold great pro- mise for repairing damage, but ma-nipulating them just so has proven extremely complex. Once we under-stand the circuit board of molecular biology that regulates their function, the sky is the limit in terms of the therapeutic applications for stem cells.


unlocking the Potential of stem cell therapy

ReseARch AnD DeVeloPment


The Jewish general hospital’s Cell processing Centre at the lady Davis institute prepares patient cells for cell and gene therapy clinical trials. Dr. nicoletta eliopoulos is the laboratory director of the facility.

Dr. Vahab soleimani

Dr. Colin Crist

Thanks to the support of the JGH Foundation and generous donors, Dr. François Mercier has been recruited to the JGH Division of Hematology as an attending physician and to the Lady Davis Institute as a principal investigator. He is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine at McGill University.

A 2004 graduate of McGill’s Faculty of Medicine, he completed his resi-dency in internal medicine and hema-tology before embarking on a research fellowship at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in 2010. There, he worked on understanding how blood stem cells regenerate and mutate to form leukemias.

“I was really interested in coming to the Jewish General because it is very supportive of young researchers, pro-viding me the chance to divide my time productively between the clin-ic and the lab,” Dr. Mercier said in explaining why he was so enthusiastic about returning to Montreal. “I think the opportunity to move between bench and bedside is critical. The

knowledge that we acquire from treating our patients helps us to de-velop better hypotheses, and then to translate our experiments into better therapies for our patients.”

Dr. Mercier is pursuing a clinical study to employ single-cell RNA sequencing on cell samples taken from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This is a very powerful tool that allows deep insight into the make-up of leu-kemic cells. The aim is to distinguish between the cells of those patients who respond favourably to certain drug therapies as opposed to those who do not. Identifying resistant cells can have a major impact in defining a pa-tient’s treatment regimen. This work is being supported by a grant from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.

AML is an aggressive form of blood cancer that strikes 1,500 Canadians per year. The survival rate at five years is only 30%, though younger pa-tients tend to have a better prognosis because they can tolerate aggressive chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation.

“Our treatment plans for leukemia haven’t changed drastically in many years, so this is a fertile field for re-search,” he explains. “With DNA sequencing, we know that AML involves fewer genetic mutations, by several orders of magnitude, than other cancers. But, despite identi-fying the mutations, we haven’t succeeded in developing better treat-ments—so far. This tells me that we are probably missing something, for which we need to conduct further research.”

Leukemia frequently recurs after going into remission. The suspicion is that a reservoir of the cancer remains at un-detectable levels, even after it appears to have been eliminated. Evidence suggests that leukemic cells are, like blood cells, a kind of stem cell that is capable of regenerating itself. In order to eradicate the disease entirely, the stem cell that is the progenitor for the cancer must be eliminated. Exploring ways to accomplish this task is among Dr. Mercier’s lines of inquiry.

As well, he is employing a revolutionary gene editing technology, called CRISPR, to see whether splicing genes associated with AML can elimi-nate the disease. This is highly experi-mental work that could eventually be translated to humans.

“It is very exciting to be able to follow these projects in the lab at the Lady Davis while helping patients at the JGH,” he said. “I am very grate-ful to the JGH Foundation for giving me the opportunity to pursue these two paths of health science, which I hope will result in better outcomes for people with blood cancers.”


Dr. François mercier Pursuing novel Research in Blood stem cells and hematologic oncology



heAlth tiPs

Five Questions to Ask When searching for Reliable medical information online

also, look for the health on the net accreditation: www.hon.ch

The patient & family resource Centre at the Jghwww.jgh.ca/en/pfrcevalhealthinfo

offers a helpful web site for evaluating online health information.

Who is the site’s sponsor (commercial or non-commercial)?

For example, is it a pharmaceutical company, or a scientific or

research organization like the Canadian Cancer Society?

What is the web address? Look for addresses that end with .gov,

.org or .edu (but be aware that hospital sites may end with .com).

When was the site updated?

Look for the date of the latest revision.

Does the site present facts or individual opinions (even opinions

from a healthcare professional)? Are there references to scientific

articles and other sources of the information?

Who is the website for—consumers or healthcare professionals?

The JGH’s Department of Psychiatry, led by Dr. Karl Looper, provides a wide variety of mental health outpatient and inpatient services. These include the well-known Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry; the Centre for Child Development and Mental Health; the Young Adult Assessment Centre; and the hospital’s Inpatient Psychiatry Unit.

The JGH is one of the few hospitals in Montreal and Quebec to have main-tained a full inpatient psychiatry service. The 48-bed unit provides comprehen-sive, acute, short-term assessment and treatment, including emergency and high-risk care, for patients who are experiencing a mental health crisis and who often also have medical illnesses, multiple impairments or chronic medical conditions.

The unit consists of an open, 32-bed ward, a closed, eight-bed High Care Area and an eight-bed Transitional Unit. Patients are seen by multidisciplinary teams involving Psychiatry, Psychology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Services and family practitioners. Inter-vention is geared towards early discharge and transfer to an outpatient service. The unit is consistently full to overflow-ing, with patients often waiting in the Emergency Department to be admitted.

The Psychiatry Department is also feeling the effects of bed closures that have oc-curred locally in several major hospitals, without a commensurate increase in community-based services. While the care provided is without question one of the finest and most compassionate in

Montreal, the current Psychiatry Inpatient facility, built in the 1950s, has remained largely unchanged and no longer meets the standards of care or the needs of the public.

Renovation of the Psychiatry Inpatient Unit will help the JGH meet patients’ complex psychiatric needs, improve the patient experience and the quality of their lives, lower family stress, and reduce the stigma of psychiatric hospi-talization, while making staff easier to recruit and retain. In the new facility, space will be used more efficiently, dedicated family rooms will be added for private counselling, and there will be private or semi-private patient rooms. On hand, as well, will be more toilets, show-ers, hand disinfection stations and state-of-the-art security technology to promote dignity, healing, wellness and comfort.

Healthcare professionals will benefit from improved work areas for functional purposes, including adequate space, work stations, and updated information tech-nology (electronic records, pharmacy, and information systems).

The department has a particular interest in the care of adolescent and young adult patients with severe and persistent mental illness, such as schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders and severe mood dis-orders, which account for close to 50% of admissions to the Inpatient Unit. Adapting services to these patients is es-sential for early recognition and interven-tion, promoting recovery and altering the course to improve long-term outcomes. The new Inpatient Unit will be designed

for improved physical and functional capacity to meet patient needs; two smaller, short-stay units are being add-ed with this in mind. It will also have a greatly expanded area for recovery- focused activities including psycho- therapy, occupational therapy, wellness and health-promoting activities.

Concurrent with the redevelopment of services, the department is reorient-ing its model of care toward the recov-ery model recommended by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. This model places a priority on autonomy and self-directed goals, while emphasizing the involvement of patients and their fami-lies in their recovery. As such, spaces have been included for peer support, volun-teers and a family support program that will greatly enhance the quality of care and optimize participation of patients, families and community partners.

In support of this $13 million project, the hospital is providing $8 million, with another $2 million already contributed by private donors, leaving $3 million still to be raised.

For more information or to donate to this vital initiative, please visit https://jghfoundation.org/en/campaign/facilities/psychiatry-inpatient-unit or contact the JGh Foundation at 514-340-8251.


VitAl initiAtiVes in neeD oF suPPoRt

Renovation of the Psychiatry inpatient unit

Dr. Karl looper, Chief of the Department of psychiatry.

Advancing the treatment of people experiencing a mental health crisis

33Jgh insiDer fall 2017 | jgh.caVitAl initiAtiVes in neeD oF suPPoRt

looking Beyond the stigma Attached to mental illness

In retrospect, of course, I should have seen it coming. I hadn’t been feeling well for months.

The night of March 29, lying in my bed, wanting not to be here any more. Waking up the next day feeling worse. Fantasizing about the narcotics in my night-table drawer, left over from surgery. A Google search: How many would I need to just make it all stop?

Just enough sense to know that I needed to go to the Emergency Department. To tell the nurse I had an exit plan. To tell my husband that I would hurt myself if I were sent home.

Hours later, I was an in-patient on 4 East, the psychiatric ward of the Jewish General Hospital. On previous visits, I thought I would never want to be enclosed with “those people.” They scared me: their loud voices, vacant eyes and shuffling gait. But now I was among them, high on sedatives, terrified of myself, emotional, empty and shuffling, too.

The week I spent as a psychiatric patient is mostly a blur. Emotionally wrecked and sluggish from Ativan, there are gaps in my memory. I remember on my first day sitting in front of a team of 15 psychiatrists, psychologists, interns and students and telling them my story, answering questions.

I attended daily art therapy classes and group meetings with my fellow patients. Mealtime was sad and silent, served in a run-down common room where a few outdated magazines lined the bookshelves. The television had terrible recep-tion. At night, I joined the line-up of patients at the nurses’ desk, waiting for the meds that would push me into a dark, dreamless sleep.

There were some beautiful moments, too: when an older woman with dementia was confused about her surround-ings, a much younger male patient came to her rescue time and again, reminding her where she was and helping her to the bathroom. When an Orthodox Jewish patient

helped a disconsolate young man put on tefillin (phylacteries for prayer), and assured him that God was with him. When another patient told me he was proud of his mental illness because it made him stronger. When a student nurse asked to be assigned to my case, sat with me daily and just listened. He gave me hope, an angel on 4 East.

My stay in hospital was dark and painful, but it was also a source of light. I learned that your true friends become your warriors, armed with coffee and crossword puzzles and the patience to sit quietly by your side when talking is just too much. That there are beautiful souls hiding behind the face of mental illness. That asking for help can save your life. That sometimes you need to plunge into darkness to reclaim hope.

4 East was dismal, but it was also a blessing. Because now I have a plan to move forward—very different than the one I’d had when admitted. I’m optimistic for the first time in a long time.

I wasn’t going to write this. I’ve always been authentic and up-front about my mental illness, but being a psychiatric patient felt different. Truth be told, I felt embarrassed and weak. For the first time, I was burdened by the weight of the stigma. But just five days after my discharge, I stood up in front of an audience of 120 women and told my story. Their support and acceptance gave me the courage to continue sharing and keep the conversation going.

And the more I share, the more I normalize my experience. The more I realize that I am not defined by my mental illness. It is just a piece of who I am.

a testimony from the brave heart of elizabeth Wiener, Co-founder of Wise Women Canada and ambassador for the Mindstrong 2018 event in support of mental health.

Jgh insiDer fall 2017 | jgh.ca34

a reception at the Jgh on May 26 honoured principal benefactors Dr. sheila and nahum gelber, Q.C., for their generous support of the hospital’s robotic surgery pro-gram over the years. The gelbers made the lead gifts that would prove vital in helping the hospital acquire a second, next-generation da Vinci robot in 2013 and to upgrade its first robot with the latest generation systems and technol-ogy in 2015. nahum gelber (second from left) and his wife, Dr. sheila gelber (third from right), were warmly thanked by (from left) Dr. Walter gotlieb, Director of gynecologic oncology and Colposcopy and head of the hereditary ovarian Cancer unit, Dr. franck bladou, Chief of the Department of urology, Dr. ruth Chaytor, Chief of the Department of surgery, Dr. Michael hier, Chief of the Department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and Cristina nagy, nursing Coordinator, surgical suites.

DR. sheilA AnD nAhum GelBeR

on May 29, Dr. Marc afilalo (left), Chief of the emergency Department, betty elkaim (second from left), Jgh foundation senior Development officer; and Maria Menna (right), emer-gency Department executive assistant, were on hand to acknowledge and thank raisa (third from left) and armand afilalo (second from right) as major contributors whose generosity and support helped realize the new emergency Department in pavilion K. The reception also proved to be the perfect occasion to unveil a plaque acknowledging the raisa and armand afilalo resuscitation unit.

RAisA AnD ARmAnD AFilAlo

thAnK You

a reception was held at the Jgh on august 17 to thank and honour the 10 artists who donated hun-dreds of their photographs for display through-out pavilion K. Thanks to the leadership and ef-forts of Danny Taran, these photographs now grace most of the floors in pavilion K, providing a feeling of warmth and coziness for patients and staff alike. The featured artists—not all of whom are present in the picture—are ilana block, Jerry Du-bin, gordon Kadnoff, steve lash, george liberman, Kathy McDevitt, Cindy Morantz, Danny Taran, evelyn young, and John zimmerman.

PAVilion K ARtists


on June 13, a reception was held honouring rhona and irwin Kramer, Cpa, Ca, lead donors, who along with 26 other families, individuals and organizations, helped establish the rhona and irwin Kramer prostate Cancer Targeting Centre in the Jgh Department of urology. Dr. franck bladou (second from left), Chief of the De-partment of urology and Director of uro-oncology at the segal Cancer Centre, and Dr. Maurice anidjar (absent from photo), surgeon in charge of the robotics program in urology, joined Jgh foundation honourary Trustee lawrence yanofsky (right) in thanking the do-nors. in particular, they thanked irwin Kramer, the hon. e. leo Kolber, o.C., and leonard Mendel for co-chairing the fundraising campaign to develop this new centre of excellence in prostate cancer diagnosis and treat-ment. The funds raised have enabled the Department to be the first institution in Quebec to use image fusion to target prostate biopsy and the first in america to treat prostate cancer patients with focal therapy using the high intensity focused ultrasound (hifu) focal-one machine.

RhonA AnD iRWin KRAmeR PRostAte cAnceR tARGetinG centRe

thAnK You!

richard pilosof was honoured on June 15 for his generous gift in honour of his parents, Jacqueline and Marc pilosof z”l, in support of the anna and louis goldfarb Jgh/Mcgill Memory Clinic. The Clinic, headed by Dr. howard Chertkow, is the largest of its kind in Canada and provides internationally recognized expertise in the early diagnosis and treatment of memory disorders and dementia. in partnership with the bloomfield Centre for research in aging at the lady Davis institute, it is also at the forefront of research efforts to achieve a better understanding of alzheimer’s disease, its causes, what makes people susceptible and how it can be prevented.

RichARD PilosoF

36

cAlenDAR oF eVents

Jgh insiDer fall 2017 | jgh.ca

AccessoiRÉe - FAshion AnD liFestYle AccessoRies FoR Women

location: Jgh Main lobby

co-chairs: rona ellen, gabi rosberger, barbara singer, Merle Torchin

benefiting the Centre for Child Development and Mental health

introducing the latest in fall fashion trends in jewelry, handbags, furs, scarves, active wear, gloves, hats, hair, makeup, skincare and touchups.

PulmonARY hYPeRtension WAlK

location: samuel s. Cohen auditorium, pavilion a (a-102)

benefiting the Jgh Centre for pulmonary Vascular Disease

information: antoinette De Vecchis, 514-340-8222, ext. 25377 or Mary etzitian, 514-340-8222, ext. 23986

Registration: $20 per participant

253:00 to 8:00 p.m.

26

5th AnnuAl Festin De BABette

location: Cabaret du Casino de Montréal

chair: pierre r. brosseau

benefiting Dr. andréa leblanc’s research on alzheimer’s disease in the Molecular and regenerative Medicine research axis at the lady Davis institute at the Jgh

information: Claude Krynski, 514-340-8222, ext. 25835

27-29-30

JGh AuXiliARY FAll FAiR


co-chairs: linny blauer and phyllis Karper

benefiting the Jgh Department of nuclear Medicine

information: 514-340-8216

29

culinARY shoWDoWnin collaboration with the Quebec breast Cancer foundation

location: arsenal Contemporary art (Montréal)

honourary Patron: Dr. andré lisbona

honouree: nadia saputo

co-chairs: etty bienstock, irwin Kramer and Joan prévost

benefiting hereditary breast cancer research at the segal Cancer Centre at the Jgh

information: stephanie roza, 514-340-8222, ext. 22587

noVemBeR

5

octoBeR

octoBeR

octoBeR

octoBeR

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

noon to 4:00 p.m.


hÉmA QuÉBec BlooD DonoR clinic


information: 514-340-82168noVemBeR

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2nd tonGue in cheeK BAll hocKeY touRnAment

location: le rinque

organized by: erik heft

benefiting the Jgh head and neck oncology Department

information: [email protected]

noVemBeR

129:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

GloRiA’s GiRls PResents “BRinGinG it home”

location: le Windsor

co-chairs: Marilyn biber-zidel, Mimi Kitner, Judy lazar and Caryn Weltman

honourary chair: Maxine shapiro-rosenblatt

Guest speaker: gail simmons, Top Chef judge

benefiting the gloria shapiro endowment fund for ovarian Cancer

information: rana saheb, 514-340-8222, ext. 25889

noVemBeR

23

JGh AuXiliARY snoW BiRD eVent

location: broken sound Clubhouse, boca raton, florida

co-chairs: gloria fenster, eileen fleischer, Judy singer and arlene yufe

speaker: gerald posner, journalist and author, who will review his book god’s bankers – a history of Money and power at the Vatican

benefiting the Department of psychiatry

information: 514-340-8216

JAnuARY

24

2nd FlY With me GAlA

location: salle de reception le Chateau Classique

organized by: Mary spina-Menghi and Tonie Mauro

committee members: edward Menghi, steve Danson, David rades and Joe Viglione

benefiting lymphoma research at the Jgh


Web: www.facebook.com/flywithme.gala/

FeBRuARY

17


4th eDition oF ciBc minDstRonG (Fitness eVent)in collaboration with The Jgh auxiliary

location: Midtown le sanctuaire

co-chairs: Jodi Mintz and stacey herman serero

honourary chair: Tony Marinaro and Malik shaheed

Ambassador: elizabeth Wiener

benefiting the renovation of the inpatient Care unit, and mental health services and programs at the Jgh Department of psychiatry, led by Dr. Karl looper

information: Mary etzitian, 514-340-8222, ext. 23986

www.jghmindstrong.com

6

mAY

JGh AuXiliARY AnnuAl BRiDGe AnD mAhJonG touRnAment AnD luncheon

location: shaar hashomayim Congregation

co-chairs: ellen amdursky, bonnie rothstein and Debbie schouela

benefiting the Department of nuclear Medicine

tickets: 514-340-8216

7

mAY

10th AnnuAl enBRiDGe RiDe to conQueR cAnceR

co-chairs: edith Cloutier and Mario rigante

benefiting cancer research, treatments and prevention at the segal Cancer Center at the Jgh

information: Marie-hélène laramée, 514-340-8222, ext. 235387-8JulY

climB Kili to KicK cAnceRMount Kilimanjaro, africa

chair: howard stotland; expedition leader: Terry soucy

benefitting hope & Cope

sign up for this adventure of a lifetime! be part of our team as we take hope & Cope to the top of the world! sponsorship opportunities available. Call 514-340-3616 for more information.


mARch

8-20

AntonY PRoteAu WinteR clAssic

location: le Challenger (2525 rue des nations in saint-laurent)

benefiting the antony proteau fund which supports Cancerfight-Club, hope & Cope’s program for young adults (18-39) with cancer

fabulous food, live music, dancing, and a great atmosphere, all dedicated to the memory of antony proteau, who lost his battle with cancer at the age of 23.

information: https://www.facebook.com/ap12fund/

mARch

24

cAlenDAR oF eVents

BMO Wealth Management is the brand name for a business group consisting of Bank of Montreal and certain of its affi liates, including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., in providing wealth management products and services. ® “BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)” is a registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. ® “Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. If you are already a client of BMO Nesbitt Burns, please contact your Investment Advisor for more information.

Taking care of your fi nancial health.

Work with someone who takes the time to understand your unique needs.

Bradley SteinmetzInvestment Advisor and Portfolio Manager

BMO Nesbitt Burns1501 McGill College Ave, Suite 3200, Montreal, QC, H3A 3M8

Tel: 514-282-5825 | [email protected]


Will Power

A will is an important step in life cycle planning and a charitable bequest in your will

provides a unique opportunity to help others and ensure a lasting legacy of quality care

for generations to come.

Speak to your professional advisor and ask them how you can include the Jewish

General Hospital Foundation in your will. A sample statement would be as follows:

“I hereby bequeath to the Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital Foundation

the amount of $__ OR __% of the remainder of my estate.”

For more information, please call Alexis Gaiptman, Director of Legacy Giving

514 340-8222 ext. 24057 or visit our website at jghfoundation.org

If you have already made the necessary arrangements for a legacy gift such as a bequest in your will, please let us know so that we can welcome you to our Legacy Circle and discuss recognition in one of our Halls of Honour

Will_FNL.indd 2 10/12/2017 3:58:30 PM

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