Claim OwnershipPulse: The Ottawa Hospital Foundation Podcast
Subscribed: 13Played: 209
Subscribe
© The Ottawa Hospital Foundation 2020
Description
Pulse will introduce you to the patients, healthcare providers, researchers, and donors of The Ottawa Hospital. You'll hear how they are reshaping the future of healthcare through new discoveries, expanding treatments, improving patient care, and philanthropy.
115 Episodes
Reverse
Dr. Dawn Stacey has dedicated her career to improving patient decision-making processes and helping implement better systems for healthcare providers to guide patients and their families through their options. She is a Senior Scientist and Co-Scientific Director of the Patient Decision Aids Research Group at The Ottawa Hospital, and the 2025 recipient of the Grimes Career Achievement Award. In this conversation, you'll hear more about her career and how important her work is not only for our patients but also for patients worldwide. (15:53)
Annie Grenon has strong ties to The Ottawa Hospital. She was a patient for kidney care years ago and, more recently, for a pulmonary embolism. She's also seen both of her grandchildren born at the Civic Campus, and her late husband received cancer care. It was when her husband was diagnosed with a rare cancer that their family came together to discuss leaving a gift in their will to The Ottawa Hospital. It was about helping other families in the future — forward-thinking to create a healthier tomorrow. (25:31)
Dr. Safraz Mohammed is a neurosurgeon at The Ottawa Hospital specializing in the brain and spine. In this engaging conversation, you'll hear what led him to neurosurgery and how he's helping educate the next generation of medical talent. Dr. Mohammed also takes us behind the scenes of the highly skilled neurosurgical team at our hospital and shares an important message about the impact of philanthropy. (33:43)
The Ottawa Hospital is creating a comprehensive epilepsy program — a one-stop shop that will be a changemaker for patients. As a key part of bringing specialized, state-of-the-art care to the region, The Ottawa Hospital completed its first-ever stereo EEG procedure in January 2025. Dr. Tad Fantaneanu, the Medical Director of the Epilepsy Program, shares the exciting developments in the program and why this is important for patients. (18:24)
Ottawa businesswoman Helen Tang knows what it means to reinvent yourself and to find your passion in life. Today, her passion includes leading with purpose, and that's why she's joined the Campaign to Create Tomorrow. In our conversation, Helen discusses her connection to our hospital and how it compelled her to give back, the life lesson from her father that guides her professionally and personally, as well as her message about the power of one. (17:03)
The Ottawa Hospital is taking a leadership role to reshape the future of healthcare. Hear from Cameron Love, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital, as he shares the ambitious plans that will focus on 21st-century needs and innovations, looking beyond to not only care for the patient in the hospital, but also support the person in the community. (37:00)
From a front-line nurse to a leader in healthcare, Suzanne Madore reflects on her 35 years at The Ottawa Hospital. She looks back on her early days as a nurse, her first love of cancer care, and her progression into leadership. She dives into the unique role of The Ottawa Hospital, supporting its community hospital partners and the impact it has on patients. Suzanne also looks at how she will continue to help create those innovative solutions in her new role as President and CEO of Renfrew Victoria and St. Francis Memorial hospitals. And, she takes time to reflect on the mentors who helped guide her career. (30:15)
When Chantal Theriault was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease at age 37, two names came to mind — Mohammed Ali and Michael J. Fox. Despite the shocking news, she faced it head-on, relying on specialized care at The Ottawa Hospital and immersing herself in leading-edge clinical trials to help others like her. She's also added in a little bit of humour along the way. (23:51)
The Ottawa Hospital is a global research powerhouse. In this conversation, Dr. Rebecca Auer, the Executive Vice-President of Research and Innovation, discusses how our hospital is recognized worldwide for its scientific discoveries. You'll learn how the patient is at the centre of all our research and the importance of integrating research into every aspect of care at The Ottawa Hospital. We tackle biotherapeutics — an exciting and disruptive field — along with expansion plans for our Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre (BMC), and Dr. Auer has an important message about how philanthropy fuels research. (27:34)
In the spring of 2023, Katie Skidmore was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder known as anti-GBM. It attacked her kidneys and left her critically ill. While she recovered from the disease, she was left without functioning kidneys and Katie learned to navigate her new world of being on dialysis. While that was happening, she actively searched for a living donor. Then, on September 12, 2024, Katie's dream of getting a new kidney became a reality. This conversation brings Katie together with her living donor, Jay Turner — who felt a "magnetic draw" to help this young woman. (34:54)
The Ottawa Hospital's mental health program provides early diagnosis and treatment of severe mental illness. Major depressive disorder is a mental health condition in which someone is feeling very low and not able to enjoy things the way they normally would over a prolonged period. It's persistent and can go on for months or even years but there is hope. In this episode, we learn more about depression with Dr. Andrew Greene, a psychiatrist at The Ottawa Hospital. (19:42) If you know someone who may be suffering from depression and needs help, the best place to start is by visiting your family doctor. If you don't have access to a family doctor, you can go to AccessMHA.ca. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can call or text 9-8-8: where a crisis supporter will help you without judgment or go to the nearest emergency department.
Brandon Peacock was an innocent victim of a shooting in June 2020. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. After being rushed to The Ottawa Hospital Trauma Centre by ambulance with a life-threatening injury, a team of medical experts was ready. Today, Brandon's here to share how that moment changed his life. (28:19)
When Dr. Jay Baltz, senior scientist emeritus at The Ottawa Hospital, first started in his field, researchers struggled with a puzzle that blocked the progress of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Through pioneering research and his work with one of the creators of IVF, Dr. Baltz would go on to push fertility science to new heights. In this conversation, Dr. Baltz talks about when the first test-tube baby was born, how fertility science has changed since then, and what it's meant for families around the world. (19:00)
As the Founder and President of Gab Group Inc., Ginger Bertrand is a leading communications professional, award-winning publicist, talent agent, and business owner. She loves her hometown of Ottawa and we're thrilled to have her as a co-chair of the Campaign to Create Tomorrow. Ginger is an Ottawa Forty Under 40 recipient, a three-time RBC Women of Influence nominee, and a fierce advocate for women in business, animal welfare, and engaging the next generation in the future of healthcare. In this engaging conversation, you'll learn more about why she's passionate about being a part of this once-in-a-generation opportunity. You'll find out what Mahatma Gandhi quote inspired her to take on this role, what new fact she's learned about The Ottawa Hospital, and one researcher in particular whose work she's interested in — a hint, she's been on this podcast as a guest.
Dr. Miller MacPherson is the Head of Medical Physics at The Ottawa Hospital. In this conversation, he takes us behind the scenes to better understand the radiation medicine program at The Ottawa Hospital's Cancer Centre. Throughout his career, he's seen significant advancements in the technology used to treat patients facing a cancer diagnosis. You'll find out why our hospital is described as one of North America's best-equipped radiation medicine facilities. He tells us about an exciting delivery that arrived this past summer and the impact it will have on patient care, and he talks about the vital role philanthropy plays in bringing the latest technology to our hospital for patients. (20:29)
From reflections on the Civic's 100th to planning for the next century of care in Eastern Ontario – Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, joins the 100th episode. He looks back on how the community rallied to make the Civic a reality 100 years ago and the pride when the new hospital opened its doors on November 27, 1924. Tim discusses the parallels between what we're seeing today for the new hospital campus on Carling Avenue and how people are stepping forward to support the Campaign to Create Tomorrow — Eastern Ontario's largest fundraising initiative. He also shares how there is a place for everyone and why you should join us. (27:07)
From a very young age, Dr. Melissa Forgie had her sights set on medicine. Today, as the Vice President of Medical Education at The Ottawa Hospital, she is shaping the next generation of healthcare providers. In this conversation, Dr. Forgie talks about the hospital's strategic plan for medical education and describes it as the boldest and most ambitious she has ever seen. You'll hear about TOH's plan to recruit and retain young professionals, along with all the possibilities with the new hospital campus and the impact of research. (22:36)
Frankie Nadeau is a senior occupational therapist at The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre. She's dedicated more than two decades to caring for patients, combining her knowledge and humour. In this conversation, she talks about the pivotal role of an occupational therapist at the Rehab Centre and the special bond her team creates with patients, including the "TSN turning point" in Sean Sisk's story. Frankie also shares how she's known as a bit of a "MacGyver" when required. (24:36)
Jill Barr is a young professional who has stepped forward to help lead the next generation of philanthropy. As a childhood cancer survivor, Jill has a unique perspective on the importance of having state-of-the-art healthcare. She has raised her hand to support the Campaign to Create Tomorrow and engage others to do the same. Listen to learn about Jill's first introduction to The Ottawa Hospital at the age of 11 and a special memory that she holds close. You'll also find out why she wanted to get involved in our Foundation's Young Leaders Network and how she'll run her first half-marathon to support TOH at Race Weekend — she's a part of TOH Trailblazers. (18:05)
It's not just the stuff you see in science fiction movies anymore. VR technology is changing the way complex surgeries are planned. Picture a virtual reality system taking hundreds of medical images and giving a surgeon a 3D view that allows them to move within the patient's body — just like a video game — before surgery. It's a whole new way of surgical planning and this new VR program was used for the first time in Canada right here at The Ottawa Hospital. Dr. Kawan Rakhra, a senior Musculoskeletal Radiologist, takes us behind the scenes of this game-changing technology and the impact it will have on the future of care not just here in Ottawa but internationally as well. (16:37)
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States