new vascular surgery chair to transform the way vascular
TRANSCRIPT
Issue No. 8 October, 2011
New vascular surgery chair to transform the way vascular care is delivered
With a goal of transforming the way that vascular care is deliv-ered, Dr. Robert Maggisano has been named the inaugural Chair in Vascular Surgery at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The $3 million endow-
ment fund will allow Dr. Maggisano, a vascular surgeon at Sunnybrook, to en-hance the development and evaluation of less invasive image-guided vascular inter-ventions, with a strong focus on education.
“Sunnybrook is a world leader in providing safe, less invasive endovascular surgery. A priority of the Chair will be to dissemi-nate new knowledge to both students and
practicing surgeons,” says Dr. Maggisano, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto. “My motto is make a difference and make a difference now. By ensuring that new knowledge is applied to patient care, we can make a difference now in saving patients’ lives.”
Since beginning to perform endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVAR) in 2006 with the support of funding from Sunnybrook Foundation, the hospital has been recog-nized as a leader in the use of this technique. This minimally invasive technique is safer than conventional open aneurysm repair, results in shortened hospital stays and a quicker recovery time for patients with aortic aneurysms. Typical open surgery means a seven or eight hour operation and six weeks to three months recovery, while EVAR surgery takes an hour or two and patients are out of the hospital within days.
Sunnybrook offers next-day breast cancer diagnosis Sunnybrook has opened its new Breast Rapid Diagnostic Unit (RDU) which pro-vides next-day breast cancer diagnosis and goes further to provide personalized screen-ing recommendations for all individuals assessed.
Responding to the needs of many who still wait weeks for assessment of a breast concern, the Sunnybrook Breast RDU provides rapid assessment for women and men suspected of having breast cancer. All individuals assessed are asked about breast cancer risk factors such as family history, and receive tailored screening recommen-dations. Those who do not have breast can-cer but who may be at high risk are referred to the High Risk Clinic at Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre. “Our goal is to help more individuals gain earlier and rapid assessment so they will know their diagnosis as soon as possible and the course of action to help them get better,” says Dr. Eileen Rakovitch, head of Breast Care team at Odette Cancer Centre. “We also have a key role in helping to pre-vent the disease in those at high risk, and to also support those at low risk.”
The Breast RDU also features a dedicated Nurse Navigator who guides and supports each individual through assessment – often an anxious time. Individuals also benefit from the expertise of the Odette Breast Care team and other breast-dedicated specialists in Sunnybrook’s Departments of Medical Imaging and Anatomic Pathology.
A family physician can refer individuals if there is an abnormality on a mammogram, breast ultrasound or a clinical finding that
is highly suspicious of breast cancer.
The Breast RDU will be housed in the Breast Cancer Centre that is currently under construction and is part of the Sunnybrook Breast program that provides total breast care and is dedicated to the early detection, rapid diagnosis and innovative treatment of breast cancer. Natalie Chung-Sayers
A key to success has been Sunnybrook’s highly skilled multidisciplinary health team with strengths in imaging, endovascular therapies, intensive care, basic and clini-cal research and also teaching. “This is a cohesive group, supported by Sunnybrook’s Schulich Heart Centre, and readily shares knowledge, cases and assists one another in order to achieve quality patient care and education,” adds Dr. Maggisano.
Over the last few years, the team’s clinical and teaching strengths have been boosted by the additions of Dr. Giuseppe Papia and Dr. Andrew Dueck to the vascular surgery team.
Another priority for Dr. Maggisano is to build bridges with industry to modify and develop new endovascular products for the benefit of patients. Marie Sanderson
Sunnybrook Vascular Surgery chair, Dr. Robert Maggisano
Artist rendering of the digital mammog-raphy suite that is being built in the new Breast Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook
Learn how you can help us build our new Breast Cancer Centre. Visit sunnybrook.ca/breast
Jumping for a causeDerek Walton, ALS patient and Sunnybrook donor, has been jumping out of planes for a cure for ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that Derek says ultimately “buries you alive.”
Derek founded Jump for “PALS” (People with ALS), an event that he has held twice, most recently in August 2011, to benefit the ALS program at Sunnybrook, the larg-est of its kind in North America. Through these events, Derek, along with dozens of other skydivers, has raised over $150,000 by jumping out of planes at 12,500 feet.
“In order to have a life of purpose, you need to have a purpose in life,” he says. “I am liv-ing with ALS. I am not dying of ALS. After all, life itself is terminal. I want to leave a legacy behind with Jumping for ‘PALS’, and would like this event to continue every year after I am gone.”
He adds, “We don’t have a Michael J. Fox for this disease because we don’t live long enough to have one.” ALS attacks nerve
New gene identified as common cause of ALSTwo new studies are bringing scientists closer to slowing down the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), as a new gene has been identified as the most common cause of the genetic form of the disease.
The studies, published in the September 21 online issue of Neuron, report the identifica-tion of the long-sought genetic abnormal-ity that authors say is the most common cause of two different but related forms of neurodegenerative disease: Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and ALS.
One of these studies was an international collaboration led by Dr. Bryan Traynor at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and included University of Toronto-based investigators Dr. Lorne Zinman (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre) and Dr. Ekaterina Rogaeva (Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases), who were co-authors.
A mutation was discovered, where a short DNA sequence on chromosome 9 is repeat-ed many more times as compared to healthy individuals. The mutation was found in around 1/3 of patients with familial ALS and is more than twice as common as the previously identified mutation SOD1. The defect is also the strongest genetic risk factor found to date for the more common, spo-radic forms of ALS and FTD. It was found in four per cent of sporadic ALS samples and three per cent of sporadic FTD.
The discovery of this gene underlying the largest proportion of familial ALS and FTD cases to date is a significant finding.
“This is a critical step that will help us determine how the disease develops and progresses, why its presentation and course is variable, and provide a new target for inter-vention,” says Dr. Zinman who is also chair of the Canadian ALS Research Network (CALS). “The next step is to determine how this mutation causes ALS and FTD. We can also develop cell and animal models using this novel mutation to improve our understanding of the diseases and for screening of therapeutics that may halt progression.”
Investigators worldwide have been committed to identifying the gene alteration in patients with ALS and FTD linked to chromosome 9, and until now it had remained elu-sive. This gene mutation was identified by col-lecting blood samples from hundreds of ALS and FTD patients worldwide and us-ing state of the art next-generation s e q u e n c i n g technology.
“Finding a mutation representing the major-ity of patients with familial ALS is a major milestone for the ALS community,” says
Zinman. “There has never been more reason to be hopeful and opti-
mistic that ALS research will provide effective therapies for those
living with ALS.”
In past decades, there was mistaken belief that
there is no known cause of ALS. In cases where ALS is
inherited as a familial trait, researchers have now identi-
fied the causative mutations in the majority of cases thanks to
this new finding.
Mutations in a number of genes, such as those found in these recent studies,
account for a large fraction of those fa-milial cases. In addition, studies in recent
years have demonstrated the involvement of many of those genes in cases of sporadic ALS. This means that experimental models based on mutant genes will provide impor-tant insights relevant to both the sporadic and familial forms of the disease.
Dr. Zinman’s research is funded by the ALS Society of Canada. Nadia Radovini
cells and pathways in the brain and around the spinal cord. Total paralysis eventually takes over.
Derek’s case is rare. The majority of ALS patients have an average lifespan of less than three years - Derek has now been liv-ing with ALS for nine years.
“As my arms and legs weaken, so too does my energy level, but not my heart,” says Derek. “I feel that because ALS affects around 3,000 Canadians only, compared to some other conditions which affect hundreds of thousands of Canadians, there isn’t enough awareness or funding for this disease.”
Derek’s purpose is to raise more than money. He wants to raise awareness of the disease. With his event being duplicated in several cities in North America, he is succeeding. Details can be found on his website, www.waltoncure4als.ca.
Says Derek, “As my symptoms progress, I remain positive that a cure will be found. Maybe not in my lifetime, but one day.
In the interim, I continue to raise awareness through public speaking engagements and my annual fundraiser for ALS research.”
ALS patient and Sunybrook donor, Derek Walton
Pushing the boundaries of stroke recoveryHeart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery receives multimillion dollar contribution to expand groundbreaking researchOn September 27, the Heart and Stroke Foundation announced $10 million in funding to its partner organization, the Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery (CSR) to fund research in the area of stroke recovery.
“The Centre for Stroke Recovery is redefin-ing research, stroke care, and stroke recovery across the country,” says David Sculthorpe, CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. “This contribution will facilitate new discoveries and help stroke survivors recover faster than ever before. We are ex-tremely grateful for the contributions from the centre’s current partners, which include Baycrest, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the University of Ottawa, the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and our new partner, Memorial University of Newfoundland.”
CSR partners are committed to transform-ing outcomes by dramatically reducing the incidence of stroke and improving recovery and quality of life for stroke survivors and caregivers. Funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the CSR’s other partners will support vital research and ac-celerate its pace.
The Foundation’s investment will continue to fuel the centre’s research into new areas of stroke recovery. Created in 2002, the CSR has initiated multiple research initia-tives and partnerships aimed at accelerating and enhancing recovery from stroke.
“Research into stroke recovery is more important than ever because we now know that recovery continues indefinitely rather than stopping a few weeks after the event,” says Dr. Dale Corbett, CEO and Scientific Director of the CSR. “This finding has ma-jor implications for rehabilitation and for research into recovery following stroke. It opens the door to new modes of rehabilita-tion and treatment. For survivors, it means it is never too late to regain functions.”
Key areas of research in this multiple-site centre include:
Exercise, stroke recovery and brain health Research teams, including those at Sunnybrook led by Drs. Brad MacIntosh and Laura Middleton, are working to un-derstand the implications of exercise for recovery. These innovative studies have the potential to change lives in a very substantive way.
White matter injury, covert stroke and cognitive functionDr. Sandra Black and her team at Sunnybrook as well as colleagues at Baycrest are among the many research-ers studying silent or covert strokes – tiny strokes that do not immediately produce obvious symptoms. While covert stroke has received increased attention over the last few years, the magnitude of the problem is just now being realized. Canadians are five to six times more likely to experience covert strokes than massive overt strokes – and the long- term effects often include significant loss of cognitive function and eventually dementia.
Regenerative approaches to stroke recovery involving neurogenesis and cell transplants CSR teams, including one led by Dr. Corbett, working at University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, are looking for ways to promote the replace-ment of brain cells – a process known as neu-rogenesis. The goal is to help the brain heal itself using its own processes after stroke. Nadia Radovini
The Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery at Sunnybrook:
✓ is located on A4 of the Bayview campus
✓ has 23 active members at Sunnybrook CSR (core, associate and affiliate members) with an additional 22 members affiliated with the Sunnybrook site of CSR but located at partnering university sites
✓ is specializing in the design and testing of pharmacological, cognitive and physical interventions to optimize recovery of ambulation, upper arm/hand function, cerebrovascular health, and cognitive deficits
✓ is assessing brain tissue loss and brain activity through advanced imaging technologies, such as structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, diffusion tensor and perfusion imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and event-related potentials (ERP)
To learn more about research into stroke recovery, visit www.centreforstrokerecovery.ca
Sunnybrook clinician and scientist Dr. Sandra Black and her team are working to understand the effects of silent or covert strokes.
The Centre for Stroke Recovery is redefining research, stroke care, and stroke recovery across the country,” says David Sculthorpe, CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Landmark shift: pre-surgery chemotherapy for operable breast cancer
Wendy Wilson, 56, had begun to make healthier choices but last May was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Wendy met with Dr. Jean-Francois Boileau, head, Neoadjuvant Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Clinic, Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre. She was getting prompt care and contributing to research that may mean a landmark shift in treatment approaches.
Dr. Boileau, a surgical oncologist, is leading two clinical trials on pre-surgery chemother-apy and is collaborating with medical and radiation oncologists. The Odette Cancer Centre is one of two Canadian centres cho-sen to participate in these North American clinical trials hosted by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP).
Usually, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for locally advanced/inoper-able breast cancer, to reduce tumour size and save more of the breast during surgery. Increasingly, this approach is being offered for operable breast cancer. Wendy is one of over 500 participants in trials for women with operable breast cancer.
“Neoadjuvant therapy is a good example of personalized care,” says Dr. Boileau. “For an increasing number of patients, it’s difficult
to identify residual cancer cells at the time of surgery. With neoadjuvant chemotherapy, re-sponse to the treatment is known up front by monitoring the therapy in the tumour itself. If the response is not optimal, treatment can be changed, or the patient may be a candidate for novel therapies in other trials.”
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy potentially better targets cancer cells, lowers risk of recurrence and better measures response to therapy also for high-risk breast cancer – subgroups like HER-2 positive or Triple Negative.
“When I first heard the words ‘you have can-cer’, I felt like my life was completely upside-down,” says Wendy. “Then I made up my mind: there’s no way I’m giving in. I still have things I need to do.” She credits Dr. Boileau and his team for being a lifeline of sorts. Natalie Chung-Sayers
Reconstruction at the time of breast cancer treatment
When cancer affects the breast, for many women it can be an emotional journey of al-tered femininity even after breast-conserving treatment. To further individualize treat-ment planning, the Odette Cancer Centre’s new Immediate Breast Reconstruction Clinic offers appropriate patients same-time access to experts in breast cancer surgery and immediate reconstructive surgery.
The Clinic is a unique collaboration led by three breast surgical oncologists, and two plastic surgeons trained in microsurgery and oncologic reconstruction, and includes radiation oncologists.
Lori Vajda, 42, had breast cancer. She came to the Clinic because more surgery was needed. Margins in her treated breast re-mained unclear and a family history meant a 60 per cent chance of recurrence. She needed a bilateral mastectomy.
“It gave me tremendous added confidence knowing my surgeon and my plastic sur-geon were working together,” says Lori. “They removed the cancer and lowered my risk while doing immediate reconstruction to help me regain a sensual and important part of who I am as a woman.”
For more information about our Immediate Breast Reconstruction Clinic or visit sunnybrook.ca/breastreconstruction
National Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day is October 19, 2011.Natalie Chung-Sayers
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Help us build our Breast Cancer Centre The largest facility of its kind in the country, our new $27-million Breast Cancer Centre will feature: • A functional program plan composed of three areas – research, clinical and
imaging – as well as a supportive environment where patients learn about recovery and after-care
• The Rapid Diagnosis Unit, which will provide women with diagnoses and treatment plans within 24 hours of their assessments, offering peace-of-mind by significantly decreasing what can be a weeks-long process
• Leading researchers who are pioneering therapies ranging from brachytherapy to cancer-killing microbubbles to next-generation imaging techniques
• PYNK: Breast Cancer Program for Young Women (supported by Rethink Breast Cancer), a specialized program addressing the clinical, informational and psychosocial needs of younger women
Learn more at sunnybrook.ca/breast
Dr. Boileau with breast cancer patient, Wendy Wilson
Breast surgeons and breast plastic surgeons. From left to right: Dr. Claire Holloway, Dr. Joan Lipa, Dr. Laura Snell, Dr. Frances Wright, Dr. JF Boileau
Fundraiser delivering a K.O. to breast cancerIt’s a knockout event quite unlike any other breast cancer fundraiser.
Fight for the Girls is a dinner gala and boxing showcase that is now entering its third year. Last May’s event, held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, featured seven entertaining bouts, dance group performances and a moving talk by 26-year-old Claudia Grieco, who received chemotherapy and radiation at Sunnybrook during her successful breast cancer battle.
Now that it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the people behind Fight for the Girls – Dewith’s Boxing Studio in Mississauga and the Breast Cancer Society of Canada (BCSC) – are no doubt looking forward to next year’s event, to be held May 23 at the Royal York.
Marsha Davidson, the society’s executive director, says the event will build on its impressive track record. “We were really, really pleased with the effort and the enthu-siasm that our boxers brought to the table,” Davidson says of this year’s edition, noting that the boxers – a mix of recreational and Olympic fighters – dedicated considerable time to training and fundraising.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Unique online tool supports relationships during breast cancerA study of the Couplelinks.ca online tool de-veloped at Sunnybrook and York University shows good potential to strengthen rela-tionships for younger couples living with breast cancer, and is opening a larger cross-Canada trial.
Couplelinks.ca the first of its kind in cancer is a self-guided workshop based on qualitative relationship research with input and experiences directly from patients and their partners, and is framed within six evidence-based learning modules. Couples work together on one module per week on average. Throughout this six to eight-week intervention, a Couplelinks.ca facilitator, (a certified psychologist or mental health professional working in oncology), supports the couple’s progress through a regular, three-way, online conversation.
“We designed this tool based on the idea that partners’ coping efforts are interdepen-dent and reciprocal, so if the relationship is
strong, then both partners are better able to cope with the stress of cancer,” says Dr. Karen Fergus, Principal Investigator and Clinical Psychologist, Patient and Family Support program, Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre.
“We have begun our research with this on-line tool by tailoring it for younger couples living with breast cancer. Younger women generally face more distressing and unique challenges than older women diagnosed with the disease, such as early menopause and loss of fertility, disrupted intimacy and can irrevocably change plans for hav-ing children,” says Dr. Fergus, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, York University.
The study is funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Ontario Chapter and Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance/Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
All told, the event collected over $87,000 for breast cancer research at Sunnybrook. Everyone at the Odette Cancer Centre was honoured that the BCSC chose Sunnybrook as the event’s beneficiary.
“When we fund research, we look for a partnership,” Davidson says. The Toronto-focused event, she adds, was seen as a good fit with Sunnybrook because many of the hospital’s supporters were likely to rally around it.
From left to right: Tom Foss, Claudia Grieco, Barrington Grey, Bill Vastis, Dewith Frazer, owner, Dewith’s Boxing Studio, Marsha David-son, executive director, Breast Cancer Society of Canada
Sunnybrook named one of top 100 employers in CanadaFor the third straight year, Sunnybrook has been named one of “http://www.eluta.ca/top-employer-sunnybrook-health-sciences-centre”Canada’s Top 100 Employers.
Now in its 12th year, the annual Top 100 Employers in Canada competition recog-nizes organizations leading their industries in attracting and retaining employees. The selection committee examined the recruit-ment histories of over 75,000 employers across Canada and invited 12,500 employ-ers to apply.
Sunnybrook was selected from the over 2,700 employers that started this year’s ap-plication process to be among the 100 best places to work in Canada. As an organiza-tion, we’ve made a commitment to being the healthcare workplace of choice and this award is a good indication that, together, we’re achieving that goal.
This award recognizes the personal contri-bution of each staff member and volunteer. Thank you for creating one of the best work environments in Canada again this year, and for being there for our patients when it matters
Sunnybrook’s antimicrobial stewardship team collaborates with care teams to reduce infectionAntimicrobial stewardship programs help hospitals optimize the use of antimicrobials (antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal medica-tions) to maximize clinical care or to prevent infection, while minimizing consequences of antibiotic overuse, including antibiotic-resistant organisms such as MRSA (meth-icillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and C. difficile (Clostridium difficile).
Sunnybrook’s Antimicrobial Stewardship program, called Day 3 Reflections, is at the leading edge of this work in Canadian hospitals.
‘We are all here for the best quality in pa-tient care’ is the simple but powerful idea behind Sunnybrook’s program – and the key to its success.
The program is a joint project of the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Department of Pharmacy in close partnership with clini-cal care areas across the hospital.
“From the beginning we wanted the program to focus on a more collabora-tive, consultative process,” says Dr. Nick Daneman, Infectious Diseases Physician Lead, Antimicrobial Stewardship program, and a Clinician Scientist in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Sunnybrook.
“Day 3 Reflections is symbolic of our unique approach and our collective thinking at a time in the patient’s stay when generally there is more data and his or her condition is more stable. The stewardship team and the care teams can take a figurative step back, to review and discuss the most appropriate antibiotic use,” says Dr. Sandra Walker, Clinical Coordinator- Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Stewardship, in the Department of Pharmacy.
To develop the program, the team began by meeting with the physicians and pharma-cists of the pilot units – Sunnybrook’s three Intensive Care Units. Together they deter-mined how best antimicrobial stewardship could be tailored to the needs of critical care patients. “Throughout our meetings, there was a strong sense of collegiality to operate together to optimize care,” says Dr. Walker.
“We developed an active, not a restrictive program, where on a case-by-case basis there is individualized feedback,” says Dr. Daneman. “The stewardship team visits the Unit, reviews the patient’s story in detail, and discusses suggestions with the critical care team in addition to leaving formal recommendations in the chart progress notes.” “The frontline members of our team and ‘face’ of antimicrobial steward-
ship at Sunnybrook are Marion Elligsen (Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist) and Lesley Palmay (Antimicrobial Stewardship Fellow). Marion and Lesley re-view patients on a daily basis from Monday to Friday, and following consultation with the rest of our team, directly communicate recommendations on our collective behalf,” conveys Dr. Walker notes.
Antimicrobial stewardship in the Intensive Care Units resulted in a 21 per cent reduc-tion in broad-spectrum antibiotic use, a 31 per cent reduction in C.difficile, and prom-ising reductions in antibiotic resistance rates. “We have demonstrated significant overall reduction in utilization and reduc-tion in broad spectrum antibiotic use, which relates to lower drug costs,” says Dr. Andrew Simor, chief, Microbiology, and the Division of Infectious Diseases. “More significantly, there is evidence of improved quality of care as indicated by a decrease in some forms of antibiotic resistance and in C. difficile infection rates.”
Sunnybrook’s Antibiotic Stewardship program team has been recognized for its work, receiving Ministry of Health and Innovation Awards in 2009 and 2010. “Our success is due in large part to the tremen-dous work and collaborative spirit of physi-cians and staff in our Intensive Care Units,” says Dr. Daneman.
The goal is to expand the program within the hospital. The team continues to use a dynamic approach working closely with medical and surgical care teams to better meet each area’s needs.
System-wide, Sunnybrook’s Antibiotic Stewardship program team advocates for antimicrobial stewardship education, pro-vides mentorship to other hospitals across Ontario, and pushes forward the frontiers of antibiotic stewardship research.Natalie Chung-Sayers
Cherry Glazed Pork TenderloinTry this savory nutrition-conscious recipe, approved by our dietitian.
Ingredients:•Pork tenderloin, cut into 8 medallions •1/2 tsp. black pepper •1/4 tsp. salt •1-1/2 tsp. olive oil •1/2 cup Zinfandel wine •1/4 cup all-fruit sour cherry preserves •1/4 cup dried tart cherries •2 cups cooked brown rice
Directions;Flatten pork slightly with palm of hand. Sprinkle with pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon salt.
In large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
Transfer pork to plate. Add wine to skillet and stir to scrape up brown bits. Add preserves, cherries, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt.
Cook, stirring, until sauce reduces slightly, about 1 minute.
Add pork back to skillet and cook until hot, turning to coat with sauce.
Serve pork with sauce and brown rice.
Makes 4 servings. Nutritional Facts
per serving
Calcium 9 mg
Calories 181
Carbohydrates 12 g
Cholesterol 55 mg
Fibre 1 g
Protein 18 g
Sodium 193 mg
Sugars 9 g
Saturated Fat 1 g
Total Fat 4 g
Website: http://sunnybrook.ca
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YouTube: http://youtube.com/SunnybrookMedia
Preventing Seasonal Flu: Get VaccinatedInfluenza season will soon be upon us. Influenza is spread by coughing, sneezing or direct contact and there are several groups that can get much sicker if they get influ-enza. Many of Sunnybrook’s patient popu-lation is included in this high-risk category: people 65 and older, pregnant women, babies and young children and people with certain health conditions such as heart, lung or kid-ney disease or a weakened immune system. In an average year, 5,000 deaths in Canada are associated with influenza.
The number one priority at Sunnybrook is the health and safety of our patients, visitors, residents and staff. Outbreaks are prevent-able and there are three ways to prevent in-fluenza: get your flu shot, clean your hands and don’t come to work ill. Staff, physician and volunteer flu clinics will begin in early November and there will be a mobile flu shot nurse for those staff who find it dif-ficult to leave their units. Information and details will be provided in Snapshot and on Sunnynet.
If you are ill, do not come to work with symp-toms. Use the online surveillance tool on the home page of Sunnynet entitled “Have you been ill?” to report your symptoms online and clear yourself to return to work.
Sunnybrook staff with anaphylactic-type egg allergies will be required this flu season to produce a note from an allergy specialist, not a family physician, confirming their allergy. As the influenza vaccine is grown in eggs,
people with this type of egg allergy should not receive the influenza vaccine. If you have any questions, please contact Occupational Health and Safety at ext. 4175.
If you receive your flu vaccine from either a family physician or public health clinic, written documentation must be provided to Occupational Health and Safety for you to be considered vaccinated. Please use the Influenza Vaccine Received form on Sunnynet (under Employee Resources, Occupational Health and Safety and OHS forms).
Remember, get your flu shot, clean your hands and don’t come to work ill. Let’s work together for a healthy workplace.Marie Sanderson
Speaker Series:Skin Deep: A Dermatology Discussion On Common Conditions
Sunnybrook’s Dermatology Department is extremely busy, attending to about 35,000 patient visits a year. On September 15, three of our dermatologists hosted a Sunnybrook Speaker Series on Skin Deep: A Dermatology Discussion on Common Conditions. Department Head Dr. Neil Shear moderated the event and also presented on several skin conditions, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and tumours. He also talked about how to keep rosacea from controlling your life. Dermatologist Dr. Joel DeKoven then addressed his role at Sunnybrook in determining what is at the root of certain rashes, and the role allergies can play with various skin conditions. The final speaker of the evening was dermatologist Dr. Scott Walsh, who discussed balancing the risks and benefits in determining the proper course of treatment for patients. The formal presentations were followed by an engaging, and entertaining, question and answer period led by Dr. Shear. To view the event webcast, go to: sunnybrook.ca and click on Welcome>News, Media and Publications>Speaker Series>Skin Deep: A Dermatology Discussion On Common ConditionsMonica Matys
Top: Dr. Neil Shear, Head of Dermatology, speaks about common skin conditionsBottom: Corrective make up specialist, Lee Graf demonstrates some application tech-niques with Cover FX.
Raise a flag in honour of a Sunnybrook Veteran this Remembrance DaySunnybrook is the largest Veterans’ care facility in Canada. Working in close partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada, we offer long-term and complex hospital care to 500 Veterans from the Second World War and Korean War.
This Remembrance Day, honour Canada’s Veterans by donating a flag with a message of thanks for their courage and sacrifice. Your flag will decorate the lawn in front of the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre on November 11 as a symbol of gratitude to our vets.
Order your flag today at raiseaflag.ca
Hospital staff and visitors are welcome to attend the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Sunnybrook cenotaph on November 11, commencing at 11:30 a.m.
Don’t get taken out of the game this season.
Let’s stick to the plan and W.I.N.
How to reach us:
Your Health MattersSunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
2075 Bayview Avenue, Suite D1 00
Toronto, ON M4N 3M5
P: 416.480.4040
Your Health Matters is published monthly by the Communications & Stakeholder Relations Department and Sun-nybrook Foundation. Submissions to Your Health Matters are welcome, however, they are subject to space availability and editorial discretion.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the one million patients the hospital cares for each year through the dedication of its more than 10,000 staff and volunteers. Internationally recognized leadership in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguish Sunnybrook as one of Canada’s premier academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook specializes in caring for Canada’s war veterans, high-risk pregnancies, critically-ill newborns, adults and the elderly, and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychiatric disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries.
$470MCAMPAIGN GOAL
74%RAISED TO DATE
The community has invested $346 million in Sunnybrook as of September 30, 2011. Learn how the Campaign for Sunnybrook is saving lives at sunnybrook.ca/foundation
Campaign spotlight
Sunnybrook donors celebrate an eventful year Sunnybrook donors and staff came together on September 27 to celebrate a tremendous year, one that included the opening of leading-edge facilities in multiple program areas.
Sunnybrook Foundation’s annual general meeting, held at Vaughan Estate, featured a mix of fun, education and foundation business. A moving 10-minute video pre-sentation, which included interviews with Sunnybrook patients, donors and staff, highlighted various milestones from the past year, such as the opening of Canada’s most advanced maternity ward and inten-sive care unit for babies and the opening of the Gelato Cup Golf Early Detection Centre.
“It truly was a memorable evening. You could see on the faces of donors that they were moved by the video and excited about all that’s happening at Sunnybrook,” says Jennifer Tory, chair of the Campaign for Sunnybrook. “The interactive reception following the AGM was a hit as well. Donors enjoyed being able to chat with Sunnybrook staff to learn more about a host of program areas.”
A little bit of business was also on the agenda as Sunnybrook Foundation’s Governing Council welcomed Rosemary McLeese as its new chair and Sheryl Kerr as its new vice-chair. Lynne Golding and Anita Gupta were recognized as new mem-bers of the council who have joined in the last year.
The foundation thanked three retiring members of the Board of Directors for their important contributions. Since the 1990s, Lesley Alboini has served on several com-mittees, as well as board vice-chair and sec-retary. Linda Campbell began as a hospital volunteer in 2002 and joined the board in 2005. Barry Cooper joined the board in 2008 and served on its donor relations committee. Sunnybrook Foundation also reported on its strong 2010/2011 financial performance, including $46 million raised, bringing the campaign total to $334 million. The foun-dation’s expenses decreased 26 per cent and 80 cents of every dollar received was earmarked to hospital programming.Dan Birch
Above: Sunnybrook staff and Sunnybrook Foundation members gathered with donors to at the annual general meeting to share the latest hospital and foundation news.
Think of Sunnybrook for your gift giving this holiday season
Giving a Gifts of Giving will not only show someone how much you care – it will help Sunnybrook continue to provide the life-saving care to those who need it most.
Whether you are giving a gift in honour of a special someone in your life during the holidays or for that special occasion, your gift will truly make a difference in the lives of your family, friends, neighbours and community.
Visit sunnybrook.ca/gifts to see all 29 gifts