Pulse: The Ottawa Hospital Foundation Podcast

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. 

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)

The Ottawa Hospital's mental health team provides early diagnosis and treatment of severe mental illness to patients across Eastern Ontario. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Sarah Brandigampola, a psychiatrist at our hospital who works in the On Track: First Episode Psychosis Program. She discusses the three-year program that cares for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, the multi-disciplinary team involved, and why this program is so important, including the fact that Canada has one of the highest rates of schizophrenia in the world. Dr. Brandigampola also shares that treatment options have improved dramatically in the past decade, and today there's a great deal of hope for patients. (24:03)

When Heba Haidar was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, her world came to a grinding halt. She was on maternity leave, with three young children under the age of five, and she worried about what the future might hold for her and her family. Hear Heba's story – one of our latest in the cancer journey series — and find out why cancer is not such a big scary word anymore.(26:34)

As a young boy, Dr. Alvin Tieu likely saw himself becoming a professional athlete because of his love of sports. But there was a shift in grade 7 — science became more interesting, and he decided to write an essay on the Big Bang theory. From there, his interest in medicine and research started to grow. Today, Dr. Tieu is an emerging leader at The Ottawa Hospital and the 2023 recipient of the Worton Researcher in Training Award. (19:14)

Registered Nurse Phil Nguyen exudes energy — whether he's caring for patients on 5W in the Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit at the General Campus, teaching the next generation of healthcare workers at uOttawa, or busting a move as a hip-hop dancer.  In this conversation, Phil talks about why he considers The Ottawa Hospital his home away from home. He reveals what he loves most about his job, his special connection with patients, and how his team will go beyond the call of duty to provide compassionate care — he shares one special story in particular. You'll also find out why it's not so unusual to find him dancing with his patients. (18:47)

Dr. Shawn Aaron's path to research wasn't planned. In fact, his goal was to become a physician and care for patients with lung disease, but that all changed when he came to The Ottawa Hospital and fell in love with research. In this conversation, Dr. Aaron discusses his practice-changing research for cystic fibrosis and COPD. While he admits his research career saw early success when he turned his master's thesis into a New England Journal of Medicine article – that didn't stop him from pushing the research envelope over his impressive career. As a result of that, he has been named the 2023 recipient of the Dr. J. David Grimes Career Achievement Award. (25:05)

Faced with an autoimmune disorder since childhood, rock radio announcer Amy Volume has been a patient of The Ottawa Hospital for about 20 years. More recently, she started losing mobility in one leg and that's when her orthopaedic team said it was time for her to have hip replacement surgery. Listen to hear more about Amy's story and why she considers our ortho surgeons the real rock stars. (23:46)

Meet Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden – a senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital who's held the inaugural Corinne Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research since 2000.  In this episode, Dr. Vanderhyden talks about why she's devoted her career to investigating ovarian cancer. You'll learn about her dedicated team, and find out who are the unofficial members, and the important role they play. Plus, Dr. Vanderhyden shares two critical discoveries they've made in the last few years, her deep gratitude for our donors, and how puzzles and mysteries continue to be a part of her life even when she's not in the lab. (28:47)

After nearly a decade of mini seizures, Stefanie Scrivens was diagnosed with a rare form of a brain tumour at only 20 years old — that was in 2009. She would be one of the first to benefit from a new treatment option to increase her chance of survival, including two complex, 8-hour awake brain surgeries at The Ottawa Hospital to remove the tumour. Today, at the age of 34, we check in with Stefanie to get an update on how she's doing and what direction her life has taken since her two brain surgeries at The Ottawa Hospital. (26:55)

Dr. Paul MacPherson is a longtime advocate for gay men's health. In 2023, he was named the first Clinical Research Chair in Gay Men's Health at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. This chair is a first of its kind in any Canadian hospital. In this episode, Dr. MacPherson talks about what it means to see this research become a reality, the stigma gay men face when it comes to their health, and how he hopes this chair will help to change that. He also shares how the idea for the chair came about in the first place, and what he does with the one hour he sets aside for himself each day. (28:44)    

Alison Hughes was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 37. At the time, she was running her own business and the mother of two young children. The news was the shock of her life. Ten years later, her world was turned upside down again — this time her breast cancer had metastasized. Today, Alison hopes to be a voice for younger people facing a breast cancer diagnosis, and that's why she's sharing the story of how The Ottawa Hospital saved her life twice. (33:04)

Dr. Dar Dowlatshahi is a stroke neurologist and senior scientist at our hospital. He is leading the Canadian site of a global research trial that could change how we treat the deadliest and least treatable form of stroke. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with the region's stroke team to learn more about The Ottawa Hospital's leading role in this study that could be a gamechanger for bleeding strokes. Dr. Dowlatshahi also shares what he loves most about his job, what excites him about the future of care at our hospital, and his side project — a rock band. (30:54) *The number of participants mentioned in the global research study continues to increase after the recording.  

Before Julia Wagg passed away in 2017 at age 36, she decided to leave a gift in her will to support cancer research. She was inspired by a young ‘spitfire' doctor and researcher who cared for her at The Ottawa Hospital.  In this episode, Holly Wagg shares the story of her widow's journey with leukemia, as well as Julia's decision to leave a legacy gift to The Ottawa Hospital to help future patients. Holly also shares what it means to see the impact of Julia's generosity just a few years after her death and how their philanthropy has come full circle.  (36:51)

When Jackie Holzman, the former mayor of Ottawa, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998, she went public with her story hoping to encourage people to get a mammogram and to further advance research at The Ottawa Hospital. Now, the former board member of our research institute is standing alongside her granddaughter, Rebecca Leikin, who is undergoing breast cancer care. Rebecca now hopes to help future patients, much like her own grandmother has done. You could say, Jackie is handing over the fundraising baton. (24:38)

Dr. Jacinthe Lampron is a trauma surgeon and the medical director of The Ottawa Hospital's Trauma Program. She's also a reserve medical officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, where she served in Afghanistan. Dr. Lampron shares with us her wartime experience and what led her to our hospital. She explains how our integrated trauma team comes together each time a critically ill patient arrives at the Civic Campus and the “dance” they do to provide this specialized care. Dr. Lampron also surprises us with her career ambitions when she was a young girl, and shares what you'll find her doing when she's not at work. (28:37)

The Ottawa Hospital's new state-of-the-art campus will be the most patient-centred and technologically advanced research hospital in the country. Simply put, it will revolutionize how we deliver healthcare. In this episode, Jason-Emery Groën, the Vice-President, Design Director at HDR — an architecture and engineering firm working on the project — takes you behind the scenes to learn what patients, visitors, and staff can expect when the new building opens. (36:45)

Sepsis accounts for almost 20% of global deaths annually, and the search for answers has been decades in the making. However, The Ottawa Hospital is taking a big step forward in the next phase of a world-first clinical trial using stem cells in patients with septic shock. Early results are promising, and they could lead to innovative treatment options for millions of patients, worldwide. In this episode, Dr. Lauralyn McIntyre, an intensive care unit physician, and senior scientist, talks about moving the needle forward on sepsis research. (27:27)

Kathryn Tremblay is the CEO and co-founder of Canada's leading independent staffing firm – Altis Recruitment. In this episode, she discusses her billboard message “What's possible?” and how that's shaped her professionally and personally. She also dives into the role philanthropy plays in her life, including her family's connection to The Ottawa Hospital, and why today she supports the Campaign to Create Tomorrow. (21:32)

Dr. Meshach Asare-Werehene is the Immuno-Oncology Program Lead in the Tsang Lab at The Ottawa Hospital, specializing in gynecological cancers. Since he was a young boy growing up in Ghana, he was curious and always asked questions.   In this episode, he describes the one simple question that sparked his interest in learning more about cancer, and you'll also find out how he got the nickname “headmaster” when he was young.  Dr. Asare-Werehene talks about his research into ovarian cancer — from finding ways to detect it earlier to the impact of A.I., as well as the impact philanthropy had directly on his work. He also discusses how he hopes to inspire more young Black children about what's possible for them in the future. (33:26)

After dedicating 27 years of her career to The Ottawa Hospital, Denise Picard-Stencer was shocked when she found herself back at the hospital in 2019 — this time as a patient. Denise shares her cancer journey after a multiple myeloma diagnosis and what it was like seeing care from the patient's perspective. She also talks about witnessing the impact of research. (24:58)

From a young age, Dr. Ronda Lun was fascinated by neuroscience and the brain — you could say it came naturally, as her father was a neurosurgeon. But today, Dr. Lun is carving out her own career path at The Ottawa Hospital, focusing on clinical care and research for stroke patients. Author of more than 34 papers to date, Dr. Lun received an honourable mention for the hospital's 2022 Worton Researcher in Training Award. In our conversation, she talks about her love for practice-changing research, how her stroke research intersects with cancer research, and why coming to our hospital was the best decision for her. You'll also find out what instrument made her fall in love with classical music. (23:51)

When Camille Leahy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 35, it was a devastating blow. Despite many rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, her cancer kept returning. In this episode, she talks about the rollercoaster ride that led her to our hospital's Canadian-first CAR T-cell therapy clinical trial — where she finally found hope. Camille also shares how the experience inspired her to become an advocate for other patients. (37:15)

The year 2022 was an important one at The Ottawa Hospital Foundation with the launch of the historic Campaign to Create Tomorrow. In this episode, Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, looks back at the momentous year. Listen to find out how he would best describe 2022, as well as: the donor stories that helped kick off the campaign. how the Foundation instills the confidence of donors. an update on the New Campus Development on Carling Avenue. and his year-end message to our supporters. (35:26)

Dr. Robert Fahed is one of only four interventional neuroradiologists and stroke neurologists in Canada. In this episode, he discusses the innovative and ever-evolving stroke treatment happening at The Ottawa Hospital, including thrombectomy, where blood clots are plucked from the brains of patients suffering from ischemic stroke. You'll learn more about what he means by thrombectomy “home runs”, the three major evolutions in thrombectomy and the momentum at which stroke care is changing, the impact philanthropy has on making this all happen, and where you might find him when he's not at the hospital. (32:44)

On a cold night in December 2019, Travis Vaughan was rushed to The Ottawa Hospital Trauma Centre after a snowmobile crash in rural Ottawa. He had a critical leg injury and was losing blood quickly. It was all hands on deck for his care team that night and in the days and months ahead. In this episode, Travis is reunited with a member of his medical team, orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Geoff Wilkin. Travis recounts the harrowing experience he went through to get help at the site of the crash and the incredible care he received upon his arrival at the Trauma Centre. Dr. Wilkin describes the life-changing injury and the team ready to help Travis. They also share a surprising story of how their paths crossed again — this time with Travis being able to help Dr. Wilkin. Content warning: Graphic description of the injuries Travis sustained.

As a child growing up in northern Iran, Dr. Taha Azad was amazed as he watched the glow of fireflies. Today, he's using the secret behind their glow to study cancer at The Ottawa Hospital and has big plans for the future. Dr. Azad is the 2022 recipient of the Worton Researcher in Training Award. Dr. John Bell described him as among the best post-doctoral candidates he's had the pleasure of mentoring over the last 30+ years of his career. In this episode, Dr. Azad discusses how he's been able to apply his unique biology know-how to cancer and COVID-19 research. The impact his mentors have had on his career to date, his love of teaching, and how he strikes a balance. (34:01)

Born into a family of nurses, it might seem like a career in nursing was the natural choice for Mary Farnand. But it took her a little while to find her way there. Today, Mary is a nurse navigator at The Ottawa Hospital's Ages Cancer Assessment Clinic and can't picture doing anything else. She spends her days working with patients, advocating for efficient and high-quality care. Mary is with each of her patients, every step of the way. (33:38)

As a young athlete playing semi-pro soccer and studying overseas, Haydn Bechthold felt invincible. But a diagnosis of colorectal cancer at age 22 quickly changed that perspective. The news was a shock. He was young, active, and otherwise healthy. When Haydn was referred to The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, there was a full team assembled to care for him. While traditional treatments were initially planned, the team thought outside the box and decided on a new form of immunotherapy to give Haydn hope for the future. (35:31)

Growing up in Mumbai, India, Dr. Pradeep Merchant dreamed of becoming a doctor. For the past three decades, he's worked at The Ottawa Hospital as a leader in neonatology, advocating for our tiniest patients. He also sits on The Ottawa Hospital Foundation Board and Campaign to Create Tomorrow Executive Committee — dedicated to delivering the best healthcare to our community for generations to come. *Note – Dr. Merchant and his wife, Anita Merchant, will match every new monthly donation from September 2022 to November 15, 2022, up to $50,000.

Philanthropy is a core value for Janet McKeage. It was instilled in her growing up in a military family and it's reflected in the work she does today as a business leader in our community in her role at RBC. For Janet, philanthropy is not only about giving but about volunteering time for things that matter most to her, like The Ottawa Hospital. Today, as the Board Chair of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation and as an Executive on the Campaign to Create Tomorrow, she is dedicated to making sure we have a hospital that can provide the best care to everyone in our region.  (23:30)

Faced with an MS diagnosis at age 23, and with her condition deteriorating, Geneviève Bétournay turned to a groundbreaking MS stem cell transplant pioneered right here at The Ottawa Hospital.    Geneviève shares the emotional journey since diagnosis, the life-changing moment of meeting Dr. Mark Freedman, and the raw reality of the treatment. She talks about the progress she witnessed afterward and what she continues to see today. Plus, the joy and gratitude she has for the care she received at The Ottawa Hospital. 

In the spring of 2022, Dr. Michael Rudnicki was formally admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society — the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific institution. He is one of only 12 Canadians to hold this honour. In our conversation, Dr. Rudnicki describes this as a pinnacle moment in his career. He explains how he prepared to be welcomed into the oldest scientific association in the world and what it means to join others before him like Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Dr. Rudnicki dives into his childhood love of biology and his fascination with Jacques Cousteau. He also talks about how Dr. Ron Worton enticed him to come to The Ottawa Hospital many years ago and his “paradigm shifting” discovery relating to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. (32:19)

Ten years ago, at the age of 16, Lukas Marshy was rushed to The Ottawa Hospital in medical distress and extreme pain. He needed our skilled neurosurgery team to treat a rare condition that resulted in a massive brain hemorrhage. In our conversation, Lukas explains how his condition deteriorated quickly that day, the calmness that came over him when he was told he needed brain surgery to save his life, and the gratitude he has for the surgical team, and the nurses who were always by his side. He also shares what he now has in common with a cyborg and how the entire experience helped shape his future. (32:30)

The Ottawa Hospital is ahead of the game when it comes to data in healthcare. In fact, for two decades we've been exploring the role of “big data”, while other institutions are only getting started. Today, our hospital is a world-leader in this field and has ambitious plans to deploy one of the most advanced data analytics platforms in Canada, if not the world. Dr. Alan Forster, Vice-President of Innovation and Quality and senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital, helps us explore the big impact of big data on patient care. (33:42)

If you met Casey Delaney today, you'd never know the kindergarten teacher was once in a life-altering accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury and an uncertain future. Casey and her husband, Scott Labrosse, reflect on the hot summer day in 2018 that changed their lives. They discuss Casey's extensive injuries, the specialized care she received from our hospital, the neurosurgeon Casey refers to as an angel, and what it was like when Scott heard Casey speak for the first time after the accident. They also share some special news about their future. (32:19)

At The Ottawa Hospital, we are harnessing biology to fight disease. Our hospital is home to a state-of-the-art Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre (BMC). It's our unique contribution to one of the most advanced areas of scientific innovation. Jen Quizi is the Director of the Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre in the virus manufacturing facility and is an investigator at our research institute. She takes us behind the scenes of the BMC to learn more about our best-kept secret. (24:12)

Dr. Lynn Megeney is a senior scientist in the regenerative medicine program at The Ottawa Hospital. In this episode, he explains why he jumped at the chance to come to Ottawa instead of going south of the border, and the influence Drs. Ron Worton and Michael Rudnicki had on his career. He also shares why sometimes it's good to “rock the boat”, like with his recent global research collaboration on cancer cells, and his need for speed when he's not in the lab. (35:56)

The Greenberg name in Ottawa has long been synonymous with service to the community and countless philanthropic projects. As Chair of the Campaign to Create Tomorrow — the largest fundraising campaign in our city's history — Roger Greenberg continues his family's legacy. In this episode, he discusses: why this role was important to him. his family's decision to make the single-largest healthcare donation in Ottawa's history. the nine little words that can be the most challenging part of this role. the Jewish expression that holds special meaning to him — a lesson he learned from his parents. (27:54)