Best Medicine Matters Fall 2009 - Mount Sinai Hospital

FALL 2009
he Best
Medicine Matters
Heartfelt Thanks: Gavin, Owen,
Ian and Vicki McKenzie celebrate
in utero procedure that repaired
Océane McKenzie’s heart
A PUBLICATION OF THE MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Giving Thanks:
For rising to
construction
challenges;
For donations
supporting The
Best Medicine;
For lives saved.

Baby’s
Heart
Repaired
Before
Birth
Dr. Ryan describes the procedure:
“Under ultrasound guidance, we
inserted a needle into the left ventricle
of the baby’s heart and passed a guide
wire and balloon through the narrowed
aortic heart valve, and infl ated the
balloon to open the valve.”
“This intervention was minimally
invasive for the mother and lifesaving for
the baby,” says Dr. Ryan. “Océane’s heart
condition improved almost immediately.”
Océane McKenzie
Vicki McKenzie knows a lot about the
human heart. “I know the valves, the
numbers, the gradients. I would never
have known that a year ago,” she says.
A year ago, McKenzie hadn’t heard the
words that would send her and husband
Ian on an incredible medical journey. “They
Dr. Greg Ryan with Océane McKenzie
said, ‘Your baby has a very sick heart.’” An
ultrasound in Ottawa had revealed that
the valve from her baby’s left ventricle
was severely narrowed. Untreated,
this would lead to a shrunken, scarred
ventricle which would require several
major surgeries to enable baby Océane
to survive and which would drastically
reduce her chances for a normal lifespan.
Three days later, the McKenzies were in
Toronto seeing Dr. Greg Ryan, head of
the Fetal Medicine Unit at Mount Sinai,
and Dr. Edgar Jaeggi, head of the Fetal
Cardiac Program at SickKids. The team
proposed an experimental in-utero
surgical procedure that had never been
successfully carried out in Canada.
“The team were willing to try something
they had never done before to save our
child. It really touches our hearts,” said Vicki.
“What they did in-utero saved her,”
says Vicki. At four months old, Océane
is adored by her brothers, Gavin, 7 and
Owen, 4. She weighs nine pounds and
is doing very well. She is living up to her
name — inspired by the Pacifi c Ocean.
“We named her just before the
procedure,” says Vicki. “The ocean is
deep, strong, stubborn and a miracle on
its own — just like our little girl.”
Donor Role in
Medical First
At a press conference announcing
the successful procedure, Dr.
Greg Ryan said the Philips IU22
ultrasound machines used to
diagnose Océane’s condition
and for the procedure had been
provided by donors.
“These donors are very happy
that their gifts have made such
a tangible difference to this little
girl,” said Dr. Ryan.
“But the remainder of our
ultrasound machines are ageing
models, which urgently need to
be replaced,” he added. “Only
with the best equipment can we
help our tiny unborn patients,
right from the start.”

Donors Keep NICU
Equipment Current
Jason Macartney with donor-funded
equipment in the Valentine Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit
“I can’t express how much this means
to our patients and families,” says Jason
Macartney, Registered Respiratory Therapist,
Clinical Co-ordinator for the Valentine
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Macartney is talking about equipment
donations. “These gifts allow the
acquisition of infant ventilators that
support the breathing of some of our
smallest patients, infusion pumps that
deliver medications to patients and
transport equipment that allows us to take
patients for diagnostic tests or to a facility
closer to home for the family,” he says.
New physiological monitors are another
critical need. “Physiological monitors
are a much-needed component in the
care of the critically ill neonates,” says
Rheney Castillo, Senior Director, Women’s
and Infants’ Health and Nursing. “The
monitors are designed to measure
specifi c parameters such as temperature,
heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen
saturation, blood pressure. This helps
clinicians to assess the neonate and
make decisions about their care.”
“We are grateful that donors
recognize the immense value of these
sophisticated monitors,” says Castillo.
The benefi ts of equipment donations
go well beyond the hardware. As
Macartney says, “Being able to put the
best technology and equipment at the
bedside for our staff goes a long way in
promoting a culture of excellence in our
workplace. It creates a sense of pride
and commitment and helps us to retain
the best and the brightest people.”
Welcome to The Best Medicine Matters! The timing of this edition, so close to
Thanksgiving, inspired us to gather stories with a ‘giving thanks’ theme.
This theme gives me a perfect opportunity to thank you, our wonderful donors. Every
day, I see the evidence of your contributions — in the new addition to our Murray
Street tower, in new equipment, in every exciting research discovery. I see your
contributions, too, in the heartwarming sight of families taking home their new little
boy or girl — and occasionally both!
Mount Sinai Hospital and the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute continue to go from
strength to strength because you have chosen to make us your philanthropic priority. I
am very grateful for all that you do.
I hope you enjoy the stories in this newsletter. And I hope you also enjoy our newly
expanded Giving Catalogue, which we’re promoting in this edition. The Giving
Catalogue and our Holiday Cards offer many wonderful ways to show your gratitude
and appreciation to friends, family and colleagues. With the holiday season fast
approaching, I hope you will be inspired to give great gifts with great meaning.
Warm regards,
Susan Horvath
President, Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation
3

Legacy Helps Build Future Science
Three young scientists at the Samuel
Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount
Sinai Hospital have made strides toward
redefining the diagnosis, treatment and
prevention of cancer — work made
possible through legacy gifts. When Doris
Mack made a gift in her will to support
trainees in honour of her late husband
Harold she may not have realized the
impact it would have.
PhD candidate Kelly Seto received a
bursary to work in Dr. Irene Andrulis’s
lab, where she is studying familial
ovarian cancer. “Every day I’m thankful
to be in the presence of such gifted
researchers,” says Seto. “Nowhere else
could I experience such a strong link
between what happens in the lab, and
its application to hospital care.”
Ian Taylor, a PhD candidate and
bursary recipient working with
Senior Investigator Dr. Jeff Wrana,
PhD candidate Kelly Seto, with Doris
Mack’s attorney and executor of her
estate, John Honsberger
contributed to the development of
‘DyNeMo’ — a diagnostic tool for
breast cancer patients. He explains
that donations fund research and help
investigators pay for grant applications
that can attract even greater funding to
the Lunenfeld.
Postdoctoral fellow Nadine Kolas and her
colleagues in Dr. Daniel Durocher’s lab
recently discovered two new genes that
help cells avoid cancer-causing mutations.
“Research institutes need to keep the
best people in science,” says Kolas.
“Thanks to donor support, the Lunenfeld
is showing how to do it.”
For You
Dr. Allison
McGeer, H1N1
spokesperson,
will appear in
the fall series
of Sinai Speaks
An exciting fall lecture series debuts
soon. Exclusively for donors, Sinai Speaks
features Mount Sinai experts discussing
hot health care topics.
The first event takes place on November 23.
Andrea Clark, Clinical Dietitian, will reveal
myths about nutrition and offer tips on how
to eat well to live well. Influenza is the focus
of our second lecture, on November 30,
with Dr. Allison McGeer, Director, Infection
Control, and Christine Moore, Infection
Control Practitioner. Dr. McGeer has been
a key H1N1 spokesperson in the media, and
together with Moore, she will discuss
how to protect yourself against the flu.
“Sinai Speaks was developed specifically
for our donors,” says Joan Stevens, Vice-
President, Donor Engagement, Mount Sinai
Hospital Foundation. “We received great
feedback from previous lecture events and
we know our donors want health information
that’s useful for their daily lives.”
Lectures will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the
Hospital’s Ben Sadowski Auditorium on the
18th floor. Presentations will be followed
by a Q&A session. For more information
please visit www.mshfoundation.ca/
NetCommunity/sinaispeaks or contact
Celane Chan at 416-586-8203 ext. 8476
or cchan2@mtsinai.on.ca.
Exclusive Lecture
Series for Donors —
You’re Invited!
November 23
Hot Topics in Nutrition
With Andrea Clark, Clinical Dietitian
November 30
The Flu and You
With Dr. Allison McGeer and
Christine Moore
All events begin at 5:30 p.m.
and take place in the Ben
Sadowski Auditorium on the
18th floor, Mount Sinai Hospital.
Join Us! http://mshfoundation.ca/NetCommunity/sinaispeaks
Sign up now using the
enclosed coupon!

Patients Thank Bright Minds and Big Hearts
Nora Perry
“Not to worry, we’ll help you.” These were
the reassuring words spoken to Nora Perry
when she was recently diagnosed with
breast cancer and reunited with a nurse
who treated her when she was in the
hospital 23 years ago.
Nora has a long history with Mount Sinai
Hospital. In 1984, after finding a lump
on her back, she was brought to Mount
Sinai and diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma.
For 11 months she was in and out of the
Hospital undergoing several surgeries
and eight rounds of chemotherapy. “I
fully expected that the cancer would
come back,” says Nora, but in fact she
ended up having 23 perfectly healthy
and cancer-free years. She attributes this
to the wonderful care she received from
doctors and nurses who she describes as
respectful, caring, thoughtful and kind.
About her recent diagnosis, Nora says,
“I wouldn’t want to be treated anywhere
else. If you have to go through something
like this it’s nice to know you’re going
somewhere where the professionals are
so empathetic and kind.” She speaks
highly of all of her Mount Sinai caregivers,
from the massage therapists, to
her doctors, to the Reiki therapist who
provided tremendous emotional support.
“This is as good as it gets,” says Nora. “It
does not get any better than Mount Sinai.”
Hamza Al Mathno
Dear Madam/Sir,
My name is Hamza, I am three weeks old. I
was born at Mount Sinai Hospital on April 4,
2009. Many thanks to the professional and
dedicated staff that took care of my mother
and me while we were hospitalized.
I would like to participate in supporting
Mount Sinai Hospital so other kids and
patients can benefit from the care you
provide. Enclosed is my donation to
Mount Sinai Hospital.
Thank you,
Baby boy Hamza Al Mathno
Young donor
Hamza Al Mathno
Christine & John Schuman
When Christine Schuman was 18 weeks
pregnant, an ultrasound revealed that her
unborn baby had a urinary tract obstruction
that was causing problems with his
bladder and kidneys. Christine was referred
to Dr. Greg Ryan and eventually a bladder
shunt was inserted into the baby’s bladder
to relieve the pressure and attempt to
save his kidney function.
“Dr. Ryan and the nurses and fellows
were very compassionate and understood
what an emotional and difficult time we
were going through,” says Christine.
Jack Schuman had
a bladder shunt
inserted before birth
The procedure was successful and
Christine was monitored until her son
was born at 38 weeks weighing 8
pounds 4 ounces. The shunt stayed in
past delivery and did its job preserving
her baby’s kidney function. Christine
and her husband John say they had a
wonderful birthing experience at Mount
Sinai and they can’t thank Dr. Ryan and
his team enough for everything they did.
“We know if it were not for the talented
and committed professionals in the Special
Pregnancy Unit, our son may not have lived,
or if he did, he would have serious kidney
problems,” says Christine. “We are so lucky
to have him and we’re grateful that we are
able to go to a hospital like Mount Sinai.”
Upcoming Events
For details, please see the Calendar of Events at www.mshfoundation.ca or call 416-586-8203.
Monthly
Online Auction for Chronic Pain at
www.nhl.com, hosted by AJ Sports
World. All proceeds go to Miriam’s
Fund, Wasser Pain Management
Centre at Mount Sinai.
November 12, 6:30 p.m.
Leadership Sinai Dinner with Scientists
2009; $180 per person
November 28, 4 p.m.
Mount Sinai Day at Marlies
$5 from every ticket purchased through
Mount Sinai Hospital
December 3, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Leadership Sinai Lunch with Leaders
featuring David Rosenberg, Chief
Economist and Strategist, Gluskin Sheff;
members $25; non-members $35

Rising to Construction
Challenges
Patients, visitors and staff have been understanding of disruptions caused during construction of the new Lawrence and Frances
Bloomberg Centre for Women’s and Infants’ Health
“I would really like to thank everyone
for their incredible patience,” says Altaf
Stationwala, Senior Vice-President,
Operations and Re-development at
Mount Sinai Hospital. “This has been
a very challenging undertaking; one
that has been made easier with the
understanding of visitors to the Hospital.”
Stationwala is referring to Mount Sinai’s
ambitious redevelopment project, which
has just reached another major milestone.
The shell of the six-storey expansion of
what will become the new Lawrence and
Frances Bloomberg Centre for Women’s
and Infants’ Health has been completed
and outfitting the space has begun.
Every construction project has its challenges,
but the complex task of upgrading
structures and building new spaces within
the confines of a working hospital takes a
delicate approach. Stationwala has been
responsible not only for keeping the project
on track, but at the same time minimizing
disruption to patients, staff and visitors
caused by construction-related road closures
and out-of-service elevators. It requires
extraordinary timing and co-ordination, and
a generous helping of compassion to ensure
that patients’ safety and comfort are upheld.
Stationwala expects periodic delays will
continue, but he says there is light at the
end of the tunnel. “The impact of the past
year’s disruptions will materialize in this
phase of construction, as we begin to see
the tangible benefit of the new space.”
The new Centre has been designed
to integrate state-of-the-art medical
technology and infection control
processes, allow natural light, conserve
energy, and fulfill the comfort, safety
and privacy needs of patients and staff.
When it opens in 2010, patients and visitors
can expect a warm, welcoming and healing
environment, and an efficient, modern
and comfortable workplace that will help
our doctors, nurses and staff further the
delivery of patient- and family-centred care.
6

Lowering Barriers to
Mammogram Access
When Linda Muraca, Nurse-Clinician in Mount Sinai’s Marvelle
Koffler Breast Centre, was asked in 2007 by the Centre for
Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) to do presentations on
breast health for women with disabilities, she thought, “That’s
interesting.” And so it was.
“I thought the problems they were sharing with us were
isolated, but I kept hearing more disturbing stories,” said
Muraca. Women told her about going for a mammogram, only
to find that the machine couldn’t move to accommodate them.
They talked about encounters with health care staff who would
speak only to their caregivers or family members. They talked
about entering a mammography room in a wheelchair, and
being asked to “hop up on the table.”
“Many of these women had a family history of breast cancer,
but their doctors would gloss over it, saying they had enough to
deal with already,” says Muraca.
The CILT sessions inspired Gateways to Cancer Screening,
a project that became part of Muraca’s Masters in Nursing
coursework at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing,
University of Toronto. Muraca teamed up with Nancy Barry,
CILT’s peer support and volunteer co-ordinator, whose own
negative mammogram experience inspired her to invite Muraca
to CILT in the first place. Five focus groups were led in Toronto
and Peel Region.
“Accessibility issues are very widespread,” says Barry. Fortunately,
the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre offers quite good access. “The
doorways are wide enough so that women can comfortably
wheel in, the machines move up and down, and that lowers
the patients’ anxiety,” says Muraca. The change rooms aren’t
wheelchair accessible, but staff now suggest that women with
disabilities simply change in the mammography room.
Mount Sinai Breast Imaging staff, Muraca adds, have been
extremely supportive. “Some women who have had horrible
previous experiences have come here and been very happy,”
she says. By asking all new patients if they need any special
accommodation, staff ensure that women with disabilities
receive extra appointment time and an extra technician to
assist with the mammogram procedure.
The Gateways momentum continues. Muraca, Barry and colleagues
have received funding from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
to develop an educational strategy designed to improve the breast
cancer experience for women with disabilities.
“The idea is to get the information from the women right to
the health-care providers,” says Barry. The program will employ
scenarios revealed by Gateways to develop DVDs that can be
used in training health-care staff. Barry describes their plan as
“a Disability Awareness 101.”
“We work in a rushed environment at times, but it’s all about
listening and respect,” says Muraca.
7

1001 – 522 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1W7
We’re building a better future for women and infants, Right from the Start. See our website for information.
Research Creates The Best Medicine — read all about it at www.mshfoundation.ca.
Big Thanks from a Little Boy
Cooper White points to his dove
By all accounts, Cooper White’s ninth
birthday party was pretty spectacular. It
was held at a gymnastics facility with
a sponge pit and climbing ropes and a
sponge wall that the birthday boy knocked
down himself. Wrapped up with all the
fun and games was a serious endeavour
— fundraising for Mount Sinai’s Valentine
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). For
the second year in a row, Cooper asked his
friends for donations, instead of birthday
gifts. Cooper’s generosity inspired his
friends to respond in kind, and he raised
over $500 for the NICU.
“I wanted to thank the nurses and I
wanted to help the little babies again,”
Cooper said as he handed his birthday
donation to Melissa Cooper, RN, NICU,
accompanied by his younger brother,
Wyatt, and his parents, Cathy Coulthard
and David White.
Not so long ago, Cooper was one of those
“little babies”. “I weighed about 2.5 lb.
when I was born,” he said. Cooper spent
almost three weeks in Mount Sinai’s NICU
before he was transferred to a hospital
closer to his family’s Burlington home.
“What he’s done is so great,” said
Melissa Cooper. “It’s amazing to get this
much appreciation.”
“It’s all his own idea,” said Cathy. “He
talks about it a lot, the fact that if people
hadn’t donated to Mount Sinai before, he
might not be here. He has one of those
doves with his name on it on the wall,
and we used to drop by and look at it.”
“I saw it on the way here today,” said
Cooper. Clearly, he’s a boy who makes the
most of every minute — and every birthday.
1001 – 522 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1W7
t 416-586-8203 f 416-586-8639 foundation@mtsinai.on.ca www.mshfoundation.ca
Charitable Registration #119048106 RR0001
DM09I
200903155