Winter 2010 - St. Joseph's Health Care London

vim&
WINTER 2010
St. Joseph’s
Celebrates the
Season
HONOURING
A LEGACY OF
LIFE, LOVE
AND BABIES
Mental Health
Services Closer
to Home
How golfer
MIKE WEIR
overcame injury
and is getting
back in the swing
of the
A DAY IN
THE LIFE OF
ST. JOSEPH’S
Page 50

In St. Joseph’s, they trust.
“ I know if something goes wrong, St. Joseph’s will be there for us.”
Sue and Stan Martin have seen � rsthand the kind of care patients receive at St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London.
As patients, and longtime donors, they’ve been inspired to leave a bequest for St. Joseph’s –
to be directed toward the most urgent patient care needs. The Martins are con� dent about
the impact their legacy gift will have.
You too can leave a legacy. Whether through your will, life insurance, RRSPs or RRIFs,
you can help shape the future of health care.
PLEASE GIVE.
519 646 6085
www.sjhcfoundation.org
St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation supports St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, which
includes St. Joseph’s Hospital, Parkwood Hospital, Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care,
Regional Mental Health Care London and St. Thomas and Lawson Health Research Institute.

mind matters
Local events spotlight mental health
A FrAmework For
AwAreness
As the story goes, the mythical phoenix rises out
of fire and ashes and is reborn every 500 years.
It’s a powerful image that resonates with those
who have struggled with mental illness. And for
the past six years, it has been the theme of a community-wide
effort to shed light on mental health.
“Framing the Phoenix” is an annual art exhibit
held at The ARTS Project showcasing the work
of artists whose lives have been touched by mental
illness. The aim is to reduce the stigma and
discrimination that often comes with a diagnosis
of mental illness, explains Beth Muia, a nurse in
the mood and anxiety disorders program of St.
Joseph’s Regional Mental Health Care.
Organized by the Mental Health Promotions
Committee, a coalition of citizens and professionals
from many community groups, the exhibit
has displayed more than 450 exceptional pieces
of work over the years.
CAring For Your spirit
The holiday season is almost here and with it
will come family gatherings, parties and preparations
for cherished traditions. For some, however,
the holiday season can be stressful and
lonely. Instead of joy, they experience the holiday
blues with feelings of pain and loss.
Understanding these feelings, the spiritual
care team of St. Joseph’s Health Care, London will
be hosting a special non-denominational service
this year to help people through the holidays.
“Our Blue Holiday Service will give people
who are experiencing feelings of loss, isolation
and sadness a chance to reflect on their feelings
and better understand them,” says spiritual care
director Ciaran McKenna. “The hope is they will
gain the personal strength to enjoy the season.”
The Blue Holiday Service will be held Dec. 1
at 5 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Chapel in St. Joseph’s
Hospital. For more information visit www.sjhc.
london.on.ca or call 519-646-6100, ext. 66029.
St. JoSeph’S notebook
In May, the Framing the Phoenix exhibit at The ARTS Project in London displayed the
exceptional talent of artists touched by mental health issues.
turning point For
VeterAns CAre
Time is marching on for Second World War veterans.
The average age of these veterans is 86, so
while the number requiring care is decreasing, the
care needs for those who remain are increasing.
St. Joseph’s Health Care, London has been
working with Veterans Affairs Canada to develop
a transition plan to address this turning point in
veterans care at Parkwood Hospital. While the
plan involves a reduction of 76 beds by September
2011, veterans care will continue as one of St.
Joseph’s most significant programs. There will
still be 186 inpatient veterans care beds as well
as the operational stress injury clinic, which provides
outpatient mental health care to veterans,
members of the Canadian Forces, and eligible
members of the RCMP.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 1

2
connecting with our community
Reflecting Back,
Looking Ahead
As I leave the helm of St. Joseph’s after more than
12 fulfilling years as president and CEO, I reflect
on change and continuity. Our world—at home,
at work, across communities and continents—is
ever changing. At St. Joseph’s, significant change has been
part of our world for more than a decade and now we are on
the verge of yet another wave of transformation.
You may have read about the decline in veterans beds as our veteran population
declines. Our commitment to care for veterans, however, will not be diminished,
and Parkwood Hospital’s veterans care program will continue to be a significant
part of the work of St. Joseph’s. With the tremendous support of the community,
St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation recently recognized veterans and families
through the 2010 Tribute Dinner, which was another resounding success.
In this edition of Vim & Vigour, we also mark the long-awaited transfer of mental
health inpatient services from St. Joseph’s to Grand River Hospital in Kitchener.
This is the first of a series of transfers aimed at divesting mental health care to
places closer to home for people from across Southwestern Ontario.
In another transfer, St. Joseph’s renowned birthing and neonatal care programs
will move to London Health Sciences Centre this spring, enabling St. Joseph’s
Hospital to focus on its role as an ambulatory care centre for day surgery and treatment,
and chronic disease management.
While St. Joseph’s manages these changes and embraces more focused roles, we
are ever mindful of the need to carry on a history of service and value the importance
of relationships.
I very much look forward to the next stage of my life journey that my retirement
enables. Change, after all, is about building a bridge to the next destination, wherever
it may be, with the wisdom and vision gained from all previous experience.
My time with St. Joseph’s has been rewarding, inspiring and humbling, having
shared my years with a most dedicated family of leaders, staff, physicians and
volunteers. It has been my privilege to lead St. Joseph’s since 1998 and the London
hospital system since January 2006. Despite the intense period of change of the
last decade, St. Joseph’s is defined by continuity—one shaped by a strong history
of faith, caring and excellence established by our founding Sisters of St. Joseph,
Women’s Christian Association, and early leaders in mental health care.
In our new leader, Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, I see this legacy growing. St. Joseph’s
is an organization filled with capable hands and caring hearts. From an illustrious
past and present, this organization is headed into an exciting future, one of both
change and continuity.
Cliff Nordal
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
ST. JOSEPH’S
HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION
2010-2011 Board of Directors
Jeff Macoun, Chair Ron Martindale Jr.
Tim Brown Peter Mastorakos
Michelle Campbell, President Peter McMahon
Michael Dale Jim Mignault
Sharon Doubt Cliff Nordal
Samira El-Hindi Joseph O’Neill
Dianne Evans Dr. Hassan Razvi
Faisal Joseph Dr. Walter Romano
Brenda Lewis Rick Spencer
Frank Longo Tania Testa
Jeff Malpass Patrick Tremblay
ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH CARE, LONDON
2010-2011 Board of Directors
Gerald Killan, Chair Dr. Ian McConachie
Paul Brisson Dr. Rob McFadden
Kimberley Chesney Margaret McLaughlin
Jacquie Davison Susan Muszak
Dr. Adam Dukelow Joseph O’Neill
Marcella Grail Scott Player
Doug Hamilton Pat Pocock
Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, President Dean Michael Strong
Paul Kiteley David Van Trigt
Gaétan Labbé Peter Whatmore
Contributing Writers
Melissa Beilhartz, Betty Dann, Amanda Jackman, Andrew
Kaszowski, Anne Kay, Marek Kubow, Nicole Laven, Michele
Martin, Jennifer Parraga, , Dahlia Reich, Daniela Simunac,
Renée Sweeney
Editors in Chief
Kathy Burrill and Michelle Campbell
Editor
Dahlia Reich
Production
McMurry
268 Grosvenor Street
London, ON N6A 4V2
519-646-6085
www.sjhcfoundation.org
If you prefer not to receive Vim & Vigour TM from St. Joseph’s Health
Care Foundation, please call 519-646-6085.
Vim & Vigour, TM Winter 2010, Volume 26, Number 4, is published
quarterly by McMurry, McMurry Campus Center, 1-888-626-8779.
Vim & Vigour TM is published for the purpose of disseminating healthrelated
information for the well-being of the general public and
its subscribers. The information contained in Vim & Vigour TM is not
intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please consult
your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment
and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.
Publications Mail Agreement #41661016. Return undeliverable Canadian
addresses to: 268 Grosvenor St., London, ON N6A 4V2.

COVER PHOTO BY NIGEL DICKSON
DEPARTMENTS
1 St. Joseph’s
Notebook Local
events help shed
light on mental
health issues.
2 Connecting with
Our Community Cliff
Nordal reflects on his
years as St. Joseph’s
president and CEO.
8 Faces of St. Joseph’s
Profiles of a unique
pair of physicians and
a compassionate St.
Joseph’s volunteer.
53 In Your Own Words
Grateful patients
share their St. Joseph’s
experiences.
54 Giving with Impact
The Season of
Celebration campaign
is just around the
corner.
56 Inspired to Give
Ivey Eye Institute helps
a Lucan boat builder
get back to work.
50
4
6
7
10
16
18
SPECIAL
A Day in
the Life
A photographic
journey showcasing
the amazing work
of St. Joseph’s
rehabilitation teams.
Life and Love
St. Joseph’s celebrates more than
a century of caring for women and
newborns.
New CEO for St. Joseph’s
Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, a highly
respected physician and administrative
leader, takes the helm of St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London.
Care Closer to Home
Plans are under way to provide mental
health patients better access to
services.
Smart Moves
Soreness is a natural result of exercising,
but flexing a little knowledge can
minimize pain and prevent injury.
Miss Information
Some women avoid mammograms
for unfounded reasons. We dispel the
myths once and for all.
Stroke Sense
A stroke can strike anyone at any time.
Protect your brain by filling it with
information that could save your life.
CONTENTS
FEATURES
22
32
38
40
44
49
52
Gut Feelings
Digestive problems can interfere with
your daily life. Learn how to interpret
the motions in your midsection.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Step aside, bogeyman. Insomnia is the
real monster in the closet. Shine some
light on what’s keeping you from a
good night’s sleep.
A Natural Dilemma
“Organic” doesn’t always mean
“healthy.” Look beyond food labels
and consider the bigger picture.
17 Reasons to Work in Healthcare
Jump-start your job search by
exploring this diverse, flexible and
growing industry.
The Faces of Skin Cancer
Four skin cancer survivors share
their stories. Benefit from the
lessons they learned and get expert
advice on early detection.
Getting It Right
Lawson Health Research Institute
experts are working to improve
diagnostics for breast cancer.
Soldiering On
At the Tribute Dinner, Gen. Rick
Hillier (Ret.) reflects on the important
work of St. Joseph’s Health Care
Foundation.
ON THE COVER
Golfer Mike Weir is getting back in the swing.
He is triumphing over injury and adversity in his
quest to return to the top.
26
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 3

4
BY ANDREW KASZOWSKI AND DAHLIA REICH
Life and Love
St. Joseph’s celebrates more than a century
of caring for women and newborns
More than 100 years. More than
100,000 births. Countless stories
of life and love.
This is the tremendous
legacy of obstetrical and newborn care at
St. Joseph’s Hospital.
In the spring of 2011, St. Joseph’s perinatal
program will be moving to London Health
Sciences Centre as part of health care restructuring
in London. Babies will no longer be
delivered at St. Joseph’s Hospital. This is a
historic transition. With more than a century
of excellence and compassion, St. Joseph’s
has been home to tremendous achievement
in perinatal care.
The public is now invited to share in the
send-off and join in the celebration of life and
love at St. Joseph’s. All are invited to gather
at I Was Born at St. Joseph’s—a new, interactive
website launched to mark the illustrious
history and embrace an exciting new future
in perinatal care.
Everyone who was born, gave birth or
provided care at St. Joseph’s Hospital has
a story, and together these stories tell of a
legacy that cannot be described in words
alone. View these stories and share your own
through words, video or photos by going to
www.iwasbornatstjosephs.ca. Here’s a
small sample of what you will fi nd:
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
DEEP
GR ATITUDE
My son, John MacPhail,
was born three months
prematurely, barely
weighing 2 lbs, on
August 23, 1972. …
While I think of him
as a miracle, it was
the awesome staff in
the preemie nursery
who worked day
and night to save
my tiny baby. John
thrived on the love and care he received
from the entire staff at that time. I took home a happy,
healthy baby—against all odds! Wonderful, marvelous,
professional, caring people dedicated their days
and nights for almost three months to save and protect
the life of my son and so many other little babies!
My son, John, now 37, loves being a teacher. On
Nov. 2, 2007, he was the recipient of the Governor
General’s Award at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, for excellent
teaching.
So, from the bottom of my heart, I wish to say thank
you to the preemie nursery, St. Joseph’s Hospital.
There are no words to adequately express the enormous
gratitude we feel. … I thank God every day for
all you did for us and I know you have continued performing
miracles every day for years.
Always know how much you are appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Cora MacPhail
London
John MacPhail
with Michaëlle
Jean, Canada’s
former
Governor
General.

A ROYAL BEGINNING
“Coronation Day Twins Born to Granton Pair”
This was the headline in the London Free Press on
June 2, 1953. This was the day that my sister and I
were born, unbeknownst to my parents who thought
they were only expecting one child, not two. When
I was born, my mother sat up and asked the doctor
the sex of the child and he told her to lay back down,
that she wasn’t fi nished. We were born at 4:30 and
4:40 p.m. on Coronation Day, June 2, 1953.
This is how it was written in the paper:
“We only planned on one.”
So said Kenneth Mulholland, of Granton, formerly
of London, when asked what would be the names of two
Coronation Day girl babies his wife presented to him
yesterday at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“I can’t say now what we’re going to call them. For
now it’s just ‘One’ and ‘Two’ I guess,” said the slightlybefuddled
Mr. Mulholland. The major problem was which one to name after
the newly-crowned Queen, as he thought they should.
“Maybe it’ll be Elizabeth First and Elizabeth Second.” He wouldn’t
commit himself though. He was waiting for the “boss” to give her opinion.
His wife, Edythe, presented “One” at 4:30 p.m. and “Two” at 4:40 p.m.
The infant girls weighed in at 6 lbs each. Delivery was made by Dr. F.S.
Kipp of Granton, who has been practicing medicine for the past 20 years.
Assisting Dr. Kipp was Nurse Catherine Prendergast, of Aylmer.
Sister Mary Kenneth was in charge of St. Joseph’s maternity ward.
Our parents fi nally decided to call us June Elizabeth and Joan
Elizabeth. We also received a silver spoon from the Right Hon.
Vincent Massey, C.H., Governor-General of Canada. To this day, I
still have the write-up and picture of my parents, sister and me in the
hospital, and the silver spoon that was also given to us.
Sincerely yours,
June (Mulholland) Burnett
St. Marys, Ont.
New and Improved Website
This fall, St. Joseph’s Health Care, London raises the curtain on a new,
online welcome mat for our patients, visitors and the community. The main
St. Joseph’s website is being redesigned to make it easier than ever to find
out about: all areas of care, directions and services; the expertise of teams
across the organization; new developments; and ways you can improve your
health. You will find the new St. Joseph’s website at www.sjhc.london.on.ca.
As the website evolves, St. Joseph’s will offer greater transparency about
how we operate, including more ways for you to be engaged and communicate
with us.
All ideas for the site are welcome. Please contact Web producer Andrew
Kaszowski at andrew.kaszowski@sjhc.london.ca.
‘When God
Smiles’
Jonathan Barker and Alexandra
McCreery say their daughter,
Aynsley, is alive today because of
the actions of a chain of health
care providers from London to
Toronto. “Wonderful things can
happen when medicine works,
and God smiles,” Barker writes
in a moving story now on the
“I Was Born” at St. Joseph’s website.
“Looking back, I guess God
was smiling all along.”
Read about this young couple’s
remarkable, sometimes frightening,
journey to parenthood at
iwasbornatstjosephs.ca.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 5

6
A New Era
St. Joseph’s welcomes the distinguished
Dr. Gillian Kernaghan as its new CEO
“In her
leadership
capacity at
LHSC and
St. Joseph’s,
Gillian
has been
instrumental
in integrating
our practices
to better serve
patients, staff
and students.
She is a great
choice for this
role.”
–Cliff Nordal
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
A
highly respected family physician
and administrative leader is the new
president and chief executive officer
of St. Joseph’s Health Care, London.
Dr. Gillian Kernaghan officially took the helm
of St. Joseph’s in October, succeeding Cliff Nordal,
who announced his retirement earlier this year
after 12 years of outstanding leadership.
“It is a privilege to have been selected,” says
Dr. Kernaghan. “I trained as a family medicine
resident at St. Joseph’s and provided care
to patients at both St. Joseph’s and Parkwood
Hospital. Having worked for 17 years as a senior
medical leader committed to the development of
our academic health sciences centre in London, I
look forward to leading St. Joseph’s as we forge
new roles within the health care system and continue
to provide excellent compassionate care to
the community.”
Skill, knowledge and drive
Renowned for her medical, academic and system
leadership at local, regional, provincial and
national levels, Dr. Kernaghan’s appointment
“marks the beginning of the next era in hospital
care, teaching and research in London,” says Dr.
Gerry Killan, chair of the St. Joseph’s board of
directors. “Gillian has the skill, knowledge and
drive to take St. Joseph’s and London’s academic
hospital system to the next level.”
Prior to her CEO appointment, Dr. Kernaghan
was integrated vice president, medical education
and medical affairs for both St. Joseph’s and
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), a position
she held since 2006. Her accomplishments
in this role are significant. She led the establishment
of an ethics program at LHSC, saw both
hospitals through the H1N1 pandemic as the incident
manager, and led a hand hygiene campaign
that saw 40 to 50 per cent increases in compliance
across all hospital sites in London within
two years.
Dr. Gillian Kernaghan
Leading up to 2006, Dr. Kernaghan was vice
president, medical and professional affairs at
St. Joseph’s for five years. Between 1993 and
1997, she was vice president, medical services at
Parkwood Hospital and played a key role in the
smooth transition of Parkwood’s amalgamation
with St. Joseph’s in 1997.
a great ChoiCe
“Gillian’s medical, professional practice and
patient care leadership at Parkwood Hospital
and then St. Joseph’s has helped to lay the strong
foundation on which our hospitals deliver care
today,” says Nordal. “In her leadership capacity
at LHSC and St. Joseph’s, Gillian has been instrumental
in integrating our practices to better serve
patients, staff and students. She is a great choice
for this role.”
Dr. Carol Herbert, former dean, Schulich
School of Medicine at The University of Western
Ontario, describes Dr. Kernaghan as “one of the
finest clinicians and leaders in our academic
health sciences centre today.”
While holding busy hospital leadership
responsibilities, Dr. Kernaghan was also an active
family physician. Her one regret of her new CEO
role, she says, is the need to give up her 25-year
practice.

Care
Closer to Home
Plans are on track to give mental health
patients better access to services
Mental health care in Southwestern
Ontario is poised to take the first
major steps towards the recovery
and rehabilitation of patients
closer to home.
In the coming months, St. Joseph’s Health
Care, London will transfer 50 beds and services
from Regional Mental Health Care to Grand
River Hospital in Kitchener-Waterloo to allow
patients from that region to receive the care
they need in their own community. Staff from
St. Joseph’s will also transfer, bringing their
highly specialized mental health care expertise
to Grand River Hospital.
Region-wide expeRtise
Following the Grand River move, beds and
resources will be transferred to Windsor Regional
Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Care Hamilton and
St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital. As a result,
the expertise St. Joseph’s has developed as a
leader in mental health care will be spread across
the region.
The extensive transfer of mental health care
beds and resources has been planned since
1998. In 2001, St. Joseph’s assumed governance
of London Psychiatric Hospital and St. Thomas
Psychiatric Hospital. This represented the largest
divestment of mental health care services
in Ontario.
The current transfer of beds and resources is
the second part of the plan to transform mental
health care from an institutional model to a
recovery model. The third and final part of the
plan involves the creation of support mechanisms
in the community to assist former patients
in their recovery. To ensure people receive ongoing
support outside of the hospital, access to
treatment and support services closer to home
will be vitally important.
Looking AheAd
For St. Joseph’s, the transformation will be
completed in 2013/2014 with the opening of
two new mental health care facilities. The new
Regional Mental Health Care London building
will be a 156-bed facility located on the grounds
of Parkwood Hospital, and the new Regional
Mental Health Care St. Thomas will be an 89-bed
forensic mental health care facility, to be built on
the grounds of the existing facility.
To prepare for the London facility, early construction
on the Parkwood Hospital grounds is
under way. Temporary roads have been built,
the first few levels of a parking structure have
been erected and secondary steam lines are being
installed. This work will continue throughout the
early part of winter and resume in the spring. The
preparations will be completed in July 2011, when
construction of the new facility will begin.
By Marek kuBow
The structure on the
right is the parking
garage currently
under construction at
Parkwood Hospital. The
center building is an
artistic rendering of the
new Regional Mental
Health Care London and
is subject to change.
onLine
Follow
Our
Progress
For more information
on St. Joseph’s
new mental health
facilities, visit
www.sjhc.
london.on.ca/
corp/restruct/
mentalhealth/.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 7

8
Faces oF St. JoSeph’S
world-class treatment
Patients benefit from the expertise of a unique pair
of physicians and the compassionate attention of a
St. Joseph’s volunteer
ExcEllEncE timEs two
Since the day they were born, two St. Joseph’s
physicians have been almost inseparable, and
little has changed as adults. Drs. Gina and Sherry
Rohekar are identical twins and both work as
rheumatologists at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“Growing up, we both knew we wanted to
be doctors, but each of us was unsure of which
specialty we were interested in,” says Sherry.
“We certainly didn’t plan to end up in the same
department at the same hospital, but things just
sort of worked out that way.”
Gina and Sherry attended medical school
together at The University of Western Ontario.
“Our initial intentions were for each of us to
specialize in different areas of medicine, but we
both loved rheumatology,” says Gina. “In the end
you have to be doing something that makes you
happy every day.”
After training together at St. Joseph’s Hospital,
both knew this was where they wanted to practice.
In the summer of 2006, they were hired as
doctors while continuing to work on master’s
degrees in clinical epidemiology.
Dr. Gina Rohekar, left, and Dr. Sherry Rohekar, twin rheumatologists at
St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
Peter Lynch
Despite some confused patients who can’t
tell them apart, there are benefits to working
together, say the twins. Their special connection
means better patient care. They consult on tough
cases and bounce ideas off each other.
The good-natured physicians are used to double
takes and perplexed looks in the clinic. But
with a wink and a smile, Sherry jokes that there
is a difference. “Gina is the evil twin.”
For St. Joseph’s, both are unique and an important
part of the world-class rheumatology care
provided to patients.
A wArm wElcomE
He’s a welcoming and friendly presence from the
moment patients and visitors step into St. Joseph’s
Hospital. One of dozens of volunteers who work
at the front entrances, Peter Lynch is doing what
he has always wanted to do, and he loves it.
After 43 years in the hardware business,
Lynch retired in 2007, giving him time to volunteer
at St. Joseph’s. The 69-year-old was drawn to
St. Joseph’s for its legacy of compassionate care
and the inspiration of the Sisters of St. Joseph,
who were his teachers during school.
“Three of my four siblings were born at
St. Joseph’s, and when I badly broke my ankle in
1995, Dr. Jim Roth performed a miracle and put it
back together.”
At least three days a week, Lynch can be found
at the bustling information desks at Cheapside or
Grosvenor streets. He directs patients and families
to their appointments, often bringing them
if volunteer manpower permits. Known for his
caring nature, Lynch senses when patients are
nervous and will chat with them on the way to
their appointment to ease their anxiety.
“I love the contact with people, hearing their
stories, and trying to make them feel comfortable.
The patients and family are so grateful, and
staff too. I absolutely love it.”

Wal king for 30 minutes a day can help reduce your risk
for heart disease and diabetes. What are you waiting for?
Step by
Step
vim&

Smart
10
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
V
MO ES
Exercise your knowledge
about workout-related pain to
keep soreness to a minimum
a
high school reunion, a doctor’s warning or
an exhausting visit with an inexhaustible
grandchild—whatever your reason for getting
in shape, good for you. But keep in mind that
jumping right into an exercise program isn’t easy.
Many new fi tness fanatics start their program
with enthusiasm, but quickly fi nd themselves facing
unfamiliar aches and pains. Despite the popularity
of the 1980s adage, “no pain, no gain” is not
the exercise mantra you want to adopt. Some soreness,
however, is a part of the package. Here’s how
to know what’s normal and what’s not and how to
work out with the least pain.
BY JENNIFER DAACK WOOLSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RADIUS IMAGES
a
KNOW Before You Go
bit of next-day soreness is to be expected,
but it’s more essential to avoid an even bigger
pain: putting your health in danger.
It’s always best to see your doctor about underlying
health conditions before you start working
out, especially if you’re a man over 45 or a woman
over 55, or you have cardiac problems, high blood
pressure or diabetes.
Once you have a green light from your physician,
your next step is to talk to another professional—a
fi tness professional. Proper technique
is essential to avoid injury, so get some expert
advice about the appropriate weight and repetitions
you should be using, and learn how to
properly use the equipment in your gym. “You
wouldn’t try to drive a car without learning how,”
says Pauline Becker, a certifi ed exercise physiologist
and spokeswoman for the Canadian Society
for Exercise Physiology. “If you don’t know about
the mechanics of exercise, hire someone who
does so you don’t train with poor technique.”
Before you put that fi rst foot on a treadmill or
pick up your fi rst dumbbell, it’s important to set
some expectations. Sure, exercise can be fun, but
they don’t call it a workout for nothing. Getting
in shape is work, and to build muscle, you have
to break it down fi rst. “When you start training,
you’re shocking the muscles and causing
microtears,” explains strength and conditioning
specialist Jim Massaro.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 11

12
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010

photography by blend images
use the
“talk test”
to keep tabs on
how hard you
work out.
The kicker is that while you’re running, biking or lifting,
you’ll probably feel great. It’s that next morning—or even
two mornings later—when you wake up and wonder why
everything hurts. That not-so-pleasant phenomenon is called
DOMS: delayed-onset muscle soreness, says Ben Greenfield,
a sports science and exercise physiologist and author of Run
with No Pain and several other training books. This type of
exercise-related muscle soreness, according to Greenfield,
usually sets in 24 to 48 hours after your workout, and will
start to feel better around the 72-hour mark. The microtears
you’re creating in your muscles lead to inflammation, and
that’s what brings on the DOMS-related tenderness, soreness
and tightness.
“When you’re new to exercise, the difference between good
sore and bad sore can be a muddy, grey area,” Becker says.
“DOMS is a normal part of post-exercise recovery. You’ve
traumatized the muscle tissue and now it’s growing and
repairing and getting stronger.”
Get Moving, Get Fit
While You Work out
while you can’t escape some post-workout soreness,
there are strategies that will keep it to a
minimum and help you recover more quickly.
First things first: Start with a good warm-up. “Warm muscle
has a greater degree of elasticity,” Greenfield explains. “It’s
just like a rubber band. If you try to stretch one when it’s cold,
it snaps much easier. Same with muscle; when it’s warm, it
tends to tear less.”
Post-workout pain is often the result of doing too much too
soon. Start slow and watch your level of intensity. Try using
the “talk test,” to keep tabs on how hard you work out. If
you’re aiming for a low- to moderate-intensity workout, you
should be able to carry on a conversation while exercising.
Massaro recommends starting with squats and other simple
body-weight movements, and focusing on your form, posture
and alignment by watching yourself in a mirror. For example,
watch to make sure you keep your hands evenly spaced on
weight-lifting machines and barbells. “Doing too much and
doing it wrong are two perfect ways to get hurt,” he says.
As a bookend to your workout, be sure to leave time for
a proper cool-down. “When you’re done working a specific
muscle group, be sure to stretch that muscle to elongate it,”
Massaro says.
At St Joseph’s Health Care, London, many opportunities are provided to staff to help them lead
a healthy lifestyle. For example, St. Joseph’s enjoys a unique relationship with The Athletic Club in
London. Through this partnership, staff have been able to participate in on-site fitness classes,
engage in lunch-and-learn sessions that encourage a variety of lifestyle and behavioural changes,
and use The Athletic Club facilities for free on weekends.
The Athletic Club has also supported the St. Joseph’s corporate walking challenge, providing
personal trainer sessions as prizes to three lucky participants. The physical transformation of the
winners has been dramatic and has inspired many others across St. Joseph’s to begin their own
healthy lifestyle journey.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 13

14
SORENESS, NOT
PAIN, is part of
WORKING OUT.
The AFTEREFFECTS
f you do all the right steps and DOMS still rears its ugly
head, don’t worry. The soreness should be gone in a day
or two. And the good news is that with each workout,
you’ll feel it a little less. That’s because your muscles adapt to
the stress you put them under. If you decide to up your intensity,
weight, duration or speed, however, expect DOMS again
as your muscles react to the new stimulus.
It may seem counterintuitive, but when soreness sets in,
one of the best things you can do is go out the next day and
have a light workout. “Light” being the key word.
Getting off the couch actually will reduce the soreness,
Becker explains. “The idea is to use the same muscles in a different
way so that you can fl ush out the lactic acid that builds
up,” he says. Massage, hydrotherapy and alternating applications
of heat and cold also can help.
When your pain goes beyond soreness, that’s the time to
take a step back and assess. Is the pain sharp or in a specifi c
area? Is there pain in a joint or a muscle? Did you hear a pop
during a workout? “DOMS is going to be broad, not point specifi
c,” Becker explains. “It will literally be hard to ‘put a fi nger
on it.’ ”
For sharp pains, follow the RICE prescription: rest, ice,
compression and elevation. If you have swelling, try taking
a non-steroidal anti-infl ammatory, such as Advil. If you follow
the RICE plan and the pain doesn’t go away in one to
three weeks, it’s time to see a doctor. Severe pain should be
treated immediately.
Remember, soreness, not pain, is part of working out. “You
don’t need to destroy your body to get results,” Greenfi eld
says. “You can get enormous benefi ts from a walk.”
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
online
When It’s
More Serious
If you have a nagging pain or injury, don’t just grin and
bear it or ignore it and hope it will go away. You could
end up doing more damage.
“After you run or work out on the elliptical trainer,
you’re going to feel it in parts,” says Michael Hermiston,
physiotherapist at St. Joseph’s Hospital. “But on a scale
of one to 10, a four or five is OK. But if it doesn’t go away
in one to three weeks, something is more irritated than
you probably realize.” That’s when it’s time to seek help.
Specifically, don’t ignore these signs:
• Joint pain
• Point-specific tenderness
• Swelling
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Decreased range of motion
• Weakness on one side
Hermiston says that seeing your doctor early can
help avoid further injuries. “When your body compensates
for an injured or vulnerable spot, then you’re at
risk for other injuries,” he explains.
FREE Exercise
Guide
If you’re ready to get into shape, visit
www.paguide.com to download
“Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to
Healthy Active Living” or search for a
certified exercise physiologist in
your area at www.csep.ca.

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MISS INFORMATION
The facts behind
common misconceptions
about mammography
You stare at your calendar, uncomfortable with the thought of
what lies ahead. Perhaps it’s your fi rst mammogram, or you are
a seasoned test taker. No matter. The same troubling concerns
can weigh heavily on your mind.
“It’s really a small price to pay for such an important test,” says Cathy
Ammendolea, president of the Canadian Breast Cancer Network and a cancer
survivor. “The bottom line is that mammograms help save lives. There isn’t
much more to say than that.”
These days, taking what amounts to an X-ray of the breasts has improved
dramatically since mammograms arrived on the medical scene in the late
1960s. Faster, less painful exams under the care of better skilled medical
professionals have improved the experience. Women also have become more
informed about mammography.
The latest fi gures from the Public Health Agency of Canada show that close
to 62 per cent of women between 50 and 69 years of age received a screening
mammogram within the past two years.
Yet there remains some misinformation about these potentially life-saving
exams, Ammendolea says. Things that may make a woman less likely to have
regular mammograms.
BY DAVID SCHWARTZ

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLEND IMAGES
MYTH :
“Radiation from
the test will give
me cancer.”
The radiation exposure from mammograms today
is extremely low. Specialists say there have been no
fi ndings to indicate that radiation received during
mammograms increases breast cancer risk. And
don’t think it hasn’t fallen under the microscope of
medical researchers. It is a well-studied issue and has
been for years. The radiation a woman gets from a
mammogram is about the same amount as she would
get just by living three months in her normal, everyday
environment.
MYTH : “Film
mammography
doesn’t detect cancer
as well as digital.”
FACT: Both digital
and film are effective
tools in detecting
breast cancer.
Digital imaging has advantages, with its images
recorded, viewed and stored in a computer rather
than on large sheets of fi lm. That makes the images
more easily manipulated and transferable to specialists
if need be. A recent study found that digital
mammography may prove more effective for women
younger than 50 and for those with dense breast tissue.
And it’s considered the gold standard when it
comes to diagnosing abnormalities.
But that doesn’t mean it is the only option for many
women when it comes to screening mammograms.
Film continues to be relied upon by some doctors,
especially for mammograms of older, post-menopausal
women. And, of course, fi lm mammography
is better than not being screened at all.
“It all depends on the woman involved and what
her situation is,” Ammendolea says. “Film still works
very well and has for years. It’s very accurate.”
Online
FACT: You don’t need
to worry about radiation
from mammograms
giving you cancer.
MYTH :
“Abnormal results
mean I have cancer.”
Do You Need a Mammogram?
If you’re in your 40s, talk to your doctor about whether you need to
have screening mammograms. To help decide, download a decision
aid from the Canadian Cancer Society. Visit www.cancer.ca and
search “decision aid” today.
Central Services
St. Joseph’s Hospital is now the central location for all
hospital-based breast imaging, breast assessment and
breast surgery clinics in London. In September, these services,
previously located at both St. Joseph’s and London
Health Sciences Centre, were consolidated at St. Joseph’s.
The purpose is to improve access and coordination of
care, education and support for patients facing breast
cancer in Southwestern Ontario. Radiation therapy and
chemotherapy remain at the London Regional Cancer
Program of London Health Sciences Centre.
At St. Joseph’s, which is well known for its breast
imaging expertise and state-of-the-art technology, digital
mammography—proven to increase cancer detection—is
available to all women. Among important benefits of consolidation
are consistent education and support for women
throughout the breast care journey, and significantly reduced
wait times from diagnosis to breast cancer surgery.
FACT: An abnormal
result means more
tests are needed.
“More often than not, it’s not cancer,” says
Ammendolea, a 10-year cancer survivor. “It just
means that further investigation is needed—that
other steps need to be taken.”
Just look at the statistics. The Canadian Cancer
Society reports that roughly 7 per cent of women
screened will have abnormalities that suggest breast
cancer, but most times it turns out not to be the disease.
Ammendolea suggests women try to take the
emotion out of the initial fi nding as best they can.
She says the bottom line is that, unfortunately, there
will be false positive results and the anxiety that goes
along with them. But that’s not the fi nal answer.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 17

18
Str�ke
By lori K. BaKer
SenSe
Test your
knowledge
when it comes
to brain
attacks and
learn what
you can do
to protect
yourself
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
illusTraTions By ellen weinsTein
True or false: Stroke runs in the family,
like grandpa’s blue eyes and grandma’s wavy hair, and there’s really not
much you can do to avoid it.
answer: False! In the past, a stroke was like a lightning bolt out of the
blue: unpredictable, unpreventable, untreatable and devastating. But
today, researchers know that many “brain attacks” can be prevented by
controlling certain risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol
and diabetes. It also spells trouble if you smoke cigarettes, pack
on too many pounds, drink too much and don’t exercise. Still, life can
deal out other risk factors like an unlucky card hand, with age, ethnicity
and heredity also playing a role in strokes.
Many of us are dangerously ignorant of the risk factors and warning
signs of stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death (trailing
heart disease and cancer) and leaves many survivors with lifelong
disabilities. Take this quiz to find out what health issues could be putting
you at risk and what you can do to protect yourself. Check each question
that applies to you. Then, read on to learn more.

� Has your doctor warned you that your
blood pressure is too high?
� Have you been diagnosed with diabetes?
� Do you have high cholesterol?
If you answered yes to all three questions, you’re at significant risk for stroke.
Doctors consider high blood pressure, known as a “silent killer,” to be the No. 1
risk factor for stroke, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted
by a blocked or burst blood vessel. Not only is hypertension common
(an estimated one in three adults has it), but it’s treatable. The catch is, about one
in five adults suffers from high blood pressure and doesn’t know it, according to
one estimate.
Meanwhile, high cholesterol and diabetes also play havoc on veins and arteries
supplying blood and oxygen to the brain. “Diabetes isn’t just a disease of blood
sugar. What it really does is attack the blood vessels,” says Dr. Richard C. Senelick,
a neurologist and the author of Living with Stroke: A Guide for Families. He advises
people who suffer from one or all three conditions to follow the advice of their
physician and keep regularly scheduled follow-up appointments.
Stroke
Signals
It has been called a “brain
attack.” Stroke strikes suddenly,
often with these
warning signs:
• Numbness or weakness
of the face, arm or leg,
especially on one side of
the body
• Confusion, trouble
speaking or understanding
• Trouble seeing in one or
both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness,
loss of balance or
coordination
• Severe headache with
no known cause
If you notice one or
more of these signs, don’t
wait, even if they go away.
Immediately dial 911 so an
ambulance can be quickly
sent for you. Do the same
if you’re with someone
who may be having stroke
symptoms. Insist on taking
prompt action, and don’t
take no for an answer.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 19

20
If you answered yes to any of or all the above questions, you have
what’s called non-modifi able risk factors for stroke, meaning
risk factors you can’t change. It’s always good to know your family’s
health history, but be more concerned if you’ve had a prior
stroke, heart attack or TIA.
TIAs are called “warning strokes” because they produce strokelike
symptoms but no lasting damage. If you’ve had one or more TIAs,
you’re about fi ve times more likely to have a stroke over the next two
years than the general population, according to the Heart and Stroke
Foundation of Canada.
Aging also takes a toll on your arteries, increasing your chance of
having a stroke for each decade of life after 55, according to the foundation.
“As you age, your arteries become more fragile,” Senelick says.
“They are less elastic and fl exible. They become brittle. This hardening
of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. The more buildup of atherosclerosis,
the more likely these arteries are to clog or close off. If this
occurs in the brain, it will result in stroke.”
If you have one or more risk factors for stroke that can’t be changed,
don’t panic, Senelick advises. Learn the warning signs of stroke and
don’t use rationalizations such as “I’ll feel better in the morning” if they
occur. Instead, immediately dial 911 and check the time. Your healthcare
team will ask, “When did the fi rst warning sign or symptom start?”
� Do you smoke?
� Are you overweight?
� Is your favourite motto, “It’s
five o’clock somewhere”?
Smoking, overeating and excessive drinking
are the trifecta of risky health habits. Dr.
Michael D. Hill, a spokesman for the Heart
and Stroke Foundation of Canada, offers
this advice: Quit smoking, drink only in moderation,
exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week,
and modify your diet so you’re getting the minimum
fi ve servings per day of fruits and vegetables along
with whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein
such as skinless chicken breasts and fi sh. “Drinking
in moderation is one to two ounces of alcohol per
day,” Hill says. “You can’t save up your one drink per
day and have them all on the weekend, either. Binge
drinking is especially dangerous.”
� Do you have a parent, grandparent, sister or brother who had a stroke
before age 65?
� Have you had a prior stroke, TIA (transient ischemic attack) or heart attack?
� Are you 55 or older?
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010

Stroke Rehab
Reaching Out
The therapists on the Community
Stroke Rehabilitation Team (CSRT)
of St. Joseph’s Health Care, London
play a vital role in restoring patients’
quality of life following a stroke.
The team provides rehabilitation
to stroke survivors in their homes
after they are discharged from
hospital. To reach even more stroke
survivors and their caregivers, the
CSRT is now expanding to offer
stroke education and information
sessions in the community.
“We are collaborating with community
partners in Oxford, Elgin,
London and Middlesex to host information
sessions on stroke-related
topics, including healthier lifestyle
choices, adaptive kitchen aids and
the importance of exercising,” says
CSRT coordinator Monique Crites.
The education is offered in unique
and fun ways. For example, a recent
workshop in West Lorne called Fun
with Food focused on adaptive
cooking techniques, healthier eating
choices and leisure opportunities
promoting socialization with other
stroke survivors and caregivers.
Through education about
healthy living and stroke, the CSRT
is enhancing the quality of life for
stroke survivors and reducing their
chance of having a second stroke. CALL
� Do you have the warning signs of
stroke memorized?
� Do you keep a list of emergency rescue
service numbers next to the telephone
and in your pocket, wallet or purse?
� Do you know which hospitals are nearest
to your home and office as well as which
are primary stroke centres that have
24-hour emergency stroke care?
If you’ve answered yes to all the above questions, congratulations!
You’re prepared for a medical emergency, such as a stroke. “One caveat
is family members also need to be able to recognize the warning signs
of stroke,” says Hill, who advises family members to dial 911 even if
their loved one protests. “Of the patients we see, only about 50 per cent get
to the hospital in time, during the first 4½ hours after symptoms began.”
If a person is diagnosed with a stroke caused by a blood clot, doctors
can administer a clot-busting drug called t-PA that is available only at a
hospital, and only within those crucial hours after symptoms begin.
Are You at Risk for
High Blood Pressure?
For more information on St. Joseph’s Community Stroke
Rehabilitation Team, call 519-685-4292, ext. 45034
for team assistant Karen Heys.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 21

22
GUT FEELINGS
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
What is your ailing abdomen
trying to tell you?
BY JULIE WLODYCHAK

photography by photolibrary
Do digestive problems cause you to plot out your
bathroom breaks? Have you ever carried with
you an extra pair of trousers—just in case? Do
you know where every restroom is in a threecounty
radius? If so, you’re not alone. In fact,
about five million Canadians have symptoms
of irritable bowel syndrome, a condition characterized
by abdominal pain and constipation or
diarrhea, or both.
“It’s pretty common for most people to experience digestive problems from
time to time,” says Dr. Susan Biali, a wellness expert and author of Live a Life You
Love. But more than 20 million Canadians suffer from digestive disorders each year
that affect their personal and professional lives, according to the Canadian Digestive
Health Foundation.
If uncomfortable digestive symptoms are disrupting your daily activities (or are just
a pain in the you-know-what), read on to learn what they may indicate and how you can
experience a tranquil digestive tract once and for all.
Constipation
What it is: Infrequent or difficult-to-pass bowel
movements, often accompanied by the feeling of
a full and bloated abdomen.
What it could mean: Constipation has
many causes, including not eating enough fibre,
lack of exercise, certain medications, pregnancy,
dehydration, and certain diseases and conditions
such as stroke.
What you should do: “To have regular
bowel movements, it’s important to exercise regularly,
drink enough water and eat a diet with
enough fibre,” Biali says. Gradually incorporate
more fibre into your diet by eating whole grains,
fruits and veggies, and amp up the exercise. Ask
your doctor if constipation could be a side effect
of medications you are taking. If you have fewer
than three bowel movements per week or discover
blood in your stool, see a physician immediately.
Gas and BloatinG
What it is: Totally normal. “Most people experience
a normal amount of gas and bloating that
doesn’t interfere with their lives,” Biali says.
When gas doesn’t pass through the system normally,
it gets caught in the stomach and intestines
and causes bloating.
What it could mean : Gas often results from
eating certain foods, but smoking, stress, irritable
bowel syndrome, celiac disease (a gluten intolerance),
lactose intolerance, and gastrointestinal
blockage or infection are also contributors.
What you should do: If you experience
regular discomfort, talk with your physician to
rule out lactose intolerance, food sensitivities or
celiac disease. Reduce or eliminate foods that
continually cause excess gas, such as beans, broccoli,
brussels sprouts, cabbage, soda, cauliflower
and gum.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 23

24
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
Diarrhea
What it is: Loose stools that are often accompanied
by gas and bloating.
What it could mean : Diarrhea is frequently
associated with stomach viruses or bacterial
infections. Food intolerances, certain medications,
intestinal diseases and parasites also can
cause diarrhea. Certain foods and drinks such
as alcohol, caffeine and dairy products and even
stress produce diarrhea in some people.
What you should do: It’s normal to experience
diarrhea occasionally, but if you have loose
bowel movements for longer than two days, or if
you have pain, fever or blood in your stool, don’t
wait to call your doctor, Biali says.
heartburn
What it is: A burning sensation caused by the
reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus.
What it could mean: Certain foods can
trigger heartburn, including spicy dishes, tomatoes
and dairy products, as can smoking, being
overweight, lying down too soon after eating and
eating large meals.
What you should do: If you’re reaching
for over-the-counter antacids more than twice a
week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes
that could help prevent heartburn. If you experience
chest pain or other symptoms of heart
attack, call 911 immediately.
Online
Endoscopic
Excellence
The endoscopy clinic at St. Joseph’s
Hospital provides a range of specialized
diagnostic procedures for
gastrointestinal disorders. In June,
the unit moved to 10,000 square
feet of new, specially designed
space on level 0, across from the
Urgent Care Centre. This location
is spacious and bright with many
improvements in patient care,
comfort and privacy. The clinic
is staffed by an interdisciplinary
team of seven gastroenterologists,
five surgeons, nursing staff,
a clinical reception assistant, an
endoscopic cleaning technologist
and administrative staff, who
see 6,500 patient visits a year.
Procedures include:
• Colonoscopy
• Gastroscopy
• Endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography
• Monometry—esophageal and
rectal
• Endoscopic ultrasound
Before Your Procedure
To learn what to expect before your visit to the endoscopy clinic
at St. Joseph’s Hospital, go to www.sjhc.london.on.ca/
sjh/programs/gastroenterology/index.htm. Helpful
information is available on a variety of endoscopic procedures
to ensure patients are well prepared for their appointment.
photography by photolibrary

Like Mother, Like Daughter
She walks like you, talks like you—wants to be you.
Give her a positive example to emulate, and you’ll set her up for
a lifetime of good health..
vim&

After beating an injury that plagued him in recent years,

PHOTOGRAPH BY NIGEL DICKSON
Getting
BACK
in the
BY ALLISON THOMAS
F YOU WERE ASKED TO NAME THE MOST
famous athlete from Sarnia, Ontario, your inclination
might be to mentally run down the NHL rosters you’ve
committed to memory—but you’d be headed in the wrong
direction. The title belongs to 10-year PGA Tour veteran
and Canada’s most successful professional golfer, Mike
Weir. Weir was born and raised in this waterside hamlet
on the southern shores of Lake Huron, and while he
dreamed of becoming a hockey player, his slight stature
made him better suited for 18 holes than three periods.
Still, an upbringing on the ice served to reinforce Weir’s
drive to be the best. “I think my grit puts me over the
edge sometimes, and that comes from growing up playing
hockey, and having two older brothers,” Weir said in an
interview with Golf Magazine on Golf.com. “I was always
hanging out with them, and I was always the smallest
guy, trying to prove myself.”
Mike Weir fi ghts doggedly to remain among golf’s elite
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 27

28
Doctors found problems with four of his seven
discs, which had led to intense pain so severe at
one point that his wife had to help tie his shoes.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
Although that proof hasn’t come easily, it has
come. In the past 10 years, this athletic underdog
has fl own largely under the radar while driving
and putting his way to several impressive victories.
From his fi rst PGA Tour win in 1999 at the
Air Canada Championship to taking the Masters
in 2003—as the fi rst Canadian ever to win at
Augusta, and the fi rst left-hander to win a major
in 40 years—Weir consistently has remained
among the top 100 golfers in the world. In 2009,
he was recognized for these achievements as a
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame inductee.
Into the
ROUGH or all his successes, Weir, 40, has
faced obstacles, too. In 2004, he
hurt his back at the Canadian
Open, and to add irony to injury, the
pain came courtesy of a fan.
“He kind of grabbed me around
the neck and my right shoulder,”
Weir said in the www.golf.com interview.
“I was slightly jogging down a
hill, and my momentum was going forward, and
he grabbed me by the neck and shoulder area and
pulled me back. I could feel it getting worse just
standing there.”
Weir understandably lost his focus and missed
a fi ve-foot birdie, ultimately losing the event to
Vijay Singh. “The thing with the fan broke my
concentration more than anything. I learned
to be prepared for anything,” Weir said in
the interview.
While an incident with a fan may have
precipitated Weir’s troubles, golfers in general
are well-acquainted with back injuries.
“Back injuries are extremely common
for both amateurs and professionals,” says
Diana Perez, a sport physiotherapist as well
as a board member of and spokeswoman for
the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
“It’s not surprising, with literally hundreds
of thousands of repetitive swings. Your spine
and lower back are the most common areas
of injury.”
This kind of repetition can cause serious
wear and tear, and although a single event
may spark an injury, “typically, the damage
is not just based on a one-time occurrence,”
Perez says. “There’s often some degeneration
that the individual was not aware of, but can
be seen on an X-ray.”
The SLOW
ROAD Back
adly, Weir’s journey back from
injury was anything but smooth.
Doctors found problems with
four of his seven discs, which had
led to pain so severe at one point
that his wife had to help tie his
shoes, he said in a 2005 recap on
www.mikeweir.com.
He also said that in looking back he should
have taken a few months off to get healthy, but he
refused to use his injury as a scapegoat. “I don’t
like to make excuses for my play. If I’m in a tournament,
I like to play hard no matter what the
circumstances or how I’m feeling, and for that
reason, I never used my injuries as an explanation
for my poor results.”

photograph by danny moloshok/rEutErs/corbis
So, what does it really take to come back from
injury to this level of play? Perez says it largely
depends on how much maintenance was done
before the injury occurred.
“Typically, you’re physically prepped to do
sport at that level. But if the individual has
just been playing and not working out—doing
strength training, stretching and cardio—it will
be a rougher road,” she says.
For individuals who struggle with a back injury
that just won’t heal, surgery may be considered.
But Dr. William Stanish, an orthopedic surgeon
and a spokesman for the Canadian Orthopaedic
Association, cautions against rushing to the
operating room.
“People get very impatient. They think that
it’s going to take a week or two to heal and very
commonly it’s much longer than that. A surgical
procedure for any sports-related injury is the
very last resort,” Stanish says.
This conservative approach typically pays off,
because, most often, back injuries heal on their
own. For example, a ruptured disc will shrink
back to its former state with rest and activity
modification, Stanish says. But there are times
when surgery is necessary.
“If someone has a fragmented disc and it’s putting
pressure on a nerve, in this circumstance
you’d likely have to go in and take that fragmented
disc out,” Stanish says. “But that constitutes a
small portion of people that have disc disease in
either their neck or lower back.”
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 29

30
Bench to Bedside …
and Beyond
World-class care for spinal cord injury is reaching patients in
their own living rooms through the first-of-its-kind Internet
clinic developed by researchers at the Aging, Rehabilitation
and Geriatric Care Research Centre (ARGC) of Lawson Health
Research Institute. Pressure ulcers are a painful reality for spinal
cord injury patients in wheelchairs. Particularly challenging is
the fact that many Canadians live in remote locations, hours
from specialized wound treatment. These patients do not
get timely access to the expert care required to minimize the
impact of these potentially devastating wounds. Researchers
have created a unique solution: a pressure ulcer Internet clinic.
Experts located at Parkwood Hospital, part of St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London, work with home care providers over the
Internet using high-tech tools, such as digital photography and
video consultation.
“Patients who otherwise would have to travel to a specialized
centre to receive assessment can be seen in their own home,”
says David Keast, ARGC research centre director. With this
approach, researchers are bringing the services to the patient—
in the patient’s living room. The goal is better patient outcomes
with faster healing, along with reduced clinic visits and health
care costs.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
online
Learn More
The Aging, Rehabilitation and Geriatric
Care Research Centre is located at
St. Joseph’s Parkwood Hospital. There,
researchers are working to help people
age well, stay healthy and enjoy freedom
of movement. Find out more at
www.lawsonresearch.com/
v1.0/website/research_
themes/ARGC/HTML/our_
research.htm.
For anyone, amateur or pro, recovery from
injury requires specifi c, targeted exercises plus
general fi tness. “There’s a lot of balance, endurance
and postural routine correction. It can be
quite involved,” Perez says.
After surgery, Stanish prescribes gentle aerobic
activity—such as walking, swimming or riding
an exercise bike—for six to eight weeks before
returning to play.
“We know that the spine loves to be loaded and
unloaded, but it hates rotation,” Stanish says.
A Game CHANGER
erez notes that although injuries
are commonplace, golf fi nally is
being taken seriously as a sport,
and it’s evident in the training.
“In the past, golfi ng wasn’t
viewed as all that athletic. It was
a leisure thing you did on Sunday,” Perez says.
But this notion has changed at all levels of the
game. “Now you train for it like you would
any other sport,” she says.
What caused the shift? Perez credits the PGA
for helping to alter the way golf training and
preparation are approached. “A medical unit now
travels with the PGA Tour, and they have a gym,”
she says. Players also have altered their personal
training regimens.
“To prepare for play, many golfers used to just
golf. Now [some players] do yoga,” Perez says.
She requires all her patients to do likewise.
Weir’s own training efforts have paid off.
In 2009, he placed second in the AT&T Pebble
Beach National Pro-Am and fi nished among the
PGA’s top 30 golfers for the year. Weir’s desire
to persevere will help ensure that he remains
a contender for years to come, a fi ghter whose
struggles give him the resolve to face whatever
challenges he may encounter.
‘‘If you’re sitting still and resting on what
you’ve done in the past and are happy with that,
you’re obviously going to slip,’’ Weir told The
Associated Press in 2009. ‘‘I’ve never been that
type of guy, that type of player. I always want to
be better than I was before.’’

One size
fits all?
No way
Just like the men it affects, every case of prostate
cancer is different. And multiple treatments are available.
Ask your doctor about all of them before you decide which is best.
vim&

32
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
When I was a kid, I couldn’t go to sleep
at night without a nightlight. Somehow, that tiny bulb
kept away the monsters in my closet and other scary
things lurking in the dark.
These days, I’m still afraid of the dark—but for a very
different reason: not being able to sleep. And this fear
seems perfectly rational considering how many mornings
I pry my tired self out of bed and how many afternoons
I spend yawning and rubbing my bleary eyes. And
judging from my friends’ Facebook status updates at all
hours of the night (or is it morning?), I’m not alone.
In fact, one in seven Canadians age 15 and older has
insomnia, the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, according
to Statistics Canada. “But it’s probably more than
that, because many don’t report it,” says Eric Plasker,
a wellness expert and author of The 100 Year Lifestyle.
“Everyone has one sleepless night here and there. But if
you are wondering if you have a problem sleeping, then
you probably do.”
The good news is that many causes behind sleepless
nights are as easily eradicated as those fears of monsters
in the closet. You just need to shine a little light on them.
By Jill SchildhouSe
photography by photolibrary

Put your fears to
rest—sleep better with
these simple steps

34
“Don’t bring the
INTENSITY
of life into bed. Watching
the news or action-based
shows or reading a suspense
novel before bed causes
tension and gets your
heart racing.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHOTOLIBRARY
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET:
Snuggling up with technology
SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT: How often do you bring
your laptop to bed to fi nish up a few last-minute slides
for tomorrow’s presentation? Do you fi nd yourself checking
your BlackBerry when you get up for a drink of water
at 3 a.m.? Are you in the habit of watching the local
news right before turning out the lights? If this sounds
familiar, technology is interfering with the sanctity of
your bedroom.
“The bedroom is a sleeping place, an escape,” Plasker
says. “Don’t bring the intensity of life into bed. Watching
the news or action-based shows or reading a suspense
novel before bed causes tension and gets your heart racing.
And leave your BlackBerry in another room. Your
spam can wait.”
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET:
Travelling to new time zones
SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT: Whether you’re a casual
vacation-only traveller or a card-carrying member of
every airline’s frequent fl ier program, jet lag can really
challenge your sleep cycle.
According to the Canadian Sleep Society, the severity
of the symptoms depends on both the direction of fl ight
and the number of time zones crossed. Eastbound fl ights
may cause diffi culty falling asleep, sleep disturbances in
the fi rst half of the night, diffi culty awakening and fatigue
in the morning and early afternoon. Westbound fl ights
are associated with poor sleep quality in the second half
of the night, early morning awakening and fatigue in the
late afternoon and evening. To help avoid this, try anticipating
the time change for trips by getting up and going
to bed earlier several days prior to an eastward trip and
later for a westward trip.
Also, while you are away, try to get outside in the sunlight
whenever possible to help regulate your biological clock.
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET:
Jonesing for java
SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT: More than 63 per cent of
Canadians older than 18 drink coffee daily, making coffee
the No. 1 beverage choice of adult Canadians, according to
the Coffee Association of Canada. But at what cost?
While small amounts of caffeine are not usually a concern,
Health Canada says overconsumption can cause
insomnia, headaches, irritability, dehydration and nervousness.
Therefore, the agency advises healthy adults to
limit total daily caffeine intake to 400 milligrams, or the
equivalent of three 250-millilitre cups of coffee. So watch
your trips to the coffee pot—and the tea pot, soda machine
and candy machine, since caffeine in these items counts
toward your daily intake.
ZZZ First Steps
I’m used to not sleeping well. I’ve learned how to function
on little sleep. I’ll sleep when I’m dead. If you’ve ever uttered
these statements, then you’re ignoring a treatable condition.
“It’s important to take action toward getting a better
night’s sleep,” says Eric Plasker, a wellness expert and author
of The 100 Year Lifestyle. “Most sleep issues can be solved on
your own.” He offers the following tips:
• Try exercising in the morning, meditating, journaling
or getting massages. “These habits are good for you, even
if you aren’t having sleeping problems,” Plasker says. “But
in 80 per cent of cases, you will sleep better if you’re doing
these things.”
• Make sure your mattress and pillow are in good shape.
“Pillows are especially important,” he says. “They support
proper alignment, keep your airway open, relax muscles,
reduce pressure on nerves and support the curve of your
neck.”
• Only choose medication as a last resort. “Drug-free
solutions are always best,” Plasker says. “Even over-thecounter
medications, such as melatonin, can be addicting.”
If you’ve tried the above steps for 30 to 60 days and you
aren’t sleeping any better, consult your physician, who may
schedule you for a sleep study.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 35

36
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET:
Excess weight
SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT: While lugging
around extra pounds during the day is exhausting
enough, trying to fi nd a restful position at
night is equally arduous.
“Being overweight affects your breathing and
makes it hard to get comfortable,” says Plasker,
who recommends exercise to lose that extra heft
and also to sleep better. “Exercise not only helps
you burn calories, but it increases your metabolism
and makes you tired. Working out in the
morning is best, but just doing it is important.”
So if your schedule is such that you have to exercise
at night, that’s fi ne, but Plasker just recommends
fi nishing two hours before bedtime.
Generous Donations
Specially designed mattresses and beds play a significant role in
the comfort, safety and independence of residents at St. Joseph’s
Parkwood Hospital and Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care.
Pressure-reducing mattresses are essential for those who spend a
lot of time in bed or suffer from the effects of a stroke, Parkinson’s
disease, multiple sclerosis and other health issues. Beds that can
adjust to a variety of heights, meanwhile, allow residents to move
in and out of bed independently and safely.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, St. Joseph’s Health Care
Foundation funds the purchase of new mattresses and beds for
residents. In the last year alone more than $200,000 has been
granted supporting the purchase of 27 new mattresses and 31 beds.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
Online
You Can Help
Your donation through the Season
of Celebration campaign can help maintain
the comfort, safety and independence
of residents at St. Joseph’s. Visit
www.seasonofcelebration.com
to make your donation online, or use
the form enclosed in this magazine.
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET:
Succumbing to stress
SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT: Who isn’t stressed
these days? Between unemployment or a hectic
job, fi nancial troubles, diffi cult relationships,
needy kids, aging parents and never-ending
household chores, you’re under a lot of pressure.
Even if you can fi nd the time to sleep, that doesn’t
mean you can clear your head and actually catch
some ZZZs.
“If people don’t manage stress, it can affect their
sleep,” Plasker says. “It keeps them up at night or
wakes them up in the middle of the night.” To help
overcome stress, he suggests trying such bedtime
rituals as listening to relaxing music, focusing on
deep breathing (in for two counts and out for four)
to slow your heart rate and reduce muscle tension,
and keeping a journal by your bed to write down
thoughts that keep you up.
“There’s something about taking those
thoughts out of your head and putting them on
paper that helps rest your mind. You know the
thoughts will be there in the morning,” he says.
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET:
Sleeping in unsavoury
conditions
SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT: You’re hot. You’re
cold. Your mattress is too fi rm. Or is it too soft?
Your pillow needs fl uffi ng. If trying to fall asleep
makes you feel like Goldilocks, then fi ne-tuning
your sleep hygiene with the following tips from
the Better Sleep Council Canada could make your
sleep environment just right.
First, transform your bedroom into a haven of
comfort that is dark, quiet and between 16 and 18
degrees Celsius. Next, make sure your mattress
meets your needs for both comfort and support.
Also, be sure to avoid alcohol and nicotine close
to bedtime, as they can lead to a bad night’s sleep.
Finally, create a bedtime routine that is relaxing,
such as reading a peaceful book or soaking in a
hot bath.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHOTOLIBRARY

“IF PEOPLE DON’T
MANAGE STRESS,
IT CAN AFFECT THEIR
SLEEP. IT KEEPS THEM
UP AT NIGHT.”

38
Is going organic
right for you (and
your pocketbook)?
BY ALLISON THOMAS
Dilemma
A Natural
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
Organic living is coming of age. Just a few decades
back, it was a concept more closely associated with
communal hippies than mainstream culture. But in
the past few years, organic products of all kinds have
soared in popularity, fi nding their way from fl edgling
farmers markets to the shelves of behemoth discount
stores such as Walmart and Costco.
While there are plenty of environmental arguments
for switching to organic products—such as the
negative effects that pesticides can have on our water,
soil and wildlife—when it comes to choosing organics
for better health, recommendations vary widely from
one expert to another.
If you’ve considered making the switch to a more
organic lifestyle, here are a few tips to help clear up the
confusion—and maximize the benefi ts to your health.
CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH
HEALTHY EATING
Experts may not see eye to eye on organics, but there’s
one fact they agree on: Few people are eating healthfully,
organic or otherwise.
“We get so caught up in the details, but nine out
of 10 people don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables,”
says Dawn Jackson Blatner, a dietitian and author of
The Flexitarian Diet. “If you can actually say that you
eat two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables
every day, then you might want to entertain
the idea of organic.” If not, focus on boosting your
produce consumption—organic or not.
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the
Environment (CAPE) takes an even stronger stance
in favour of organic eating, citing health risks for
consumers and farm workers as well as weaker standards
for pesticide residue allowed on Canadian produce
than in Europe, Australia or the United States.
“Our view is that you should be eating organic
wherever possible,” says Gideon Forman, CAPE’s
executive director. “We realize in some cases it’s more
expensive, but there are some fruits and vegetables
that are of particular concern.”
GROW INTO ORGANIC FOODS
While “organic” doesn’t equal “healthy,” Blatner cites
a few studies that link pesticides in non-organic food
with birth defects and other reproductive health
issues and nervous system disorders. “There are also
surveys that suggest some organic foods may offer
superior fl avor,” she says.
So, if you’re meeting your daily fruit and vegetable
needs—and have the budget for organic options—it
may be time to slip some into your diet. Look for

products labeled “organic” (or that include the
“Canadian Organic” logo). This denotes the item is
at least 95 per cent organic. Products with multiple
ingredients that contain 70 to 95 per cent organic
content may use the phrase: “contains X% organic
ingredients” but won’t have the logo or be labeled as
“organic.”
Forman suggests starting with the “Dirty Dozen,”
a list developed by the Environmental Working
Group that highlights fruits and vegetables that typically
contain the most pesticides when grown conventionally.
They are peaches, apples, bell pepper,
celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce,
imported grapes, carrots and pears.
If you eat meat and poultry but have a limited
budget, Blatner suggests choosing organic beef fi rst.
“Pigs and chickens are never allowed to be raised
with added hormones—organic or not—but cows can
be,” she says. “So if it comes down to only one animal
product to buy organic, go with the beef.”
Gardening for Health
At the neurobehavioural Rehabilitation Centre (nRC) of
St. Joseph’s Health Care, london, a garden provides fresh produce
and a healthy dose of therapy for patients with acquired brain
injury. Bending and reaching to nurture fruits and vegetables in
wheelchair-accessible gardens gives patients a natural physiotherapy
workout. “Spending a peaceful morning in the fresh air
tending to the plants is also very soothing for our patients,” says
Barb Thomas, senior rehabilitation therapist at the nRC, located
on the grounds of Parkwood Hospital. “it often brings back memories
of when they were young and
gardened with their parents.” From
carrots to asparagus to strawberries,
the organic produce goes from
garden to plate for the patients to
enjoy the fruits of their labour.
Online
Learn More
The multidisciplinary team at the St. Joseph’s
Neurobehavioural Rehabilitation Centre cares for
people over age 16 whose acquired brain injury results
in behavioural challenges. For more information, go to
www.sjhc.london.on.ca/parkwood/
programs/rehab/abinrc.htm.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 39

40
17 Reasons
to Work in
Healthcare
Why it’s an industry worth considering
Maybe you were sick on career day in high
school. Or maybe you pursued a fi eld that
once interested you, but now you’re looking
to make a change. Whatever the situation,
you’re considering a career in healthcare.
Here are 17 reasons to go for it.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
1IT’S A GROWING INDUSTRY.
In the next 10 years, 1.6 million jobs are expected
to be added to the service industry, including
healthcare, according to a Human Resources
and Social Development Canada report.
2DEMAND IS GREAT.
Because of an aging population,
demand is twofold for
healthcare workers: to care
for the country’s older adults, and to
fi ll positions being vacated by retiring
healthcare providers. About 3.8 million
jobs are expected to be freed because of
retirement in the next 10 years, according
to the Canadian report.
3
THERE’S JOB
SECURITY.
Because of the growing industry spurred
by the increasing demand, job security in
healthcare occupations is almost a given.
4BENEFITS ABOUND.
Many hospitals and other healthcare settings
offer excellent benefi ts beyond health
insurance, such as child care, wellness programs
and tuition assistance.

IN A WORD, VARIETY.
Healthcare professionals are employed in
hospitals and doctors’ offi ces, of course,
but also schools, pharmacies, senior centres,
major corporations and even cruise ships.
STETHOSCOPE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DREAMSTIME 5
9
THERE’S MUCH TO TEACH.
Imparting knowledge comes with the
territory—whether for patients and colleagues
in the workplace, or for students in classrooms,
Fralick says.
10PATIENTS’ NEEDS VARY.
Holistic, independent care depends on putting the patient’s needs fi rst. “If a
patient sprains his ankle, he doesn’t necessarily need a primary care doctor,”
Fralick says. Other specialists, such as physical therapists and assistants,
can take responsibility for patient care without needing a middle man.
IT’S NOT ALL BEDSIDE WORK.
Not all healthcare jobs involve direct patient
care. Administrators, receptionists, social workers,
computer technicians, project managers and
more are needed to keep hospitals and other
healthcare workplaces running smoothly.
11
BY JODI BAFUNDO
6IN ANOTHER WORD, FLEXIBILITY.
Are you a night owl? Or do you need to work around the
kids’ calendar? Schedules can vary widely and accommodate
most people’s needs.
7YOU’LL HELP
THOSE IN NEED.
Providing care for people during
their vulnerable times of need
is a “noble cause,” that draws people with
passion and empathy into the industry,
says Pamela Fralick, president and CEO
of the Canadian Healthcare Association.
“There’s a tremendous amount to be said
for the calling.”
8
THE LEARNING
NEVER STOPS.
Healthcare workers are expected to
continue their education throughout
their careers, keeping them
relevant every step of the way.
Maintaining competency-based
credentials, in both written and
practical areas, is important to
get into and stay in healthcare
fi elds, Fralick says.
12
Do you like a bird’s-eye view? Helicopter fl ight
YOU COULD
TAKE TO THE
SKIES.
nurses and medics aid in urgent situations such
as rescues and critical medical transports.
NEVER KNOW WHERE
IT MIGHT TAKE YOU.
13YOU
Healthcare workers can sign up with
agencies that place them in temporary positions
around the provinces and often provide housing
and cover travel costs.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 41

42 Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
14 YOU WANT A KEY TO
THE EXECUTIVE WASHROOM.
Increasing numbers of healthcare executives are rising up the
ranks from clinical positions.
15 16
CRISIS RESPONSE
IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.
After the earthquake in Haiti in January,
Canadian healthcare teams were among
those providing care to the injured.
YOU’VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF
GOING TO THE OLYMPICS.
ONlINe
Major sporting events such as the Olympics
depend on healthcare volunteers to diagnose
and treat injured athletes.
17
YOU WANT TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE.
Healthcare isn’t an easy fi eld.
“You are confronted every
day by stories that make you weep,” Fralick
says. But it’s worth it.
Does Health Care
Work Suit You?
To view an updated list of current positions
available at St. Joseph’s Health Care, London,
please visit: www.sjhc.london.on.ca/SSL/
ats/currentPostings.php.
A Healthy
Hospital
St. Joseph’s commitment to a healthy
workplace and creative approaches to
achieve it has won the organization a
recent Ontario Hospital Association
(OHA) Healthy Hospital Innovators
Award. Developed in partnership with
the National Quality Institute (NQI),
the award recognizes OHA member
organizations that demonstrate a longterm
strategic approach to develop
and sustain a healthy workplace, and
efforts to become role models in their
communities. It also acknowledges a
willingness to participate in knowledge
transfer on healthy workplace initiatives
and effective practices.
“We are thrilled to win this award,”
says Karen Stone, chief human resources
officer. “It recognizes the hard work of
many to create an enviable workplace
that maximizes the health and well-
being of staff, physicians and volunteers.
While there is always work to be done
and ways to improve, the award affirms
that St. Joseph’s is indeed a place where
those who work here are as important
as the work itself.”

Bad to
the Bone?
Os teoporosis affects one in four women over the age of 50.
Are you one of them? Talk to your doctor today about a bone mineral density test.
vim&

44
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
Four people share their
experiences with the
disease
THE FACES OF
SKIN
CANCER
BY STEPHANIE CONNER

Take a look around. Do you think you could identify the
people most likely to get skin cancer? Year-round sunworshippers,
older women who are always sporting a
golf tan and mature men tending to their gardens? Maybe.
Then again, spotting those at risk might not be so easy.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer,
according to Health Canada. Basal cell and
squamous cell carcinomas are the two most
common types, the Canadian Dermatology
Association reports, and cases of melanoma, the
most deadly form, are rising.
“In terms of basal cell, generally you remove
it and it’s gone. And that is usually the case for
squamous cell carcinoma as well,” says Dr.
Cheryl Rosen, a spokeswoman for the Canadian
Dermatology Association and the national director
of the organization’s Sun Awareness Program.
“But with melanoma, unless you catch it early, it
can spread.”
“Once skin cancers get beyond their area of
local destruction, they get into the bloodstream
and lymph nodes,” adds Dr. Ellen Marmur, a dermatologist
and author of Simple Skin Beauty.
Take it from these four skin cancer survivors:
Early detection saves lives. And protecting yourself
from overexposure to the sun is important
year-round, not just when you’re lounging in the
backyard or at the beach.
Judy Barlas, age 61
Family history: No cancer in her immediate
family
likely culprit: Severe sunburns as a child
her story: When Barlas recalls her childhood,
she remembers severe—even blistering—
sunburns. At the time, she says, people didn’t
understand the sun’s power.
“We didn’t have SPF 30 sunscreen back then,”
says the fair-skinned redhead. Plus, Barlas says
that she craves the sun because of seasonal affective
disorder, a form of depression that worsens
in dreary winter months.
In 1989, at a regular checkup with her family
physician, Barlas pointed out a few spots on
her skin. Her concerns stemmed from a close
friend’s recent bout with skin cancer. The doctor
asked her to monitor the spots, and three months
later performed a biopsy, cutting out a sample
of tissue.
The results were surprising: melanoma on her
left knee.
“My doctor may have thought it was cancer,
but I don’t think she ever thought it would be
melanoma,” she says.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 45

46
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
But Barlas was lucky: A follow-up surgery
shortly after showed the cancer had not spread.
More than 20 years later, Barlas remains cancer-free.
She sees her dermatologist once a year
for screenings.
Lessons Learned: Today, Barlas keeps her
skin covered. “I’m pretty cautious. I don’t wear
shorts,” she says. “I’m totally covered up or I’m
not going out.”
And she reminds others to take advantage of
the information available today. “Do not let your
little children go outside without a hat on their
head or their arms and legs covered, especially
if they’re fair-skinned,” she says. “This is something
that can kill you.”
expert advice: Do a self-check of your skin
every few months, Rosen advises, and schedule
an annual check with a dermatologist.
Kendra Stelzer, age 24
FamiLy history: Father had melanoma
LikeLy cuLprit: Overexposure to the sun, tanning
beds
her story: Stelzer wore low-SPF sunscreen to
get a little colour at the lake or pool, and for special
events, she would head to a tanning bed.
Because of her family history of melanoma,
Stelzer’s family doctor recommended she go
to a dermatologist for regular screenings as a
teenager.
When Stelzer was 20, doctors removed a precancerous
mole on her leg. Then, she knew what
to look for.
“You know your body best. That’s what they
told me,” she says. “Because of that, I really paid
attention to what was going on with my skin.”
A year later, in December 2008, she noticed
that a spot on her leg was getting darker. She
immediately went to her dermatologist and got
the news three days later: melanoma. Stelzer
then went to a specialist who surgically removed

the cancerous tissue and performed a skin graft
to help the wound heal.
LESSONS LEARNED: Stelzer’s four-inch scar is
a reminder of her life-threatening experience.
“Girls spend so much time going to the tanning
salon,” she says. “The damage goes beyond your
skin. My scars are a constant reminder of the
damage it has caused my health.”
EXPERT ADVICE: There is no safe way to tan
indoors, Marmur says. “Just as there’s no great
excuse for drunk driving,” she adds, “there’s no
great excuse to go to a tanning salon.”
STEVE VALENTINE, AGE 50
FAMILY HISTORY: His father and brother have
had skin cancer
LIKELY CULPRIT: Years of overexposure to the sun
HIS STORY: In most ways, Valentine is a healthy
man. He’s fi t, works out three times a week with
a personal trainer and eats well. But years of sun
exposure have taken a toll on his fair skin.
Valentine grew up near the beach. “We went
every Sunday,” he remembers. “We’d go out at 8
a.m. and stay until 3 p.m. And when we’d leave,
we’d have blisters on our shoulders and the tops
of our feet.”
Even when the family moved away from the
coast, the beach was an easy day trip. And in college,
Valentine took beach vacations to Tahiti and
the Bahamas. “Now, I’m paying for it,” he says.
After turning 40, he noticed spots on his skin
and was diagnosed with basal cell and squamous
cell carcinoma.
Valentine has had fi ve surgeries on his face in
three years. “It’s very traumatic and emotional,”
he says. “It never gets easier for me.”
LESSONS LEARNED: Valentine has changed
many habits. He wears sunscreen and long
sleeves daily, drives with the top down only at
night and works out indoors. “Enjoy the sun, but
cautiously,” Valentine says. “Really look at the
amount of time you’re spending outdoors and
in direct sunlight.”
EXPERT ADVICE: “Be physically active and enjoy
your outdoor activities,” Rosen says, “but protect
yourself as much possible.” Wear sunscreen
with a minimum SPF of 30, and don’t forget a
hat and sunglasses. Plus, she advises, seek shade
when you can, and do your activities later in
the day or earlier in the morning when the sun is
less strong.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 47

��
Cancer Risk
Soars with Indoor
Tanning
OnLIne
Vim ��Vigour · WINTER 2010
One of the biggest skin cancer threats to
the younger generation are sunbeds, says
Dr. Wei Jing Loo, a dermatologist at St. Joseph’s
Hospital. “The risk of malignant melanoma is
increased by 75 per cent when people start using
tanning beds before age 30. Those doing so
most often are girls.”
Recently, the Canadian Dermatology
Association (CDA) launched a campaign called
“Indoor Tanning is Out,” targeted mainly at
young women. Ontario’s proposed Skin Cancer
Prevention Act, meanwhile, would prohibit
marketing or selling tanning services to those
under age 19.
“We should be happy with the natural color of
our skin,” says Dr. Loo. “The tan you buy is artificial
and transient; the threat from skin cancer is genuine
and may scar or even end life prematurely.”
FREE Skin Self-Exam Guide
To help find skin cancer early, screenings are a must.
For a guide to performing a self-exam, visit the Canadian
Dermatology Association at www.dermatology.ca.
Select “Skin, Hair & Nails,” and then “Skin”
and “Skin Cancer.”
LILYVANIA MIKULSKI, AGE 30
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LESSONS LEARNED:� LEARNED: ��������� ����� ������
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Getting It Right
Experts at Lawson Health Research Institute are
working to improve breast cancer diagnostics
Every week in Canada, more than 200
women die of breast cancer, making
it the most common cancer among
Canadian women. While technology
has dramatically improved detection of an
abnormality, still challenging is identifying that
abnormality. Is it benign or malignant?
At the Lawson Health Research Institute
(Lawson) in London, Dr. Jeffrey Carson and
colleagues are tackling that challenge. Their
innovative approach is expected to improve the
overall sensitivity and specifi city of breast cancer
diagnostics and signifi cantly reduce the need for
women to undergo biopsy procedures. Clinical
trials will begin soon at the Diagnostic Imaging
Centre of St. Joseph’s Health Care, London in
collaboration with Dr. Anat Kornecki, breast
imaging specialist.
Dr. Carson’s team recently won the Lawson
Innovation Prize to develop an imaging method
capable of characterizing breast lesions. Women
diagnosed with a suspicious or undefi ned breast
lesion often undergo mammography, ultrasound
or MRI for further assessment. But in many cases,
these studies can’t distinguish malignant from
benign lesions. While biopsy has been the gold
standard for determining if a lesion is benign or
malignant, the procedure is invasive and can be
uncomfortable, explains Dr. Carson. In recent
years, there has been great interest in applying
optical technologies to breast cancer screening
and diagnostics.
“Optical imaging has the ability to distinguish
between benign and malignant lesions based on
optical contrast differences related to blood content
and blood oxygenation,” says Dr. Carson.
“Detection is facilitated by the low optical contrast
of surrounding normal tissues.”
FINDING AN ALTERNATIVE
This type of imaging is low in cost and safe but
has been limited to the detection of lesions near
the surface. Deeper lesions are often missed. An
alternative optical approach showing great potential
is photoacoustic imaging, says Dr. Carson.
The technique is capable of obtaining functional
optical contrast in tissues at much greater depths
and provides image resolution comparable to
clinical ultrasound.
Dr. Carson and his team have developed a 3-D
photoacoustic imaging system that can create
optical images in 3-D and track contrast agents
in 3-D at an extremely fast rate.
“When applied in the clinic, our 3-D photoacoustic
imaging system, in combination with
existing diagnostic techniques, will provide optical
information to the clinician that will help them
decide if a breast lesion is benign or malignant,”
says Dr. Carson. “At St. Joseph’s, the technology
could potentially reduce the number of biopsy
procedures each year by 200 or more.”
Using their inventive technology, Dr. Carson
and his team will take 3-D photoacoustic images
of the lesion site prior to biopsy and compare the
optical information to results from ultrasound
and biopsy.
The successful outcome of the trial, says Dr.
Kornecki, “will help to improve breast cancer
diagnostic procedures and patient care in London
and beyond.”
BY MELISSA
BEILHARTZ
AND MICHELE
MARTIN
The imaging team from
Lawson Health Research
Institute and St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London
working to improve breast
cancer diagnostics are,
from left: Dr. Jeffrey
Carson, Dr. Donald Taves,
Hazem Al-Aabed, Dr. Anat
Kornecki and Michael
Roumeliotis.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 49

50
A DAy in the Life of St. JoSeph’S
Rehabilitation Results
The team of experts at St. Joseph’s Parkwood
Hospital is helping rehabilitation patients realize
their full potential
By Mark Hamon and Anne Kay
For thousands of people across the 10 counties of Southwestern
Ontario, the broad expertise of rehabilitation teams at St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London can mean the difference between independence
and a life of limitations. St. Joseph’s Parkwood Hospital is the hub
of rehabilitation—and possibilities—for the region, providing inpatient, outpatient
and outreach services that allow individuals to reach their full potential,
resume their lives, and return to their homes and communities following
injury or illness.
Survivors of acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke, and those
living with amputations and neurological conditions, receive a comprehensive
array of therapies delivered with compassion and infused with hope with
often wondrous results. Here is just a glimpse of a day in the life of rehabilitation
at Parkwood Hospital.
The Comprehensive
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Program provides therapy
for people with neurological
conditions, such as a stroke or
brain tumour. Occupational
therapist Stefanie Korab,
right, immerses Linda Auger’s
hand in an ice and water bath
to help reduce spasticity and
swelling—a secondary result
of Auger’s stroke.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
Linda Saunders, 46, receives intensive speech language
therapy as part of the inpatient stroke rehabilitation
program.
Speech language pathologist Jim Fisher uses a variety of
items and exercises to help stroke patients with verbal
apraxia relearn to talk.
Todd Smith, 43, who was in an ATV accident in 2009, is assisted
by physiotherapists Merle Masse, left, and Shannon McGuire
as part of the NeuroTrauma Rehabilitation services. A body
weight support system allows Smith to safely work on standing
even though he has a spinal cord injury.
Don Carlson, a
rehabilitation
engineer,
adapts
equipment,
systems and
devices of all
kinds, from
wheelchairs
to elevator
buttons, to
allow people
with disabilities
to live and
enjoy life as
independently
as possible.

When Kathleen
Rumming’s
prosthesis
became
uncomfortable,
she came to
the amputee
program
for a refit.
Physiotherapist
Peter Cox gauges
the 63-year-old’s
comfort as she
walks along the
parallel bars.
For people with a brain injury, ongoing problems with balance
and coordination can be linked to vision complications. Here,
physiotherapist Shannon McGuire works with Jeff Doak, 33,
who travels from Goderich once a week for neuro-optometric
rehabilitation. The yoked prisms in the glasses help Doak to
reorient to his midline, which improves his balance and helps
him walk.
Amy Abbruzzese, right, a clinical consultant with
the acquired brain injury outreach program, works
with Sharon Campbell-Rayment at her farm in Kent
Bridge to help her develop strategies to cope with
her brain injury.
Enid Grein works with physiotherapy assistant Robert
Payne following recent spinal cord surgery. The 15-bed
spinal cord rehabilitation unit at Parkwood is designed
for individuals who have had a spinal cord injury due to
trauma, illness or various debilitating conditions.
Fitness instructor Karie Logie calibrates a power trainer
for Ed Smits at the Parkwood Fitness Centre, where
equipment can be adapted to various physical needs.
It’s open to people living in the community with physical
disabilities who can independently direct their own
fitness program.
Catherine Ford, 79, travels
from Ridgetown twice a
week for stroke therapy.
Occupational therapist
Shannon Howson, left, and
student Kristen Gilbert, right,
help the senior learn ways
to tailor her daily living skills
following her stroke.
At the Neurobehavioural
Rehabilitation Centre (NRC),
a putting green is important
therapy for 17-year-old Alex
Bueschleb. The home-like
environment of the five-bed
NRC allows people with
acquired brain injury resulting
in significant behavioural
challenges to once again take
part in life around them.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 51

52
A retired general offers insights
and praise at St. Joseph’s Health Care
Foundation’s Tribute Dinner
Soldiering On
By Daniela SiMunac
More than 1,200 people filled the
London Convention Centre on
Oct. 6 to honour Canada’s veterans
and soldiers, and tune in
to a special presentation by Canada’s former
top soldier, Gen. Rick Hillier (Ret.).
Stirring the emotions of the sold-out
crowd, the retired chief of defence staff of the
Canadian Forces talked about leadership and
praised the work of St. Joseph’s Health Care
Foundation, host of the evening’s event—
St. Joseph’s Tribute Dinner.
“If you remember that what you’re about
is people and focus on attracting, recruiting,
preparing, sustaining, enabling, empowering,
recognizing and thanking people—you
cannot go far wrong,” said Hillier in an interview
prior to the event.
Strong leaders, he added, live by guiding
principles and values. “Actions speak loudly.
Gen. Rick Hillier (Ret.)
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
They articulate your values because people
cannot see your values—but they can see
your actions.”
Hillier received a warm welcome from the
audience, some of whom had a chance to chat
with him before the dinner. Hillier spent
nearly two hours at Parkwood Hospital earlier
in the day, where he met veterans and
staff. He toured the veterans care program,
visiting the art studio, pub, railway garden
and more.
Tugging aT The
hearTsTrings
Having the chance to visit veterans and be a
part of Tribute, he said, is deeply meaningful.
“It’s an opportunity to be part of something
that is very, very good. St. Joseph’s Health
Care Foundation is incredibly important in
what it does to support the hospital, but particularly
on the veterans’ side. Obviously that
tugs the heartstrings for me.”
Since stepping down two years ago as
Canada’s top soldier, Hillier has remained a
man of action, raising money for the Ottawa
Food Bank, prostate cancer research, Boys’ &
Girls’ clubs in the Atlantic provinces, and various
military causes, including the Military
Families Fund and the Soldier On and
Wounded Warrior programs. He has recently
been named chancellor of his alma mater,
Memorial University in St. John’s, Nfld.
The outspoken figure is also author of A
Soldier First: Bullets, Bureaucrats and the Politics
of War.
Generous
Support
The 2010 Tribute
Dinner broke all
records raising nearly
$225,000. Proceeds
from the event enhance
patient care, education
and research across
st. Joseph’s health
Care, London.
Over the past five
years, Tribute, an annual
signature event hosted
by st. Joseph’s health
Care Foundation, has
raised nearly $1 million.
The money has supported
a wide variety
of projects and program
areas, including the
rehabilitation garden
at Parkwood hospital,
the transitional care
unit, and the purchase
of transfer stretchers,
bedside tables and medical
equipment.
For other foundation
events and information
on giving to st. Joseph’s
at any time, go to www.
sjhcfoundation.org.

In Your own words
Every day, St.
Joseph’s Health
Care, London
receives words
of appreciation
and praise
from grateful
patients and
their families. St.
Joseph’s prides
itself on serving
with respect,
excellence and
compassion,
which shows
on our patient
satisfaction
scores—among
the highest in
the province. But
don’t take our
word for it …
call
Your
story
If you would like to
comment on the
care you received at
St. Joseph’s Health
Care, London, please
e-mail Dahlia Reich
at dahlia.reich@
sjhc.london.
on.ca.
Overwhelmed by Kindness
Recently I was diagnosed with a detached
retina in Kitchener. The following day, I had
an appointment with an ophthalmologist and
retinologist, Dr. Tom Sheidow, in London
and I was told I would be operated on to
re-attach the retina.
From the moment we arrived in London at
St. Joseph’s Ivey Eye Institute and throughout
the process, we were treated with incredible
care by the people we met. They made certain
they had all of my health information (at least
three separate interviews); they ensured that
we were aware of what was about to happen;
and they tried to put us at ease.
Nurse Jean learned I am a gardener and
we talked about her father’s garden and she
gently chided me about heeding my doctor’s
orders to take medication to lower cholesterol.
I also met Evelyn, Donna, Mary, Maryanne
and a number of people in the recovery room
who talked hockey and basketball with me.
And eventually I was wheeled out to my
waiting ride by one of the nurses.
My daughter and I were very impressed by
the staff of Ivey Eye Institute, and indeed by
all of the people we met in London.
Thank you all.
Bruce MacNeil
Kitchener, Ont.
Seven-year-old Nick, left, and
his brothers, Dean, 4, Mac, 6,
and Jay, 1 (who was born since
Nick wrote his letter), at home in
Hickson near Woodstock.
hOliday wishes frOm nicK
My name is Nick. I was born at your hospital.
You took really good care of me. I am now six
years old. We are sending you a donation so
you can help all the tiny babies born there.
I wish you a Happy Christmas for everyone
in the hospital this year.
Love,
Nick, and my brothers Mac and Dean
highest level Of care
Thank you to all the doctors and nurses that
cared for me during my recent hospital visit.
(Dr. G. Vilos and team and sixth floor nurses
Pat, Ken, Angela and Mary Anne.) Everyone
was so helpful and caring—the level of professionalism
was exceptional!! All my needs
were met in a timely manner and the highest
level of care was exercised at all times. Even
the staff members not caring for me were
cheerful, friendly and helpful. Thank you—it
was appreciated more than you’ll ever know.
Ms. Nicole Carter
Guelph, Ont.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010 53

54
GIVING WITH IMPACT
Gifts of the Season
Brightening lives and warming hearts . . . the tradition
continues with St. Joseph’s Season of Celebration.
By Jennifer Parraga
Get ready, something very special
is about to happen at St. Joseph’s
Health Care, London. On Nov. 15,
the Season of Celebration campaign
begins and the tradition of brightening
lives and warming the hearts of patients,
residents and their families continues.
It’s a tradition all about care and comfort.
Whether it’s for a quick visit to a clinic or a
longer stay as an inpatient or resident, the
comfort of all those who rely on St. Joseph’s
is paramount. That comfort can be found in
A gift through the Season of Celebration campaign can be directed to support imaging
equipment, blanket warmers and specialized patient gowns for St. Joseph’s breast care program.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
the simple touches, like a specially designed
patient gown that provides warmth and
privacy, or in the high tech—the best medical
equipment used to perform a key procedure.
Comfort can also mean a specialized
mattress that ensures a good night’s rest or
a bedside table to place cherished photos of
loved ones. Each of these items and more—
blanket warmers, specialized recliners,
low-rise electric beds to name a few—can be
supported with a gift of the season during
the 2010 Season of Celebration campaign.
Each gift received during the campaign will
be recognized with a Season of Celebration
pink holiday light. These traditional lights
will adorn the trees surrounding St. Joseph’s
hospitals. Within a few weeks of the campaign,
the entire health care community will
be ablaze with light. Every year, patients,
residents, staff and volunteers are dazzled
by this sea of light, which never fails to elicit
smiles and boost the spirit of the season.
For more information on the important
difference your gift will make, visit www.
seasonofcelebration.com.
HOLIDAY SURPRISES
What would the holiday season be without
a few early gifts to unwrap? With the 2010
Season of Celebration campaign comes gifts
for all to enjoy:

New beds, bedside tables and mattresses such
as the one used by Mount Hope resident Gladys
Hubb, are just some of the important patient
care items that are funded through the Season of
Celebration campaign.
Cool Yule event
Kick off the holiday season at Cool Yule
on Nov. 18, 5 to 8 p.m. at Up on Carling on
Carling Street in London. Featuring live
music, refreshments, appetizers and a silent
auction, this special event offers one-of-a-kind
holiday wreaths designed by local artists and
fl orists. Tickets are $25 with all proceeds benefi
ting the 2010 Season of Celebration campaign.
Visit www.seasonofcelebration.com
for ticket information.
A Memorable Season
A gift for that someone special
This year, consider giving a gift to that
someone special while brightening the
lives of many. You can make a donation
to the 2010 Season of Celebration campaign
and honour a family member,
friend, teacher or co-worker. A special
pink light of caring will be lit in recognition
of your gift. Visit www.seasonof
celebration.com for more details on how
you can make a holiday gift that will
bring comfort and joy.
The pink glow of Christmas
Watch as the pink lights of the Season of
Celebration campaign come aglow across
St. Joseph’s by visiting our photo gallery
at www.seasonofcelebration.com.
It was a Season to remember! The 20th anniversary of the Season of Celebration in 2009 was one
of St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation’s most successful holiday campaigns ever. By the time the
final gift arrived, the total had reached more than $420,000. Comfort items such as bedside tables,
pressure-reducing mattresses, blanket warmers, low-rise beds and shower trolleys topped the list
of needs now funded through campaign dollars. But it didn’t stop there. Front-line examination
equipment for the Ivey Eye Institute, new ventilators for the neonatal intensive care unit, telemedicine
equipment used in the delivery of care to those living with a mental illness, and a vision
rehabilitation kit for patients recovering from brain injuries also received critical support through
campaign funds. Be sure to help make 2010 another Season to remember.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010 55

56
InspIred to Give
From Lucan with Love
Ivey Eye Institute helps a long-time boat builder
set his sights back on business
By Daniela Simunac
OnLinE
World-
Class
Care
Help us to maintain
world-class care at
St. Joseph’s Health
Care, London.
Donate a gift of $50,
$75, $100 or more to
St. Joseph’s Health
Care Foundation.
Give online through
the foundation’s
secured website
at www.sjhc
foundation.org.
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
In a small factory about 20 minutes north of
London, Jakob Kaschper and his team build
by hand a series of boats that are exported
throughout the world.
These aren’t ordinary boats; they’re racing
shells and they’re used by rowers of all levels,
including Olympic gold medalists.
Kaschper has been building shells for 55 years
and produces about 150 a year in his Lucan shop.
He was inspired to start his boat-building business
when he apprenticed in the trade back in his
native Germany. “And we’ve been going strong
ever since,” he says.
Business has been so strong in recent years
that Kaschper was focused mostly on work and
failed to pay attention to something else—his
vision. “In my right eye, I noticed a little shadow,”
he says. “I neglected to pay attention to it until it
got worse.”
When he did see an optometrist he was told he
had the onset of glaucoma. He feared for his business.
“Anybody in manufacturing will tell you: If
you lose your eyesight, that’s the end of it.”
Kaschper was referred to the Ivey Eye Institute
at St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he received specialized
laser treatment that prevents his condition
from worsening. He continues to visit the institute,
where he is followed closely for any changes.
GivinG Back
“Every time I visit the Ivey Eye Institute and I see
people who are in a much worse situation than
me, I count my blessings. That’s why I give.”
Wanting to make a difference, the boat builder
has made a five-year commitment to donate to St.
Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, which distributes
his gift to the Ivey Eye Institute. He is one
of many Lucan residents who benefit from Ivey
Jakob Kaschper is back to work after his glaucoma was
stabilized with treatment at Ivey Eye Institute.
Eye. Last year, more than 400 patient visits were
from the Lucan area, which is one reason the
Lucan District Lions Club has thrown its support
behind the world-class institute. Through
various fundraising efforts, the club recently
donated $50,000 to support the purchase of all
equipment for an examination suite.
The donation capped a fundraising initiative
that saw the purchase of 24 new exam suites,
bringing the total number of suites to 53.
The generosity of individuals like Kaschper
and organizations such as the Lions Club ensure
Ivey Eye remains a leader in comprehensive and
advanced eye care for Southwestern Ontario,
says Dr. Bill Hodge, citywide chief/chair of
ophthalmology.
“We can meet our goals and ensure the best
examination equipment is available to diagnose
and detect disease at its earliest stage.”
With his vision back on track, Kaschper can
set his sights back on his boat business.

Bosom
Buddies
A woman’s chance of having invasive breast cancer
during her life is about 1 in 8. When caught in its earliest stages,
breast cancer has survival rates of nearly 100 per cent. Schedule your
mammogram today—and don’t forget to remind a friend.
vim&

St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation
268 Grosvenor Street
London, ON
N6A 4V2
Please return Canadian Addresses to above address