Newsroom
St. Michael's in the news
2013
May 3
Preparing for a pandemic
Dr. Simon Abrahamson quoted and Trauma Transport Day featured
CTV News
St. Michael's Hospital is putting young doctors through the most realistic training possible.
May 2
Cardiac arrest 'hot spots' in Toronto mapped by researchers
Research by Dr. Timothy Chan
The Toronto Star
When someone suffers cardiac arrest, speed matters. But defibrillators in public places in Toronto are not in the best locations to help cardiac arrest victims, a new study has found.
Hands-only CPR may not be enough
Research by Dr. Aaron Orkin
The Globe and Mail
Hands-only CPR may not be ideal for saving people who have suffered cardiac arrest in a remote area, or if it takes a long time for an ambulance to arrive, a new study warns.
Brink of a breakthrough? Scientists might be close to cure for AIDS
Dr. Gordon Arbess interviewed
CTV Toronto
A Danish research team is hopeful their work could one day lead to an affordable and easily distributed cure for AIDS.
Toronto at back of pack in organ donor registration
Dr. Bob Howard quoted
Toronto Sun
Toronto residents are among the stingiest when it comes to giving the gift of life.
April 26
Meditation programs teach how to battle pain with brain power
Dr. Jackie Gardner-Nix featured
CTV News
Doctors in Ontario are taking a new approach in the battle against chronic pain, ditching the prescription pad and teaching sufferers how to harness the healing power of the mind.
April 23
Child pushes hospitals to recycle
CTV News
A school is celebrating a young student who pushed hospitals to recycle Styrofoam for Earth Day. Pauline Chan reports.
March 28
Kids' brain injury study shows sports rules poorly enforced
Research by Dr. Michael Cusimano
CBC National News
Protecting children playing hockey, soccer, football, basketball and baseball from serious brain injuries could take simple solutions like padding goal posts and enforcing existing rules, a Canadian study suggests.
March 1
Brain drain: Talking on cell while turning left may be risky, neuroimaging shows
Research by Dr. Tom Schweizer
The Canadian Press
Drivers who talk on a cellphone — even one that's hands-free — while executing a left-hand turn at an intersection could be putting themselves at serious risk, say neuroscientists who imaged the brain to see how it copes with competing tasks.
Feb. 26
Doctors appear more likely to take on wealthier patients, study finds
Research by Dr. Stephen Hwang
The Toronto Star (front page)
Family physicians’ offices appear to be discriminating against the poor, a Toronto study concludes, after finding they are more willing to take on people of higher socioeconomic status as new patients.
Feb. 15
Where this family of volunteers help, death is a constant visitor
St. Michael's palliative care volunteers featured
The Globe and Mail
They’re cheery, outgoing and they poke fun at each other as often as they can. They are not a family in a traditional sense, but a family of volunteers, brought closer by the nature of their work. Where they help, death is a constant visitor.
Feb. 14
Regent Park revitalization project lowered anxiety in residents’ health: report
Research by Dr. Jim Dunn
CBC - Metro Morning
Residents who moved back into the Regent Park neighbourhood following revitalization projects are happier with their community and have improved levels of personal safety, a new study suggests.
Feb. 1
St. Michael’s Hospital appoints Dr. Stephen Hwang inaugural chair in homelessness, housing and health
The Toronto Star
St. Michael’s Hospital has appointed renowned inner-city health expert Dr. Stephen Hwang as its inaugural chair in homelessness, housing and health.
Jan. 23
Quitting cigarettes before 40 markedly boosts life expectancy, study finds
Research by Dr. Prabhat Jha
The Toronto Star - Front Page, embedded video in online edition
Longevity wise, it’s almost like you never took a drag. Butting out permanently before age 40 can restore the life expectancies of smokers to virtually normal lengths, shows a new study out of Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital.
Jan. 21
The Agenda with Steve Paikin: Ontario Hospital Insiders
Dr. Bob Howard on The Agenda with Steve Paikin
The Agenda on TVO
They are the heads of four of Ontario's largest hospitals: University Health Network, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children and St. Michael's Hospital. They sit down with Steve Paikin to detail how they handle the toughest decisions in healthcare.
Homeless Health Care: Helping People On Street Challenging, But Worthwhile For Doctors
Dr. Stephen Hwang and Frank Fournier featured
The Huffington Post - The Canadian Press
It's about 9:30 on an icy-cold January morning, and Dr. Stephen Hwang is greeting his first patient of the day at Seaton House, a 434-bed shelter for homeless men on a quiet street in downtown Toronto.
Jan. 8
Ontario diabetics get fewer eye exams after delisting
Research by Dr. Tara Kiran
The Toronto Star
Adults with diabetes are receiving fewer publicly funded eye exams due to the government’s delisting of the assessment, a new study suggests.
Jan. 5
Toronto program focuses on pregnant HIV-positive women
The Positive Pregnancy Programme and Dr. Mark Yudin and Jay MacGillivray featured
The Globe and Mail
It was after dark about two years ago when midwife Jay MacGillivray got a phone call from staff at St. Michael’s Hospital, where she works, asking her to help care for an HIV-positive patient who had just arrived and was in labour.
2012
Sept. 23
No room for mistakes
Dr. Najma Ahmed and the Allan Waters Family Simulation Centre featured
CBC National News
The National features a trauma scenario in the simulation centre.
Sept. 14
Alternatives to blood transfusion
Research by Dr. John Freedman and Dr. Katerina Pavenski
CTV News
Doctors are finding better alternatives to blood-transfusion treatments
July 10
Simulation laboratory helps train surgeons-to-be
Drs. Teodor Grantcharov and Vanessa Palter are featured
CTV News
It's a pivotal event that comes in the education of all would-be surgeons. At some point, medical students who plan to make a career of opening up and fixing other human beings have to make that first cut.
July 2
Hospital food lacks proper nutrition
Heather Fletcher and the food services team are featured
CBC Radio
Hospital food is often criticized for being unappetizing, but dietitians say the processed meals also lack proper nutrition for recovering patients.
June 30
Dr. Prabhat Jha, global health researcher, appointed to Order of Canada
PhysOrg.com
Dr. Prabhat Jha, head of the Centre for Global Health Research at St. Michael's Hospital, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honours.
June 29
Filling the nutrition needs for kids on summer holidays
Dr. Jonathon Maguire is quoted
CBC National News
Summer holidays for students brings an end to breakfast and lunch programs at schools but a company and network of food banks across Canada are stepping in to fill kids' mouths and nutritional gaps.
June 28
Smallest, Largest Foetuses at Higher Risk of Stillbirth
Research by Dr. Joel Ray
The Toronto Star
The tiniest and the heaviest fetuses have a higher risk of being stillborn, according to a population study of all Ontario births between 2002 and 2007.
June 6
Eaton Centre shooting close to home for hospital staff
Nicole Bekker, RN, Dr. Doug Sinclair and Dr. Martin Horak quoted, St. Michael's Hospital profiled
The Globe and Mail
Nicole Bekker spent her lunch break a few minutes away from work on Saturday, eating a salad at Toronto's Eaton Centre on what had been a calm day in the emergency department at St. Michael's Hospital. Less than six hours later, the nurse was on the medical team working to stabilize a victim who was struck by a bullet in the same food court.
June 5
Toronto study shows hospital treatment tied to income level
Research by Dr. Rick Glazier
Toronto Star
Depending on whether you are a wealthy Torontonian or a low-income resident, you may be admitted to hospital for a different reason, new research suggests.
Done in the sun
Dr. Michael Cusimano quoted
Toronto Sun
For Canadians who love the heat, this is the summer you've been waiting for -- days and nights full of higher than normal temperatures, according to a recent report released by AccuWeather Canada. But your summer bliss may be short-lived if too many days are spoiled by bugs, blisters and barbecues gone wrong. So like the Boy Scouts say, be prepared.
May 8
Province targeting doctors making over $600,000 a year, forum told
Healthy Debate and St. Michael's Hospital are mentioned.
Toronto Star
The province is targeting the highest-paid doctors in its attempt to find savings, a public forum on physician payment has been told.
May 7
Why Women Live Longer Than Men
Dr. Mike Evans on CBC Radio.
Fresh Air, CBC Radio
That was Dr. Mike's topic this time 'round. He shared his theories with Mary Ito. Listen to that conversation. And check out Dr. Mike's website for more information on this and other health-related topics.
May 4
How a simple translation tool is helping doctors and immigrants communicate
Research by Dr. Joel Ray featured.
The Globe and Mail
Gestures can go only so far when trying to find out whether a Farsi-speaking newcomer from Iran gets a burning sensation when she urinates.
May 1
Alan Bernstein maps an ambitious route for cutting-edge research
Dr. Alan Bernstein, visiting professor at St. Michael's featured. Picture taken in Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute lab space.
The Globe and Mail
Alan Bernstein takes over this week as president of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, a highly respected non-profit organization that brings together top scientists and scholars from Canada and around the world to collaborate on fields as diverse as quantum materials, successful societies and neural computation.
April 29
TB or not TB?
Dr. Kamran Khan is featured.
Toronto Sun
Most of us assume that tuberculosis (TB), the wasting lung disease that carried off millions during the Middle Ages and the Industrial Revolution, was conquered 50 years ago with the advent of antibiotics.
April 27
Physicians turn to exercise prescriptions to prevent and treat chronic condition
Dr. Mike Evans is quoted.
Toronto Star
There’s a powerful medicine gaining favour these days that can’t be found in a tablet or on pharmacy shelves.
April 26
Bonuses for docs do little to improve diabetes care
Research by Dr. Tara Kiran.
Reuters
Small financial incentives aimed at getting physicians to make sure their diabetic patients receive recommended routine exams may not lead to changes in doctors' behavior, according to a new study from Canada.
Dr. Google misdiagnoses patients, Canadian physician warns Internet users
Dr. Mike Evans is quoted.
GlobalTV
A dangerous trend of turning to Dr. Google when you’re feeling under the weather is gaining in popularity in Canada, a physician says.
April 25
Cataract lens 'predatory pricing' questioned
Research by Dr. Chaim Bell.
CBC
Some ophthalmologists charge much more for cataract lens service than others, Ontario physicians said in calling for more protection for patients.
New map reveals diabetes hot spots in the GTA
Research by Dr. Gillian Booth.
Toronto Star
More than 1 million Ontarians have diabetes and the Greater Toronto Area is home to approximately one half of all cases, a massive new study has found.
Novartis seeks legal action on eye drug
Dr. Alan Berger is quoted.
CBC
Drug maker Novartis is taking legal action in Britain to make state-run hospitals use an eye drug that costs about $1,120 per shot instead of a cheaper one that costs just $95.
April 24
Medical breakthroughs are possible when volunteers join clinical trials
Dr. David Jenkins quoted.
Toronto Star
In a lifetime of interviews, one in particular sticks with me. The cure rates for children with cancer “are getting close to 80 per cent,” Dr. Ted Vandenberg said, because nearly all children with cancer join clinical trials.
April 22
Diabetes drug Actos may pose bladder cancer risk
Dr. Muhammad Mamdani quoted.
CBC News
Taking the diabetes drug Actos may increase one's risk of developing bladder cancer, Health Canada and the drug's maker, Takeda Canada Inc., say.
April 20
Researchers create mosquitoes that can’t spread dengue
Research by Dr. Jim Lavery.
Toronto Star
Anthony James is a mosquito’s worst nightmare — a female mosquito’s, to be exact. James is at the cutting edge of a tiny scientific community genetically modifying the bugs to combat dengue, a mosquito-borne infection that strikes up to 100 million people a year and is a leading killer of children in some Asian and Latin American countries. In their sights is also malaria, an even deadlier parasite.
Injection sites more popular with downtown residents
Research by Dr. Ahmed Bayoumi and Dr. Carol Strike (U of T).
Toronto Sun
If you live in Toronto’s downtown you’re more likely to approve of a supervised injection site going there.
