MCH Mini-Med wraps up another season
The Fall 2008 Mini-Med sessions have come to a close after more than 225 people of all ages attended the six-week course. Based on written evaluations, an incredible 94% of participants said they would enroll again for future courses.

Thanks go to Dr. Melvin Schloss for heading the steering committee and to lecturers Drs. Mark-Anthony Anselmo, Evelyn Constantin, David McGillivray, David Mitchell, Jacquetta Trasler, Nada Jabado, Elena Khalil, Chantal Martel, Thérèse Perreault, and Caroline Quach for their time and interest in bringing our knowledge and expertise to the community.


Hand hygiene awareness activity at MCH promotes patient safety
On October 2, Infection Prevention and Control united its efforts with a duo of Doctor Clowns to promote hand hygiene among health care workers and hospital personnel.  + [4]


Get fit, get healthy, read Montreal en Santé
New magazine includes special feature about the MUHC

Move over Cosmo, watch out GQ and Canadian Living because there’s a new magazine on the market. The inaugural edition of Montreal En Santé has hit newsstands throughout the MUHC and at numerous Montreal fitness centres, spas and pharmacies.  + [5]


Opening Hours extended at MCH Family Resource Library on 5th floor
Thanks to funding from the MCH Auxiliary the Family Resource Library (FRL) is now open on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Library, along with the Family Resource Centre, is now open 7 days a week including Monday and Thursday evenings until 8:00 p.m. In addition to the nearly 2,000 books available, the centre has a computer station and toys and games for children. Staff are available to help families throughout the week.

For complete hours and more information on the FRL and the Resource Centre, visit www.mchfamilylibrary.ca [6]


The MUHC: One of Montreal’s Top 15 Employers
The Gazette recently published the results of the annual competition recognizing Montreal-area employers that lead their industry and offer an exceptional place to work.  + [7]


MAKING HEADLINES

October was another busy month for MCH staff in the media. Dr. Sharon Abish from Oncology did an interview for Télé-Québec’s current affairs show Une pilule, une petit granule. Also, for the same show, Dr. Michael Kramer and Dr. Frances Aboud were interviewed for a January broadcast about their research on the benefits of breastfeeding.

Dr. Chris Karatzios from Infectious Diseases was interviewed by Chantal Bessette for an upcoming television broadcast about HIV in children and adolescents. Dr. Marie-Noël Primeau was interviewed by the US magazine Health for an article to be published soon on egg allergies and the flu shot.

La Presse published an exclusive front-page interview with Dr. Sam Daniel, ENT surgeon. The article focuses on four-year-old Alyzée Potvin, from Sherbrooke, Quebec, who was born with paralyzed vocal cords which hampered her breathing. During an innovative surgical procedure, Dr. Daniel injected botox in to the child’s neck muscles with amazing results. The child has been removed from a tracheotomy and is now able to talk. The story was subsequently picked up by several other media outlets.

@ WORK

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EVENTS

A Celebration of the Life of Dr. Michael Davies will be held in the Amphitheatre on Tuesday, November 25 at 12 noon. All are welcome.

A memorial service is being organized to remember the children who have died recently at the MCH. We shall also be commemorating children who have died of SIDS. All staff members are warmly invited to attend this service, which will be held on Tuesday November 11th at 2 p.m. in the Amphitheater (D-182).

MCH Foundation Annual General Meeting - ad.
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Mark your agenda for the MUHC Annual General Meeting on Nov. 10 at the MGH. Stay tuned to e-en bref for more details closer to the date.

Mark your calendar for the MUHC Christmas party
Reserve now for this popular event for employees and families + [8]

Artists wanted for Artstravaganza
If you are an MUHC employee, immediate family of an MUHC employee or a volunteer, Artstravaganza is your chance to unleash the artist within! This arts and crafts exhibit and sale will be back on November 27 and feature painting, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, and much more! The event will be a feast for the eyes and a chance to discover the talents of our staff. To register, contact Monique Cove [9] or Annie LeBire [10] or call 514 554-5216.
Registration closes on November 15.


AWARDS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

MCH welcomes Dr. Sherif Emil as new director of Pediatric General Surgery
Dr. Sherif Emil has been appointed as the new director of the Division of Pediatric General Surgery at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.  + [11]


Foundation of Stars honours Dr. Polychronakos
Dr. Constantin Polychronakos, Director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at the MCH, received the Career Scientist Award of Excellence 2008 from the Foundation of Stars in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of child health research.  [12]+ [13]
 
Dr. Michael Kramer awarded Prix Léo-Pariseau
The Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas) honoured Dr. Michael Kramer with its Prix Léo-Pariseau on October 16.  + [14]


CONTINUING EDUCATION

Pediatric grand Rounds

Nov. 5 – 8:00 a.m. – Amphitheatre
Pediatric Portal Hypertension
Etiology & Treatment in 2008
Dr. Simon Ling
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics
Staff Gastroenterologist, Hospital for Sick Children
University of Toronto

Nov. 12 – 8:00 a.m. – Amphitheatre
Pediatric Jeopardy
Dr. Abdullah Al-Saena
Dr. Joey Bonifacio
Chief Pediatric Medical Residents
The Montreal Children’s Hospital – MUHC


Research Institute Seminars

Nov. 3 – 12:00 noon – C-417
Cellular Communication in Tumor Angiogenesis
Dr. Janusz Rak
Department of Pediatrics
McGill University

Nov. 10 – 12:00 noon – C-417
How Viruses Can Teach us to Specifically Destroy Tumor Cells
Dr. Joe Teodoro
Department of Biochemistry and McGill Cancer Centre
McGill University

Nov. 17 – 12:00 noon – C-417
Identification of Novel Developmental Pathways Critical for Urogenital Development
Dr. Cathy Mendelsohn
Departments of Urology, Pathology, Genetics & Development
Columbia University
New York, New York


OUR PEOPLE

MCH Nurse Doggedly Pursues her Research
Dr. Janet Rennick looks at psychological impact on children treated in intensive care units  + [15]


OUR HEROES

Francis and Simon Laforest
Sometimes heroes come in small packages and sometimes they come in the form of a parent.  + [16]