Our Stories

Read the latest stories about what's going on at St. Joseph's Health Care London.

volunteers holding up badges

Speaking their language

Bridging a communication gap has become a bit easier for patients and visitors at St. Joseph’s Health Care London. This summer, two new tools were introduced to help create a more welcoming and comfortable experience for individuals whose first language is not English. In July, volunteers began wearing buttons that identify the language they speak, other than English. For one volunteer, the impact was immediate. Monica Naskret-Reyes has been volunteering at St. Joseph’s for seven years and speaks Spanish fluently. She was excited to wear her new ‘Hablo espanol’ (I speak Spanish) button and...
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Terry and Patti rock climbing

Anchored in Trust

When Patti Hoddinott tried rock climbing with her husband, Terry, on a whim six years ago, it was love at first climb. But it’s a sport with an extra layer of difficulty for the couple. Terry is blind. Hoddinott, a dietitian at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, is Terry’s caller. Using a two-way...
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Stroke Rehabilitation Team honoured for advancing aphasia care

St. Joseph’s Stroke Rehabilitation Team at Parkwood Institute received the 2024 Gerry Cormier Communicative Access Award for being the first to implement eLearning communication strategies that enhance care and inclusion for stroke survivors with aphasia. The St. Joseph’s Stroke Rehabilitation Team...
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Michael Newcombe

Two decades of service in veteran mental health

Twenty years since it first opened, the St. Joseph’s Operational Stress Injury Clinic has treated thousands of clients who serve and have served in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The clinic has grown from a three-person office into a 50-staff support community...
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Listening to what matters most

After sharing his rehabilitation story with a room full of Western University students, local filmmaker Jason Gray quoted post-apocalyptic television show, The Last of Us. “Paying attention to things; it’s how we show love.” The words struck a chord with fourth-year undergraduate student, Vaishnavii...
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Bryan Sanchez, nurse

A dream come true

As a college student in the Philippines, Bryan Sanchez dreamed about working as a nurse in Canada. Today, he is fulfilling his dream working as a registered nurse in the Rehabilitation Program at Parkwood Institute. Thanks to the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership (SPEP) Program through the...
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Tall dream comes true

With a list of burning questions in hand, Patricia Prance answered an incoming video call. On the other end of the line – a giraffe and his zookeeper. Prance has virtually visited not one but two giraffes thanks to St. Joseph's Health Care London's Palliative Care Unit at Parkwood Institute. Her...
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Opening digital doors – Kristin Busche

St. Joseph’s Health Care London's annual Diabetes Half Century Awards highlight patients like Kristin Busche, whose diabetes journey has led to a life of online advocacy. Discovering a virtual tapestry of support and connection among the dynamic online diabetes community changed Kristin Busche’s...
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Roy Butler standing

Imagination to innovation

At St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s), we’re proud of our illustrious legacy of discovery and our culture of innovation. Every day, we work to transform imagination to innovation to impact. Now, we are building a future of even more “firsts,” more breakthroughs – and even greater patient...
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man in vr device

Nature's healing power

Using virtual technology, St. Joseph’s Health Care London is bringing the outdoors in for forensic mental health care patients. Imagine sitting on a white sandy beach in a tropical location. The sun warms your face and a gentle breeze ripples across the water when, out of the corner of your eye, you...
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