Our Stories

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

Mark Ides

More than a Medal: Mark Ideson’s journey to his fourth Paralympics

When Mark Ideson takes the ice at his fourth Paralympic Winter Games in Italy this March, Canada will see a seasoned competitor, a national team leader and a dedicated athlete. What they don’t see is the years of dedication, specialized rehabilitation and ongoing support that help make these moments possible. As the skip of Team Canada since 2018, Ideson has helped keep the country among the world’s wheelchair curling powerhouses. Under his leadership, the team has earned bronze medals at the 2018 and 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. But before the medals, there was recovery and a lot of strength...
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Recognizing a pain pioneer

We almost take for granted the premise that individual pain experiences can limit patients’ recovery from injury, but just thirty years ago, perceptions of pain weren’t central to patient care. Many clinicians informally asked their patients about pain but there was no formal process for collecting...
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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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Veterans Care Bus "The Poppy"

A new ride on the roads

Meet “The Poppy”. Maybe you’ve already seen it out on the streets of London – covered in giant red poppies, it’s hard to miss. The Poppy is the new accessible bus for St. Joseph’s Veterans Care Program. From medical appointments and shopping outings to hockey games and museum visits, trips into the...
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older couple sleeping in bed

Sweet dreams

A good night’s sleep – it’s something we all dream of. And there are no shortage of tips and tricks on how to reach the rapid eye movement (REM) stage and enjoy your slumber. But for the more than five million Canadians who live with sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing stops and starts...
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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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Three women and a dog smile at camera

“Healing our hearts”

Paper crafts have always been important to Anne Granger. That passion became her saving grace when her husband Corrie died unexpectedly of an aortic dissection in 2017. “Scrapbooking and cardmaking is my healing, my therapy,” she shares. “I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have that.” In 2018...
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