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

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‘Poop pill’ benefits may extend to treating kidney cancer, lung cancer and melanoma

Clinical trials suggest fecal transplants can prevent side effects in treating kidney cancer. It can also dramatically improve outcomes for people with lung and melanoma cancers. A groundbreaking study show that the toxic side effects of drugs to treat kidney cancer could be virtually eliminated with customized fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), a field where London excels. The discovery published in the prestigious Nature Medicine journal, was published simultaneously with another paper also in the same journal that suggests FMT is also effective in helping treat lung cancer and melanoma...

From nightmare to normal: Sniffing out better care

When Rebecca Bruzzese lost her sense of smell and taste after a bout of COVID-19, it was disconcerting. But when it returned a week later, it was downright debilitating. For over a year, Rebecca experienced what is called parosmia – a disorder that causes a distorted sense of smell, turning normal...

Celebrating professional excellence

St. Joseph’s Excellence in Professional Practice Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of nursing and allied health staff who are central to patient and resident care. These awards recognize individuals who exemplify the Mission, Vision, and Values of St. Joseph's through their leadership...

Finding her niche, discovering her passion

Celeste Giovanatti wants to be the best pharmacist she can be. She also wants to play a role in reducing what she describes as “fractured care”, which she noticed far too often during placements in community pharmacies throughout her four years of pharmacy school. Now, as a new pharmacy graduate...

An “extraordinary career”

With unwavering compassion and visionary leadership, Dr. Susan McNair has dedicated more than 40 years to improving the lives of survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence -a commitment that has earned her the distinguished honour of being named one of the 2025 YMCA Women of Excellence. As...

Strengthening the community

The son of immigrants, Keith Samitt was born in London, and grew up at the end of the depression. After attending Wortley Public School and South Collegiate, he tried his hand at different jobs including selling cars. It didn’t take long before he discovered an interest in real estate, and he hasn’t...

Back in the saddle

It had been years since Karen Hendrie rode a bike. But that all changed one sunny July morning. Accompanied by Lynn Benyon, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, and Sara Jibb, Occupational Therapist, Karen enjoyed a cycle around Parkwood Institute – with a smile on her face the entire time. Karen, a...

Opening your hearts

On a warm spring morning in May, more than 1,100 people were the first to hear about a new initiative St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation is undertaking – The Patient Assistance Fund for Mental Health Care. Launched at the 2024 Breakfast of Champions event, which shines a light on mental health care...

a woman in a wheelchair gardening with the assistance of a tool as her care provider watches

Putting the pieces together

“I like to say that we put the fun in functional,” says Judy Beitz, a recently retired Therapeutic Recreation Specialist in St. Joseph’s Complex Care program. “Some patients think they're never going to get back home. But getting them engaged in leisure interests actually benefits what they’re...

The good fight

In the fall of 2024, screening rates for breast cancer are set to rise in Ontario – dramatically. And Dr. Sarah Knowles, Surgical Oncologist and Interim Director of the Breast Care Program at St. Joseph’s, is ready to support even more people through the breast care journey. “I get to work with...