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

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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...

In the right hands at the right time

For anyone with a cervix age 25 and older, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, in collaboration with the South West Regional Cancer Program, hosted a unique, one-day only Pop-Up Pap Test Clinic – no appointment necessary. Twenty years ago, during a routine physical and pap test, Tiffany Lukas had her...

Unlocking boundless potential

Ashmeet Gill had her first PET/CT scan shortly after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the body’s germ-fighting immune system. She was nervous. Claustrophobia is an issue for the young Stratford resident and the scan, necessary to determine if the cancer had spread beyond the...

Nurturing our community

Ask the farming Heeman family about their giving philosophy and the response is fittingly down to earth – both literally and figuratively. “The community is a lot like a plant – if you nurture it, invest in it and care for it, it will thrive and prosper,” says Will Heeman. Sitting around the table...

"I actually won"

Tarra Smith, an RPN in the Veterans Care unit at St. Joseph’s Parkwood Institute, didn’t expect a “whole lot” from her single entry into the staff lottery. She had heard in the past about a few coworkers who’d won Whole Lotto Love, and decided to sign herself up through payroll deduction. “I looked...

Aligning values with investments

Building upon a long history of supporting and fostering healthy communities, St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) has become the first hospital in Southwestern Ontario to align its investments with its values to make an impact across the region. St. Joseph’s is collaborating with VERGE...

Forward focused

Growing up, Natasha Smids loved sports and animals. A natural athlete, she played everything from soccer and badminton to rugby and basketball. And with more than one pet at home and surrounded by farms, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian technician specializing in large animals. And so, once...

Unlocking boundless potential

From film to focus

On the cusp of graduating from the Advanced Photography Program at Fanshawe College in 1990, Christopher Lincoln was offered an out of the blue proposition. “Who wants to work in a hospital?” a program instructor asked the group of budding photographers. Not knowing exactly what it would mean for...

Fueling lifelong learning

Working as a nurse for more than 35 years, Jeannette Lydestad, RN, has taken many opportunities to further her education. “Learning new things always keeps your mind active and young,” she says. Recently, Jeannette realized her family needed the security of a full-time role – something not available...