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‘Micro-doses of wisdom’

The numbers say occupational therapist Clark Heard has given more than 30,000 hours as mentor to more than 150 work-placement students across 25 years of professional practice. But Heard, who works at St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care (Southwest Centre), has a different number in mind. “These mentorships have made my career 1,000 times better,” he says. “It’s such a joy, I often think the main beneficiary of this teaching has been me.” Recently, staff celebrated his being a preceptor to his 150th occupational therapy student, trainees he works...

Dr. George Athwal wearing a HoloLens2 headset, viewing a hologram of a shoulder joint

Hovering holograms hone surgeons' skills

Surgeon Dr. George Athwal at St. Joseph’s Health Care London was the first in Canada and second in the world to use revolutionary mixed reality technology as a tool in shoulder replacement surgery. At the Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre at St. Joseph’s Hospital, orthopedic surgeon Dr...

Jessica Kocur sitting on the rocky ground in a mountainous region of Argentina

From care journey to Care Partner

Trekking through the jungles of South America was a dream come true for Jessica Kocur. She was in her late 20’s when she decided to take the trip of a lifetime with now husband Chris. They hiked up and down mountains, climbed up to 4900 metre above sea level in the Andes and then down into the...

portrait of Lori Higgs with text: Innovation, collaboration and generosity of spirit

A leader of distinction

Congratulations to Lori Higgs, St. Joseph's Vice President of Clinical Support and Chief Financial Officer, for being selected as a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (FCPA) – the profession’s highest mark of distinction. The designation of Fellow formally recognizes CPAs...

Miranda Scott in motion on an climbing wall

A Little Fall to a Big Climb

Miranda Scott had big plans. She had just bought a house, was about to graduate from college for a second career, and was an avid rock climber, gardener and all-around exceptional athlete. It all ground to a halt when an accident in her home left her unable to walk. "I was panicked, in pain, and my...

portrait of Patricia Hoffer with graphic that reads: "Making a difference in our community"

A mentor, connector and role model

Congratulations to Patricia Hoffer, Chief Communications Officer at St. Joseph’s and one of 11 individuals named to the annual Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List celebrating members of the London community who have made outstanding contributions to the city in various categories. Patricia was named for...

two women standing on either side of a Christmas tree holding gifts, surrounded by gift bags

The gift of empathy

For more than a decade, a group from the Canadian Mental Health Association - Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services (CMHA) has put together gift items for each patient within Parkwood Institute’s various mental health care programs. The initiative, dubbed the Holiday Stocking Project...

Stefan Nichol and staff Chaplain Jessica Baker unloading gifts from a van with an "Impact Church" sign on it

In service to others

For the second year in a row, Spiritual Care volunteer Stefan Nichol wanted to show patients at Joseph’s Mental Health Care Program that they are not forgotten. Determined to make sure patients feel special over the holidays, Stefan once again approached several organizations for monetary donations...

a large collection of donated food in holiday-themed boxes, next to an image of driver Rolly Willey unloading the donations from a minivan

A mission of kindness

As the saying goes, we are all in the same storm during this pandemic, but we aren't all in the same boat. Staff, physicians and volunteers at St. Joseph's have come together in kindness to support vulnerable people in our community this holiday season. St. Joseph’s partnered with Morrison Food...

composite photo of six nurses wearing festive reindeer antlers and holding Christmas gifts

A Generous Gesture

Just in time for the holiday season, an unexpected act of kindness was recently delivered to St. Joseph’s Parkwood Institute. Retired nurses Rose Macneil, Kathryn McIntryre, and Carlie Dinn donated beautifully wrapped gifts to St. Joseph’s Geriatric Psychiatry Program. All three generous nurses...