Our Stories

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

FMT team at St. Joseph's

‘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...
Read more
Lynda Vanderaa standing in her home, watering plants

One step at a time

“I wouldn’t be walking today if it wasn’t for the staff at Parkwood,” says Lynda Vanderaa, who was initially left paralyzed in both legs following a car accident. It was the summer of 2008 when a car that Lynda was travelling in hit some gravel and went off the road. She spent two weeks in hospital...
Read more
Occupational therapy and physiotherapist assistant, working closely with Mitchell Skillings on his rehabilitation using the bike.

Firing up muscles

You funded innovative equipment for people recovering from a stroke, brain or spinal cord injury. “It’s really a cool piece of equipment,” says Stephanie Cornell, physiotherapist and Coordinator in St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Program, of the new functional electric stimulation (FES) bike. For people...
Read more

The Power of Passion: Discovering Joy Through Recreation Therapy

Across St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph's), recreation therapy is used to achieve the highest level of independence and quality of life. Therapeutic recreation staff work with patients, residents, families, and other health care professionals to create a seamless routine of leisure and...
Read more
Rob Kelland standing in his office.

A Perfect Match

Rob Kelland knows firsthand that it takes a village to make a difference. As a Portfolio Manager and founder of the Kelland Portfolio Management Group at ScotiaMcLeod, Rob leads a team of 18 associates and staff who together manage one of the largest asset bases at ScotiaMcLeod across Canada. The...
Read more
Siobhan Schabrun

Celebrating remarkable women in science

Chronic pain can affect every facet of a person’s life. “When someone is in pain, they can have significant difficulty with activities we all do in our daily life, from getting out of bed to walking to the mailbox. It can also impact their mental wellness,” shares Lawson Health Research Institute...
Read more
Participants at Kicks for Strength event pose underneath soccer net

Ripple Effects

Ryan Finch’s $5 million donation to mental health care research at St. Joseph’s is creating a ripple effect. Several community events, including Kicks for Strength and the popular Forest City Cycling Challenge, were inspired by his generosity. As news of the landmark donation spread in June 2023...
Read more
John and Jane Downs together at RBC Place London

Finding joy in giving

John and Jane Downs describe themselves as ‘average Canadians’, but their commitment to investing in and learning about healthcare is anything but average. What started as an annual donation from the local couple who were grateful for their care has grown into a deep relationship with St. Joseph’s....
Read more
Dr. Athwal

Next-generation 3D imaging can guide surgeons’ hands

In a Canadian first, Dr. George Athwal at St. Joseph’s Health Care London has introduced the revolutionary next step in mixed reality technology that can track surgical instruments in real time and precisely point the way for surgeons. St. Joseph’s is one of two centres in the world to debut the...
Read more