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...
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St. Leonards and Southwest Centre photo

A Decade of Partnership Supporting Recovery and Reintegration

Ten years ago, Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care (Southwest Centre) and the St. Leonard’s Society launched a new partnership to help forensic patients transition from hospital to community living. The milestone was marked on Nov. 13 with a celebration event recognizing the meaningful...
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Bill sited on his wheelchair smiling

His best self

Bill Thompson has worn many hats in his life: husband, father, grandfather, funeral director, orderly, farmer. But he says that one that he’s particularly proud of is being an older adult with mild cerebral palsy who is healthy, happy and thriving. He credits the interdisciplinary care in St. Joseph...
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Doris is assembling a puzzle at a table

With a little help from her friends

When Doris Edgar came home after spending almost a year in the hospital, there was a surprise waiting for her. Terry Lynn and Lu, two of her closest friends, had worked together to clean and revamp her space. There was food in her fridge, assistive devices in place and puzzles and books to keep her...
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Highlighting volunteers at St. Joseph’s Health Care London

Meet Cyril Hartland, Nathalie Ross and Carolyn McPherson, three volunteers at St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) who collectively contributed 5,000 hours of volunteer service between 2023-2024. Through their efforts, Cyril, Nathalie and Carolyn have not only supported the hospital but...
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Jennifer Field in a cream sweater sits with Veteran Joseph "Lou" Warren in a plaid shirt at a dining table

A little goes a long way

Sometimes, it’s the little changes that make the biggest difference. And thanks to a recent grant through St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation made possible through the generosity of donors, that’s what’s happened in the 2 Perth unit in the Veterans Care program. After several months of...
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Dr. Michael Borrie

Drug combats underlying causes of Alzheimer-related dementia

A “game-changing” new drug offers both hope and time to some people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, says the head of a St. Joseph’s program that played a key role in the medication’s clinical trials. Health Canada has newly approved lecanemab (brand name Leqembi, developed by Eisai Co. and...
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Darryl Burgess while he was serving in the army

Meaningful and actionable change

A year after leaving the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), veteran Darryl Burgess was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That was 1998. He’s been in the care of St. Joseph’s Dr. Don Richardon since then – making a regular 600 km round trip from his northern Ontario hometown of Burk’s...
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