Our Stories

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

Lisa Porter

‘Discovery comes from great questions’

When Lisa Porter was barely old enough to read, her parents bought a family-sized set of encyclopedias from a door-to-door salesperson. The A-to-Z world was suddenly at the six-year-old’s fingertips, in books that answered more questions than she knew how to ask. Today, as the new Vice President Research and Scientific Director at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Lisa continues to ramp up her quest to learn more: so many puzzles yet to be decoded and problems yet to be solved. “To me, health research is curiosity, creativity and constantly asking questions. Discovery comes from exploring great...
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Haiyun Cho

Finding the right notes

High school student Hayun Cho picks up her flute in front of an eager audience of residents at St. Joseph’s Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care (Mount Hope). It’s a Sunday afternoon and Hayun, who volunteers her talents three times a week, starts playing a few crowd favorites including classics by...
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Joan and Monica

The gift of good company

When Joan Anderson found herself at risk of having her cataract surgery cancelled because she didn’t have someone to accompany her while in hospital, she took matters into her own hands. Joan, whose name is changed to protect her identity, was scheduled to have the outpatient procedure and required...
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Maverick and Michelle

A ‘pawsitive’ volunteer visit

As Maverick strolls through the hallway of St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s), a crowd of enthusiastic onlookers begin to gather - recognizing him by name. Maverick isn't your average St. Joseph’s volunteer - he's a majestic five- year-old Great Dane, proudly displaying his name tag and...
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Will Heeman and his family

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...
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woman displaying her art

The best call of their lives

Ann and her husband Peter got to know the care providers at the St. Joseph’s very well when their daughter Alice was admitted for inpatient mental health care. The care team kept the family well informed about her progress with constant updates. “They were fabulous,” Ann says. “They always took my calls and would say to me every time, ‘do not give up hope’.”
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Dr. Constance Mackenzie

What causes asthma? DocTalks Podcast Season 4, Episode 26

According to Asthma Canada, asthma is the third most common disease in our nation, affecting more than 3.8 Million people. While there is no one cause or cure for asthma, there are triggers asthma sufferers should avoid and ways to control their condition. On the latest episode of the DocTalks...
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