News & Media
Neuro News - September 2006
Director's Corner
Opening Comments by Dr. David Colman at the Neuro Convocation on September 18, 2006
Welcome to the 4th convocation of the Neuro.
In 1934, Dr. Penfield, along with just a handful of faculty and staff began here on University Street a great, pioneering experiment. Recognizing how little they knew about curing neurological diseases, Penfield and colleagues set out to create an open research corridor from the patient's bedside to the scientist's lab bench. The purpose of the new institute the MNI was the study of neurological diseases using the most advanced methods possible, and to use the new knowledge to return to the clinic with innovative tools and therapies. They knew that real progress comes, as Sir Gordon Holmes said at the time, "only from courageous adventures into new research territory. The study of the nervous system is the most potent instrument at our service in our lifelong contest with neurological illness and suffering."
Penfield saw to the integration within one building clinics encompassing the finest in patient care, coupled with state of the art research laboratories in neuroscience. He knew that this was not to be a short-term experiment. The Neuro would evolve, grow and build tremendous momentum over the long term.
We are well into the 21st century renaissance of The Neuro.
Today, over 900 faculty, staff, students, fellows, and volunteers, representing almost 90 different countries, come to work here every day. We have accomplished much, but we are not resting. Over this next year you will see us recruit stellar new faculty, and implement new, terrifically exciting programs that will push back the frontiers of neuroscience. We will continue the rapid expansion of our global collaborations in China, India, Europe and South America. We will at long last build and staff a new state-of-the-art brain imaging facility, host world class clinical and scientific meetings, teach highly talented young people, and continue to provide the best in care for our patients. We will do all this with our McGill and MUHC partners, and with the strong support of our faculty, staff, volunteers and donors.
Today, we begin our academic year by honouring a wonderful group of people who have contributed so much to the success of The Neuro.
Dr. Abraham Fuks, who has been Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for the past 11 years, and without whom we would not have been able to develop and expand our faculty. Drs. André Olivier - a world-class neurosurgeon, Fred Andermann, the best - and best known - expert in epilepsy on the planet. Dr. Stirling Carpenter, a great contributor to the field of neuropathology, Dr. Leonard Ellen, a key volunteer and MNI Board Member, and the Friends of The Neuro - the most dedicated group of hospital volunteers I have ever met.
The chairs you see up front are the gifts to our honourees. Each is embellished with Penfield's design for the lobby ceiling down the hall. In the center is Aries, the ram, the sign of the Zodiac that represents a pioneering spirit, leadership, and the strength and courage to go into the wilderness. In the quadrants are the hieroglyphs that were the first written depiction of the brain. Surrounding all is the quote in Greek from Galen who contradicted Hippocrates' view that any wound to the brain must of necessity be fatal. Galen declared: "But I have seen a severely wounded brain healed," and so a critically important idea was born - that the nervous system can be repaired.
Finally, I recently re-read "Illness as Metaphor," a book by Susan Sontag written in 1979. It is a book about tuberculosis and about cancer, but the opening paragraph is universally true
"Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place." Sontag goes on to paint quite an isolated, lonely picture of illness, which must in some measure have been based on her own experiences as a cancer patient.
But that isolation is not true here. When one must use that other passport at the Neuro, one is not alone. The Friends of the Neuro greet and orient, inform and follow each patient, who is then cared for by health care professionals and support staff who are unmatched in the world in their generosity of spirit and commitment to the original mission of this place.
Thanks for coming to The Neuro today, and I hope you enjoy the Program.
Please send any comments about the Director's Corner to David Colman
Recent News & Events
Neuro Convocation and Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Neuro celebrated the third annual Convocation to honour the
contributions of neurologist Dr. Fred Andermann, neuropathologist Dr.
Stirling Carpenter, Advisory Board member Mr. Leonard Ellen and
neurosurgeon Dr. André Olivier. David Colman used this occasion to thank
Dr. Abe Fuks, departing Dean of Medicine; to welcome Dr. Richard Levin, new
Vice Principal and Dean of Medicine; and to recognize the years of quiet
service provided by the many Friends of the Neuro.
Presenting Dr. Andermann, neurologist Dr. François Dubeau highlighted his leadership as Director of the Epilepsy Service, brilliant diagnostician and mentor to epilepsy specialists around the world. Dr. George Karpati, MNI's expert in neuromuscular diseases, presented his colleague Dr. Stirling Carpenter who is a noted neuropathologist, known for his seminal observations in many diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mr. Morton Brownstein presented his friend, Mr. Leonard Ellen, by acknowledging his importance to the community as a leader in business and community service, which included years of service on the Neuro’s Advisory Board. Neurosurgeon Dr. Gilles Bertrand presented Dr. André Olivier who is known for his expertise in the surgical treatment of epilepsy, his leadership of the neurosurgery and his skill on the trumpet. On behalf of the Friends of the Neuro, Mrs. Nancy Wright and Mrs. Tony Newman accepted thanks from Mrs. Joy Shannon who highlighted the origins and contributions of the group to the Neuro.
Convocation reminds us that the success of the Neuro is built through the combined efforts of the extended Neuro community. It was a pleasure to celebrate with the friends and families of our awardees as we recognized their contributions to the Neuro.
Fred Andermann named Officer of the Order of Canada
Fred Andermann joined the illustrious ranks of Officer of the Order of
Canada this summer for his important work in the diagnosis and treatment of
epilepsy. During his distinguished career as Director of the Epilepsy
Service at the Neuro, Dr. Andermann has led a multidisciplinary team and
trained fellows from more than 15 countries who have gone on to establish
epilepsy services around the world. Fred’s research resulted in a better
understanding of many epileptic-form disorders. In collaboration with his
wife, Dr. Eva Andermann, he identified a degenerative neurological disease,
now known as Andermann's syndrome, which affects people in the Saguenay and
Charlevoix regions of Quebec. The recipient of many honours and prizes, Dr.
Andermann has brought much international recognition to the epilepsy
program at the Neuro.
Neuro response to the Dawson College tragedy
Our sympathy is extended to all those touched by the shootings at Dawson
College. Neuro clinicians who were part of the comprehensive response
expressed their great sorrow for the victims and their families, and their
admiration for the caring demonstrated by all who helped. On the day of the
incident, a Code Orange was initiated at the Neuro and at other MUHC
hospitals that prepared to receive patients. Nurses and surgeons from the
Neuro stood by for transfer to the Montreal General Hospital (MGH), and
several neurosurgical residents were deployed there. Dr. Jeff Hall,
neurosurgeon, and Patty O'Connor, Associate Director of Nursing,
Neuroscience, from the Neuro served on the MGH Crisis Centre response team.
Upcoming Events
Star struck guest
Dr. Miguel Roth, father of MNI post doctoral fellow Alejandro Roth (Colman
lab) and Director of the Carnegie Las Campanas Observatory, Chile, will
give a lecture "Astronomy for Biologists (Neuro, Molecular and others): A
view from Chile" on Wednesday, September 27 at noon in the de Grandpre
Communications Centre. All are welcome to attend this stellar lecture.
Unique foundation meets at the MNI
The MNI will host the annual meeting of the Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF)
in early October. Established in 2004, the MRF funds research in five
laboratories across North America and has created a unique, collaborative,
virtual 'mega-lab' focused on a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS). At the
MNI, Director Dave Colman's group shares research techniques and findings
with labs in Chicago, Cleveland and California in order to better
understand the normal development of myelin and how this critically
important nerve fibre sheath is broken down in MS. By joining these labs in
a shared mission, the MRF aims to shorten the time from basic science
discovery to treatment for this disease.
Benefit Concert for MS research October 11
Montreal jazz performer and songwriter, John Labelle, will perform at Le
Lion D'Or (1676 Ontario East) to raise money for research into Multiple
Sclerosis, a disease that John was diagnosed with 11 years ago. Tickets are
$25 and can be purchased online at www.admission.com or by phone at
514-790-1245. For more information please visit the MS Society of Canada,
Quebec Division website at http://www.mssociety.ca/qc/JohnLabelleEN.htm.
Importance of genetic testing
What will your children inherit? On October 17, the MNI will host "Genetic
Diseases: The power of prevention" at 7:30 pm in the Jeanne Timmins
Amphitheatre. Dr. Tony Futerman, from the Weizmann Institute in Israel,
will be the featured speaker at this free public lecture. Dr. Charles
Scriver, McGill University, and Dr. Annette Feigenbaum, University of
Toronto, will also present information about Tay Sachs, Canavan, Gaucher
and Thalessimia, and the importance of testing. Mr. Denis Fiset, a
Francophone Quebecois parent, will speak about his family’s tragic
experience with Tay Sachs.
Dorothy J. Killam Lecture and Gairdner Foundation Program October
24, 2006
The Gairdner Foundation's 2006 Montreal program is partnered with the MNI's
Dorothy J. Killam Lecture. The program will start at 2:00 pm at the Centre
Mont-Royal (2200, rue Mansfield). Lectures will be presented by 2006
Gairdner Award laureates Thomas Pollard of Yale University (Molecular basis
of cellular mobility & cytokinesis) and Ralph Brinster of University of
Pennsylvania (Germline modification). Linda Buck, Nobel Prize in Physiology
or Medicine 2004 and Gairdner Laureate 2003 of the Howard Hughes Medical
Research Institute in Seattle, WA, USA will deliver the Dorothy J. Killam
Lecture entitled "Odor and pheromone sensing in mammals".
McGill Neurology Conferences (Fridays from 8:30-9:30
am)
These conferences are planned and scheduled by Dr. Liam Durcan.
September 29 Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre, MNI/H
Parkin’ in Traffic: New Clues About the Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease
Ted Fon, MNI/H
October 13 Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre, MNI/H
Tomas Paus, MNI/H & University of Nottingham
The Neuro Family
Darlene Desjardins, from the Neuro's Nursing Office, faced more than she bargained for recently. Watching the car in front of her swerve off the highway and into a ditch, she stopped, pulled the driver out of the car and witnessed him having what appeared to be a seizure. When she offered more help, the man said "sugar" and her daughter quickly found a chocolate pudding cup in her school bag. After he recovered from a diabetic episode, the man was upset about seeing his car in the ditch - Darlene knew he was lucky to be alive. Darlene reflects, "I managed to react in a real-life situation very quickly and I'm convinced it's because of all the years of witnessing our professionals in action at the Neuro. I have the highest respect for all of you and I'm glad I can say I saved a life."
Darlene Desjardins, Nursing Office Payroll Clerk, has worked at the Neuro since 1991, providing administrative support in many departments.
Congratulations to …
George Karpati who was recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Federation of Neurology (International Congress of on Neuromuscular Disease).
Clinical Nurse Specialists Yasmin Khalili (Brain Tumor Foundation Award, in honour of Pamela Del Maestro RN, BSc) and Toni Vitale (Codman Award) who received awards from the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nursing.
Edward Ruthazer who was awarded March of Dimes Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Award.
Best wishes to …
Rosemond Agoh Gyimah, evening chef in the Neuro Café, who jumped to safety from her burning apartment in early September and sustained serious injuries. We wish Rose a rapid recovery.
Condolences to ...
To the family and friends of Donald Smith Wells (1935 – 2006) MNI Advisory Board Member, who passed away in August.
Director - David R. Colman, PhD
Senior Management - Mark Angle, MD; Tom Gevas; Marilyn Kaplow; Elizabeth
Kofron, PhD; Patricia O'Connor; Catherine Rowe
MNI Bulletin Editors: Elizabeth Kofron, PhD & Sandra McPherson,
PhD
Please send any items for the MNI Bulletin to Sandra McPherson or Beth Kofron.
