News & Media

June 2009
Director's Corner: Looking Ahead

We are now at the end of this academic year, and the Neuro has never been stronger. We are ideally poised to build and to renovate, and implement many new and innovative programs over the next few years. There are three main recent reasons that we are in this great position:

1. We received new funding in the form of a federal Centre of Excellence Award, and we have much progress to show already as a direct result of this investment in The Neuro. (More on this next issue in July).

2. We have been independently reviewed at McGill's request, and the Review Committee's conclusions validated our 75 year old conviction that the Institute and Hospital are inseparable, and must continue to grow and expand together. The reviewers benchmarked The Neuro against other internationally recognized neuroscience institutes, and ranked us as one of the top two or three institute/hospitals in the world. They singled out The Neuro's integrated organization as "the ideal situation for true translational research to be nurtured and to progress."

3. Our Development Office and volunteers are doing a spectacular job in attracting donor support for our new programs and facilities.

So, we have amassed a considerable amount of momentum. How will we capitalize on it in the immediate future?

Here are some of my expectations:

We will expand and renovate our University Street site, in the clinic and in research space. We calculate that we have about 250,000 square feet of space on University Street which we can develop.

We will complete construction of The North Wing, which will be a model facility for the integration of compassionate 21st century patient care with state-of-the-art neuroscience research.

We will evolve a logical, cogent, long-range plan for sustaining the integrated Neuro far into the 21st century, either on our present site, or at another well-planned location within the city.

We will continue to develop imaginative programs modeled after our highly successful NeuroEngineering Program, that engages scientists trained in complementary disciplines to collaborate in solving extremely difficult problems in neuroscience.

We will continue to formulate and introduce innovative and creative concepts that, if implemented, would augment nascent outstanding neuroscience activities at the University level. For example, we can foresee the creation of a "Centre for the Advancement of the Neurosciences of McGill University," as well as a Faculty of Neuroscience that would house individual Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and a new Department of Neuroscience.

As always, we will pursue at the highest level the recruitment of scientists and clinicians who enhance our mission.

We will seek out and create new opportunities to inspire young people to select a career in the neurosciences, as well as the more traditional education and training of clinician/neuroscientists. In particular, we will sharply expand our media relationships, including the production of a multi-million dollar IMAX film about the wonders of a neuroscience career, in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada.

There is, as you see, much that is exciting, innovative and creative that we will be developing for The Neuro in the immediate future.

Please send any comments about the Director's Corner to David Colman

Recent News

Martine Alfonso, Administrative Director, Neuroscience mission
Welcome to Martine Alfonso, new Administrative Director of the MUHC’s Neuroscience mission, who will be responsible for the administration of clinical activities at the Neuro, neuroscience activities at the Montreal General Hospital and related ambulatory services. In her previous position at Institut de réadaptation de Montréal, she was head of the Stroke Program, and for the past three years, she co-led the Montreal Stroke Network, an MUHC initiative, with Richard Riopelle. Martine has a BSc in Physical Therapy from McGill and is working on a Masters of Business and Organizational Development at University of Laval.

Martine takes over from Marilyn Kaplow who recently retired from this position.

Newly Tenured Professors and Promotions
Lesley Fellows and Alyson Fournier were promoted to Associate Professor with tenure and Philippe Seguela and Alain Ptito were promoted to full Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Nursing Awards
The MUHC recognized outstanding professionalism, teamwork and patient care during National Nursing Week. Congratulations to these nurses for their achievements and important contributions to the neuroscience mission:
Award for Excellence in Leadership
Rosa Sourial, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Cerebrovascular Program
Awards for Excellence in Nursing Practice
Helen Fong, Staff Nurse 4 Surgery; Melissa Phenix, Staff Nurse, MGH (missing from photo)
Award for Excellence in Nursing Education
Elizabeth Murphy-Lavallée, Nursing Educator, 3 Northeast, 4 Surgery
Award for Excellence for Partner-in-Practice
Jaime Valera, Unit coordinator, 3 South

From left to right: Patricia O'Connor, Helen Fong, Jaime Valera, Rosa Sourial, Katy Agocs (nominee Nursing Practise), Elizabeth Murphy-Lavallée

Upcoming Events

Neurosurgery Fellows Day and William Feindel Lecture, June 5
Neurosurgery residents will present their research on tumour, epilepsy, functional, trauma and peripheral nerve surgery on Friday, June 5 from 8am – 4 pm in the de Grandpré Communications Centre. Line Jacques, Director of the Adult Neurosurgery Residency Training Program, will open the day with welcoming comments. At 4:30 pm, Isabelle Germano, Director of the Stereotaxic and Tumor Program at Mt Sinai School of Medicine (NY) will deliver the William Feindel Lecture, entitled “Gene therapy for malignant astrocytoma: From bench to bedside.” All are welcome to attend this event, which recognizes and honours Bill Feindel contributions to The Neuro and neurosurgery.

National Bank Financial Group donates $500,000 to create a new Post-doctoral Fellowship, June 10
Through a generous donation from the National Bank, the MNI will establish a new post-doctoral fellowship in Experimental Therapeutics. This year’s fellowship is awarded to native Quebecer, Dr. Isabelle Thiffault, a top ranked candidate, working with Dr. Eric Shoubridge. This gift will be announced at a press conference at 11:00 am in the de Grandpré Communications Centre. All are welcome to attend.

Neurology and Neurosurgery Reception, June 18
Neurology and neurosurgery residents who have completed their Royal College exams will be congratulated at a reception on Thursday, June 18 in the Helen Penfield Atrium in the de Grandpré Communications Centre. Directors of the training programs, neurosurgeon Line Jacques and neurologist Jeffrey Minuk will give brief remarks at festivities that begin at 4 pm. All are welcome to attend.

Outstanding results in our Thinking Ahead Campaign
At the recent Campaign Cabinet meeting, Jacques Bougie and Dominic D’Alessandro, Campaign Co-Chairs, announced that the total amount raised to date is over $36 million. This impressive result reflects the efforts of the cabinet members and the deep commitment of individuals, corporations and foundations to the mission of the Neuro.
Thank you to Astral Media, St. Joseph Communications, Lumibus and Mediacity for contributing over $1.3 million of media space to date. This support is critically important for our communications effort to raise public awareness of our outstanding work.

Recent Events

Neurology Day and Donald Baxter Lecture
On June 4, neurology residents presented their research and Michael Aminoff, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Clinic at UC, San Francisco, delivered the Donald Baxter Lecture, entitled “Brown-Sequard: The man and his syndrome”. In honour of Don’s commitment to neurology training and his years of service as Director of the MNI, the Dr. Donald Baxter Book Fund was created. Contributions to the fund can be made online through the Neuro’s website or by contacting the Neuro Development Office.

Congratulations to ...

Marie-Noëlle Hébert-Blouin, a 2008 graduate of the Neurosurgery training program, who was awarded the Cloward Fellowship from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Cushing Fellowship from the Congress of Neurological Surgeons for advanced training.

Director - David R. Colman, PhD
Senior Management - Mark Angle, MD; Phil Barker, PhD; Rob Dunn, PhD; Tom Gevas; Martine Alfonso; Elizabeth Kofron, PhD; Patricia O'Connor; Catherine Rowe; Donatella Tampieri, MD
Neuro News: Elizabeth Kofron, PhD & Sandra McPherson, PhD

Please send any items for the Neuro News to Sandra McPherson or Beth Kofron.