News & Media

Director's Corner

Reflecting on the tragedy that befell the Wright family last week, we are reminded of the invaluable gifts of time and inspiration volunteers like Jim and Nancy make to the organizations they choose to help. Nancy, long-time Friend of The Neuro and tireless supporter, was injured in an explosion at her family’s country home this past weekend. Recuperating well from her own injuries, Nancy is suffering the loss of her husband, Jim, and young friend, Meriem Maza, who were killed in that accident.

Nancy and Jim filled their lives and touched a broad community with enthusiastic and constant work on behalf of others, from Nancy’s dedication to help patients and their families at the Neuro, to Jim’s efforts to sustain McGill’s excellence in teaching and research. They helped us to see how much we are enriched by the work of volunteers; our most important organizations would not thrive without them. We can think of no substitute for the selfless dedication of volunteers nor find an adequate way to acknowledge the important work they do.

We can only thank our volunteers and reflect on their fundamental contribution to our success. At the deepest level, our community is built and strengthened by quiet, consistent and caring volunteers, and that is probably our most valuable asset. When they in turn need our support and compassion, it is only then that we acutely realize how much they form the heart of our great institutions.

Along with friends and family, we will mourn Jim and the young scholar, Meriem Maza. We look forward to Nancy’s return to the Neuro, and will welcome her back into that fantastic group of individuals who are our volunteers. Beth Kofron, Associate Director Please send any comments about the Director's Corner to David Colman

Recent News & Events

MNI and the Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem Honouring a long standing collaboration, MNI neurologists Frederick Andermann, Jack Antel, Doug Arnold and George Karpati attended the 70th anniversary symposium at the Department of Neurology, Hadassah University Medical Center held this summer.

Funds for epilepsy research
In memory of Maxime Vilandre who died of a rare form of epilepsy, the Vilandre family presented $8560 to MNI neurologist Fred Andermann for epilepsy research. Their community of Rouyn-Noranda responded generously to their second annual fundraising initiative.

Upcoming events

Thinking Ahead Campaign Cabinet Launch, October 1
Business and community leaders who have generously agreed to serve on the MNI’s Thinking Ahead Campaign Cabinet will be introduced by Co-Chairs Jacques Bougie, former President and CEO of Alcan Aluminium Inc. and Dominic D’Alessandro, President and CEO of Manulife Financial. All are welcome to meet this illustrious team on October 1 at 10:30 a.m. in the MNI’s Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre. Come find out why ‘Grey Matters.’ For information and to RSVP, contact Giovanna Caraffa before September 24 at 514 398-8825 or Giovanna Caraffa.

Seminars and Lectures For information on MNI seminars and lectures, including the Killam Seminars, BIC Seminar Series and McGill Neurology Conferences, see MNI web calendar.

Tony Proudfoot Fund at the Walk for ALS, September 16
This summer former Alouette Allstar and CJAD 800 Sports Broadcaster Tony Proudfoot announced that he has ALS, and created the Tony Proudfoot Fund to support of research at the Montreal Neurological Institute and the ALS Society of Quebec. Team Proudfoot asks you to join them in the annual Walk for ALS on September 16. For information, please visit the ALS website.

Liam Durcan at “McGill Reads”, September 26
MNI neurologist Liam Durcan will discuss his new novel, Garcia's Heart at McGill Reads, the McGill Alumni Association book club, on September 26. For information, please visit the McGill Alumni website.

ALS Symposium, October 4-5
The third annual ALS symposium, sponsored by the André Delambre Foundation, will be October 4-5 in the MNI’s Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre. More than 20 international experts will discuss causes and therapeutic perspectives on ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This symposium for students and researchers is free but registration is required. For information, please visit the Fondation André Delambre website.

MNI’s Golf Tournament, October 10
The Annual MNI Golf Tournament will be at the Royal Montreal Club on October 10. Honorary Chairman, Larry Smith, President and CEO of the Montreal Alouettes, welcomes golfers to raise funds for the Neuro-Patient Resource Centre, the Neuro-Palliative Care Program and other new initiatives. To register for a fun day of golf or for the post match dinner, please visit our website.

Congratulations to …..

Amit Bar-Or, Edward Fon, and Andrea Bernasconi who were promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.

Alain Beaudet, FRSQ President and CEO and former MNI professor, who was named Officer of the L’ordre des Palmes Academiques for fostering scientific exchange between France and Quebec.

Sandra Leh, graduate student with Alain Ptito, who won Le Prix Réseau Vision de mars 2007 from the Le Réseau de recherche en santé de la vision.

Marie-Noëlle Hébert-Blouin, Walter Wittich, Arundhati Biswas and Alya Hasan, neurosurgical Fellows who received awards for best presentations at MNI’s June Fellows Day.

Kitty Toye, Assistant Head Nurse 3 South, who won the 2007 Marjorie Smith Foundation Bursary for Nursing Studies from the Zonta Club of Montreal.

Condolences to friends and family of …..

Joseph Stratford, retired neurosurgeon, who died in France in July after a brief illness. Joe earned his MD degree from McGill in 1947 and Master’s degree while working at the MNI. After teaching at the University of Saskatchewan, he returned to the Montreal General Hospital in 1962 as Head of the Division of Neurosurgery, where he and Neurologist-in-Chief Don Baxter established a 30-bed neurological and neurosurgical ward with a dedicated intensive care unit – a first in Canada. Stratford was named Medical Director of the McGill-MGH Pain Centre in 1986, retired from neurosurgical practice in 1995 and received the MGH Award of Merit in 2000. Dr. Stratford was known as a wonderful clinical teacher who showed great compassion for his patients. A memorial service will be held in Montreal this fall.

Jim Wright, husband of dedicated MNI volunteer Nancy Wright, retired lawyer and community volunteer, who died in an explosion at his country home in the Laurentians in September. Jim graduated from McGill in 1965 and completed his law degree at the University of Laval. He was known for his service to McGill University as Governor of the Board, and for his active participation in the community, serving two terms as Westmount city councillor. Since 1993 Jim was Director of the Sauvé Scholars Program, and graciously opened his home and family life to these young international scholars.

Jacob Chandy, distinguished alumnus of the MNI, known as India’s first neurosurgeon and a leading figure in Indian medical education for over forty years, who died in India in June. Dr. Chandy received his medical training at the Madras Medical College. He was a Fellow in Neurosurgery at the MNI for three years under Drs. Wilder Penfield, William Cone and Arthur Elvidge and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Chicago with Theodore Rasmussen, who succeeded Penfield as MNI Director. In 1949, Dr. Chandy established India’s first Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Christian Medical College and Hospital in Vellore, modeled on the MNI, and sent key members of his team to train at the MNI including J.C. Jacob and G.M. Taori in Neurology; Sushil Chandi in Neuropathology; and Elizabeth Mammen and S. Sarojini in Neurosurgical Nursing. In 1957 Dr. Penfield visited Vellore to lay the foundation stone of a new building. Dr. Chandy was Founder and President of the Neurological Society of India. His son, Mathew, also a neurosurgeon, is a former MNI Fellow and was Head of the Department of Neurosurgery founded by his father. For more information on the life and contributions of Dr. Chandy, please follow this link

Director - David R. Colman, PhD
Senior Management - Mark Angle, MD; Tom Gevas; Marilyn Kaplow; Elizabeth Kofron, PhD; Patricia O'Connor; Catherine Rowe
Neuro News Editors: Elizabeth Kofron, PhD & Sandra McPherson, PhD

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