Faculty of Medicine Experts in the News: Week of January 23
Friday, January 27, 2012
- Dr. Michael Vassilyadi, associate professor with the Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, made international headlines throughout the week for his study on the use of children’s helmets during winter activities. Tobogganing and skiing are some of the leading causes in concussions seen by doctors in the emergency room.
Dr. Vassilyadi concluded that hockey helmets should be worn by children while tobogganing, and continues to conduct tests on hockey, bicycle and alpine skiing helmets to determine their sufficiency. To date, the ice hockey helmet was found to be most protective at lower-velocity impacts and the bicycle helmet at high-velocity impacts.
- Dr. William Dalziel, associate professor in the Department of Medicine, provided commentary on Alzheimer’s and dementia to the Ottawa Sun. A new Hollywood film on the life of Margaret Thatcher features scenes of the former British prime minister suffering from Alzheimer’s later in life, which has highlighted the disorder among the public. Dr. Dalziel calls Alzheimer’s “the most common type of dementia”, adding “Dementia is a large umbrella term that boils down to when someone is cognitively changed compared to themselves a year ago and when those changes have caused functional impairment.”
- Actor Michael J. Fox spoke about his 20 year battle with Parkinson’s disease at the annual Ontario Hospital Association conference and Dr. David Park, one of Canada’s most prominent Parkinson’s researchers, was featured in the media along with Fox.
The Hollywood actor has been an outspoken advocate for progress in the fight against Parkinson’s as researchers continue to improve treatments and advance in their knowledge of the disease. “Michael J. Fox has been incredible for the worldwide effort against PD,” said Dr. Park, professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. “He brought tremendous visibility and energy to the cause.”
- Local Ottawa man Len Kretzel has been campaigning for CPR courses in seniors’ centres and is receiving support from the Ottawa Paramedic Service and Dr. Christian Vaillancourt, associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine. Kretzel argues that a high rate of heart attack victims are seniors and knowledge of CPR by their spouses or peers will increase the numbers of lives that could potentially be saved. “He does have an excellent cause and an excellent point,” said Dr. Vaillancourt. “It would be innovative.”