There were moments Dr. Alan Chalil didn’t know if he would become a neurosurgeon, but those were few and far between. Usually, it seemed like he was born to be one, and in many ways, he was. The neurosurgeon, researcher, and Director of The Ottawa Hospital’s Surgical Epilepsy Program knew what he wanted to be… Continue Reading No picnic for his teddy bear: meet neurosurgeon Dr. Alan Chalil

Like father, like son, the saying goes. But Dr. David Grimes was dead set on making his own way in the world of medicine. Son of the much-admired neurologist, Dr. J. David Grimes, he never thought he’d wind up in the same field, let alone studying the same exact disease, as his father — but… Continue Reading Falling into his father’s footsteps: meet neurologist Dr. David Grimes

Dr. Adam Sachs is no stranger to discipline — whether practicing Wing Chun Kung Fu or performing neurosurgery. As Director of Neuromodulation and Functional Neurosurgery and Scientist at The Ottawa Hospital, Dr. Sachs is changing the way we think about the brain through his research into brain-computer interfaces. After studying math and physiology at McGill… Continue Reading Kung Fu and “computers”: meet neurosurgeon Dr. Adam Sachs 

At the start of his career in the mid ’90s, Dr. Tien Le was the only gynecologic oncologist for the entire province of Saskatchewan. Today, he’s one of about 40 gynecologic oncologists in Ontario reshaping gynecologic cancer care. Dividing his time between delivering care to patients and conducting practice-changing research, this academic Gynecologic Oncologist and… Continue Reading Decoding gynecologic cancer research and care: meet Dr. Tien Le

A chance encounter can change a life, or it can change countless lives. When Linda Powers first needed a physiotherapist, it was to help with her knee issues from years of intense cycling. She went on to become a physiotherapist herself, one who teaches people to walk again — among other things — after a… Continue Reading A powerful calling: The physiotherapist teaching people to walk after a stroke

If you ask Yuan Tan if she believes in aliens, she’ll laugh, then give a reasoned response. That balance of reason and whimsy accurately describes the immunology PhD student slash vintage shop owner’s approach to every aspect of her life — from choosing what to study to choosing what to wear.  The 2024 Worton Researcher… Continue Reading Yuan Tan’s research is out of this world (and so are her interests!): meet the recipient of the 2024 Worton Researcher in Training Award

What do crepe dough and the blood of hospitalized patients have in common? Standard practice for both is to make them thinner to prevent lumps — or blood clots. But Dr. Grégoire Le Gal — physician and senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital, and renowned crepe maker in his own home — is investigating whether… Continue Reading Crepes and clots: meet Dr. Grégoire Le Gal, the recipient of the 2024 Chrétien Researcher of the Year Award

Dr. Jay Baltz’s career and the first test-tube baby are about the same age. When the senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital first started in his field, researchers were struggling with a puzzle that was blocking the progress of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Through pioneering research and his work with one of the creators of… Continue Reading A fertile field yields award-winning research: meet Dr. Jay Baltz, winner of the 2024 Dr. J. David Grimes Research Career Achievement Award 

Whether he’s speeding down a mountain on his bike, or snowboard, or administering anesthesia to a patient in the operating room (OR), Dr. Michael Verret is no stranger to making decisions under pressure. Driven by curiosity, the anesthesiologist from Québec City decided to add research to his portfolio by becoming a clinician-scientist.  Dr. Verret recently… Continue Reading Game-time decisions on the hills and in the OR: meet anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Verret, recipient of the 2024 Grimshaw Researcher in Training Award