Celebrating 100 episodes!
Check out the top 10 episodes of Pulse Podcast , handpicked by our amazing host, Shelley McLean!
Dive into groundbreaking stories from The Ottawa Hospital, from next-gen cancer treatments to inspiring patient comebacks.
EPISODE 22
Sportscaster A.J. Jakubec shares his story of 66 days in hospital
TSN 1200 sportscaster A.J. Jakubec had never heard of acute pancreatitis before December 2019. Today, he’s all too familiar with the illness, which can cause life-threatening complications, and is determined to show his gratitude to his hospital heroes who helped save him.
EPISODE 47
Shining the light on mental health
Meet Dr. Jess Fiedorowicz, the Head and Chief of the Department of Mental Health at our hospital.
In this conversation, he explains what attracted him to The Ottawa Hospital from Iowa in 2020, the unique role our hospital plays in mental healthcare in our community, his plans to grow the program, and the impact research will have on patient care.
He also talks about the Life magazine photo that he has carried with him throughout his career.
EPISODE 51
CAR-T: the powerhouse therapy to fight cancer
A made-in-Canada CAR-T therapy clinical trial offers new hope to patients with leukemia or lymphoma. Dr. Natasha Kekre, a hematologist and an associate scientist at The Ottawa Hospital, is leading the development of Canada’s first CAR-T research platform.
In this conversation, Dr. Kekre takes us behind the scenes to learn more about this groundbreaking clinical trial, she discusses the future for CAR-T therapy and whether it could target other cancers one day. She also reflects on what it means to have mentors like Drs. John Bell, Harry Atkins, and Rebecca Auer, and how the world is watching The Ottawa Hospital.
EPISODE 62
Casey Delaney’s remarkable comeback
If you met Casey Delaney today, you’d never know the kindergarten teacher was once in a life-altering accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury and an uncertain future.
Casey and her husband, Scott Labrosse, reflect on the hot summer day in 2018 that changed their lives. They discuss Casey’s extensive injuries, the specialized care she received from our hospital, the neurosurgeon Casey refers to as an angel, and what it was like when Scott heard Casey speak for the first time after the accident. They also share some special news about their future.
EPISODE 79
Kathryn Tremblay and "What's possible?"
Kathryn Tremblay is the CEO and co-founder of Canada’s leading independent staffing firm – Altis Recruitment. In this episode, she discusses her billboard message “What’s possible?” and how that’s shaped her professionally and personally. She also dives into the role philanthropy plays in her life, including her family’s connection to The Ottawa Hospital, and why today she supports the Campaign to Create Tomorrow.
EPISODE 85
Big breakthrough could be coming for most deadly kind of stroke
Dr. Dar Dowlatshahi is a stroke neurologist and senior scientist at our hospital. He is leading the Canadian site of a global research trial that could change how we treat the deadliest and least treatable form of stroke. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with the region’s stroke team to learn more about The Ottawa Hospital’s leading role in this study that could be a gamechanger for bleeding strokes.
Dr. Dowlatshahi also shares what he loves most about his job, what excites him about the future of care at our hospital, and his side project — a rock band. (30:54)
*The number of participants mentioned in the global research study continues to increase after the recording.
EPISODE 89
Unlocking discoveries in ovarian cancer
Meet Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden – a senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital who’s held the inaugural Corinne Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research since 2000.
In this episode, Dr. Vanderhyden talks about why she’s devoted her career to investigating ovarian cancer. You’ll learn about her dedicated team, and find out who are the unofficial members, and the important role they play. Plus, Dr. Vanderhyden shares two critical discoveries they’ve made in the last few years, her deep gratitude for our donors, and how puzzles and mysteries continue to be a part of her life even when she’s not in the lab.
EPISODE 92
RN Phil Nguyen's home away from home
Registered Nurse Phil Nguyen exudes energy — whether he’s caring for patients on 5W in the Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit at the General Campus, teaching the next generation of healthcare workers at uOttawa, or busting a move as a hip-hop dancer.
In this conversation, Phil talks about why he considers The Ottawa Hospital his home away from home. He reveals what he loves most about his job, his special connection with patients, and how his team will go beyond the call of duty to provide compassionate care — he shares one special story in particular. You’ll also find out why it’s not so unusual to find him dancing with his patients.
About Pulse Podcast
Pulse Podcast, hosted by Shelley McLean, will introduce you to the patients, doctors, researchers, and donors of The Ottawa Hospital. You’ll hear how, through their commitment, they are changing the future of medicine through new discoveries, by expanding treatments and improving the patient experience.
It’s these stories that show how crucial your support is to improving patient care and advancing research at The Ottawa Hospital.
For more inspiring episodes, subscribe to Pulse Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.
