The not-so-hidden talents of our MUHC health care professionals

This week on Health Matters, Tarah Schwartz and Denise Vourtzoumis discuss this year’s edition of Raise Craze in support of metastatic breast cancer research. Dr. Miguel Burnier explains a study investigating better eye care for cancer patients. Dr. Elena Netchiporouk details a website to help dermatology students succeed. And, did you know many health care professionals at the MUHC have hidden talents? Learn about MUHC’s Got Talent with physician and guitarist Dr. David Hornstein. 

Cette semaine à Questions de santé, Tarah Schwartz et Denise Vourtzoumis discutent de l’activité Raise Craze de cette année pour appuyer la recherche sur le cancer du sein métastatique. Le Dr Miguel Burnier présente une étude portant sur de meilleurs soins de la vue pour les patients atteints de cancer. La Dre Elena Netchiporouk parle d’un site Web pour favoriser la réussite des étudiants en dermatologie. Et saviez-vous que de nombreux professionnels de la santé au CUSM ont des talents cachés? Apprenez-en davantage sur l’événement Le CUSM a du talent auprès du Dr David Hornstein, médecin et guitariste.

Transcript

Tarah Schwartz: 0:00

Hi there. Thank you for joining us. I'm Tarah Schwartz and this is Health Matters on CJAD 800. On today's show, many of us have a loved one who has or is currently living with cancer. Many cancer patients have issues with their vision while they're undergoing treatments. We speak with a researcher who is conducting a study that will help improve eye care for cancer patients. Plus, many of our MUHC health care workers have hidden talents, we discuss an upcoming concert that will showcase their skills. But to begin, we are so fortunate to work with many partners in Montreal and Quebec who fundraise for the MUHC Foundation and support excellence in health care at the MUHC. You may have heard of Pink in the City who have held events and raised tens of thousands of dollars in support of breast cancer patients at the MUHC. Denise Vourtzoumis is the president of Pink in the City and she joins us now. Hi, Denise.

Denise Vourtzoumis: 0:59

Hi, Tarah, thank you so much for having me on today.

Tarah Schwartz: 1:02

It's so lovely to speak with you again. So let's go back a bit. When was the first Pink in the City event?

Denise Vourtzoumis: 1:10

So our first Pink in the City event started in 2012. When I say event, I'm referring to the gala type of event. But the first shave happened in 2006.

Tarah Schwartz: 1:28

That is what we're talking about Pink in the City and Raise Craze. Basically, people get together, they cut off significant amounts of their hair or shave their head completely. And they raise money for breast cancer research. So how did this all begin? Six, seven years ago now?

Denise Vourtzoumis: 1:48

It started really with just one shave. And like I mentioned it was in 2006. It is really something powerful to shave or cut, especially in honor of someone special. And back then it was just a simple request that came up with Lawrence, my youngest. It really started with that. And so that first year $1600 was raised, which we topped it to 2000 for the Shave to Save that was happening at the time. After that, it really started a whole annual thing where we had young students and the teachers and our friends and family that just joined the challenge. And we continued to raise money by shaving. It was really remarkable. So for about 10 years, we were doing that.

Tarah Schwartz: 2:48

It's really a popular event every year. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. You do your Raise Craze, the hair shaving in October. Why was it important for you to support breast cancer patients and research?

Denise Vourtzoumis: 3:09

A good community has the best interests of everyone at heart with selfless volunteers and in pushing for actions that can really save lives. Every parent is a role model. Every individual that has an opportunity to just simply get involved and make someone's quality of life better, is really important. It's a call to the community to get involved and create campaigns where they can bring us back to understanding how important volunteerism and community outreach is in the community. So what better way than to set the example for every age, that you're never too young or never too old to raise awareness, funds and participate to be that example we need and the involvement from our community to continue and share that special message. It really touches our hearts and especially when we hear all of the stories. With the shaving, someone is shaving because they do have someone in mind. Someone that was really special to them, and they're keeping their memory alive. Or for someone that's fighting the fight and it really is a single act of kindness. And really...

Tarah Schwartz: 4:42

it's lovely. I wonder how you encourage people, though, Denise. We're speaking with Denise Vourtzoumis. We're talking about this year's Raise Craze, which is shaving your hair off to raise money for breast cancer research. How do you encourage people to get involved because it's no small thing shaving off your hair?

Denise Vourtzoumis: 4:58

No, exactly. We encourage corporations, organizations, the schools, families, and, our Raise Craze is coming up in October. We have a full personal fundraising page sign up that the MUHC has put together. That means that anyone can sign up before the shave. Or if someone doesn't want to shave and wants to cut their hair that can happen as well. By doing that, we're really creating this buzz in the community and really encouraging each other. There's the fundraising that comes with it. Any amount is really a good amount.

Tarah Schwartz: 5:56

Last year, it was a really exciting Raise Craze, because we focused on one doctor one breast cancer specialist, Dr. Meterissian. We started off with a goal, I think it was of like $5000 or $10,000, Denise, and we ended up raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Breast Cancer Wellness Center. But this year, we're raising money for breast cancer research, which is a wonderful thing. Tell us a little bit about why you decided to continue to focus on breast cancer research this year?

Denise Vourtzoumis: 6:27

Well, it's really important that when we're working with our partner, with the MUHC and the Breast Clinic, it's important to identify, where can we help? Where can we fundraise that will be a value to the MUHC? And metastatic breast cancer has been coming up often. Where there are a lot of funds that are being raised for breast cancer, but what can we do for metastatic breast cancer. With this study that's being done by Dr. Burnier and Dr. Meterissian; it's definitely going to give an opportunity to be able to monitor the progression and with the diagnosis be able to take action before it's too late. So, obviously, I'm not the expert on that. But we'll definitely be having some podcasts where Dr. Burnier is going to be sharing with us the details of the study.

Tarah Schwartz: 7:40

If you do want to get involved, if you want to shave your head for the MUHC Foundation and Pink in the City's Raise Craze, as Denise mentioned, you can go to MUHC Foundation dot com. And that's where you can sign up. If you're feeling particularly courageous or philanthropic this year, and you want to do something for breast cancer research. That's where you can begin to take part. I've thought about it, Denise, I've gone back and forth a couple of times thinking oh, can I do it? Or can I not do it? I haven't. I haven't found my right year yet. Maybe it'll be this year, I'm not sure. But you also have the Pink in the City gala coming up. Tell us a little bit about that.

Denise Vourtzoumis: 8:12

That's right. After three years, really the last one was in 2019. But of course everything was on hold with the entire pandemic. Our gala is coming up on October the 21st at the Embassy Plaza. First of all, this is our opportunity to celebrate our community. But really celebrate the accomplishments of what has been done and celebrate our survivors. On that particular evening, we will be honoring Dr. Meterissian for his remarkable work that he has done in the community. So we're really, really excited to be planning this event and hopefully we will get to see many of the community members that have been involved with our past events after dinner fundraiser.

Tarah Schwartz: 9:10

Denise Vourtzoumis the President of Pink in the City, we're talking about Raise Craze, where you shave off your hair and money gets raised for breast cancer research. What keeps you so passionate about this subject, Denise all these years of working on this event and staying true to Raise Craze? What keeps you going?

Denise Vourtzoumis: 9:28

When I think of all the people that have been impacted, and we all have people in our circles that have been impacted. Survival rates for breast cancer have thankfully increased dramatically, thanks to dedicated volunteers and involvement in the community, sponsors, donors. Our aim and really my aim is to get as many people as possible involved in raising awareness and funds. We really can't do that alone. To witness such significant change and impact from our contributions in the community has really made a remarkable difference for me and on things that matter the most. Our survivors have really made me especially proud. These are individuals that have been faced with so much, and just are so resilient. And, I always say that it's incredible to see the resilience. If they can get up and go and proceed and move on and especially after a diagnosis. Imagine what a healthy community can do when we are healthy and we get involved. So I think it's important.

Tarah Schwartz: 11:01

Yeah, it's beautiful, beautifully put. And I think it's a wonderful place to pause for the moment, as you mentioned, we'll be talking more about Raise Craze because it's coming up in October. But Denise, I want to thank you for your time today for your commitment to Raise Craze. I'm sure it's going to be a wonderful event again this year. So if you'd like to take part, if you'd like to shave your head for Raise Craze at the MUHC Foundation. If you're feeling philanthropic, if you feel like you're ready to get rid of your hair, just head to MUHC Foundation dot com, and you'll see a link to the event on the homepage. Denise, thank you so much for your time today.

Denise Vourtzoumis: 11:30

Thank you, Tarah. And thanks again for having me share our story and what's coming up next.

Tarah Schwartz: 11:37

Absolutely. Next up on the show, learn about a study that will help improve eye care for patients undergoing cancer treatments. I'm Tarah Schwartz. Welcome back to Health Matters on CJAD 800. Donations to the MUHC Foundation are instrumental in helping innovative projects and studies at the MUHC and the Research Institute of the MUHC. The Mike and Valeria Rosenbloom Foundation made a major contribution in support of Dr. Miguel Burnier's research. This$500,000 gift will fund a project aimed at improving eye care for cancer patients. Dr. Burnier is an ophthalmologist and a senior scientist at the Research Institute of the MUHC and he joins us now. Hello, Dr. Burnier, how are you today?

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 12:25

Hello Tarah, how are you? It's always a great pleasure and honor to talk to you.

Tarah Schwartz: 12:29

The pleasure is always mine. I always love speaking with you. So let's begin with how can cancer treatments impact eye health? Because I don't think we often make that connection between a diagnosis of cancer and what it can do to the eyes?

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 12:42

It is a great question. As you know and How many cancer patients tend to develop eye issues during most people know cancer is a major public health problem in North America. And around the world. Cancer care has greatly improved and the quality of life of patients has also improved with treatment. But vision is considered one of the most important aspects of quality of life in these cancer patients. Cancer treatment may lead to ocular signs and symptoms, including affecting visual acuity. The early recognition of the side effects is important to minimize ocular manifestations, and to improve quality of life throughout the treatment. We have seen oncology patients, particularly with dry eyes and inflammation, and they need to be seen and they need to be taken care of. treatments? Is it a large number? It's a very large number. And in the literature, there is between 30% up to 60% of patients receiving chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. And of course, the majority is just mild ocular symptoms; particularly dryness, but we have to see them to rule out major ocular symptoms.

Tarah Schwartz: 13:56

So tell us about this specialized eye care program, Dr. Burnier?

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 14:00

We are very, very excited. The program studies ocular findings in patients undergoing cancer treatment. We perform a complete ophthalmologic examination those patients. In patients particular receiving cancer treatments like radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of both. And we try to diagnose any mild, moderate or severe ocular event. If cancer patients already have many appointments to attend, we thought would be ideal for them to be seen at the same Center for Innovative Medicine on the same day. In the end, I think that's crucial. On the same day, as either they have appointments in oncology for treatment or for consultation. Being able to see our patients at the same time allow us to see them in a timely manner and to ensure a safe distance environment for them, rather than to have to sit in a crowded clinic. Our ophthalmological unit at the CIM is very, very elite ophthalmological room with machines that are state of the art, like the Clarus Wide Field Camera. And all of them have the great advantage, this is what the patients liked the most- it does not touch the patient's eyes. This was and continues to be extremely important due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tarah Schwartz: 15:15

Yeah, that makes sense. And I love that you mentioned that we're speaking with Dr. Miguel Burnier, senior scientist at the Research Institute at the MUHC we're talking about improving eye care for cancer patients. Dr. Burnier, I want to ask you this. So if someone is being treated for cancer at the MUHC, how do they know to get in touch with the CIM and you and your colleagues? Do they speak to their oncologist about it and say, Listen, I was hearing that my eyes can become a problem during treatments, I want to make sure that it's not an issue. How does that connection get made?

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 15:45

The connection already made because of the program with the oncologists know and they refer the patients to us. And we have a specific part of our team taking care of the oncology program exclusively. And they make the appointments and are coordinated with the appointments at the oncology clinic. And they all go to the CIM and it's in a timely manner that they never have to wait that much. And it's a very individual appointment at the CIM which is great. And when we describe that at our Association for Research in Vision Ophthalmology- ARVO meeting- two years ago, we were awarded with the hot topic of our eye research that team because of this particular way we've seen the cancer patients. It made us very proud.

Tarah Schwartz: 16:33

And what have you been hearing from the patients that you're seeing? They must appreciate what you're doing and the help that you're providing? Tell us about some of the responses from patients.

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 16:42

The first 200 patients we saw actually have a little questionnaire. And we asked them specific questions about how they feel. I think one important thing is the fact that the appointment coincides with the appointment in all areas of the hospital. Number two, no waiting period, they just come in, are seen in a very rapid way. But the most important answer was, it was wonderful. Nobody touched my eyes, the machines don't touch my eyes. And most of them don't have to be dilated. Because the machines are now so modern, that they can see the retina in the interior of the eye without having to dilate the pupil.

Tarah Schwartz: 17:21

You talk about these incredible pieces of equipment that don't touch the eyes, that are able to see so far into the eye and all these different problems that can cure. You've been working with eyes for so long. What's it like for you to have seen how far medicine and technology has come in improving and treating eye care?

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 17:39

It is amazing, amazing, amazing. The number of machines we have today, and the examples are many all CT's and different types of retinal visualizations, different types of cornea typography. Even the way we now check for glasses and all this, is a completely different story. For the last 20 years, the machinery and equipment that we have has been really transformed the way we see the eyes. Again it is a patient-centric research protocol. And we are there just to help the patients and do for them the way we should do with minimal discomfort and get the right diagnosis.

Tarah Schwartz: 18:24

I love the idea of patient-centric treatment. As you said, it's the way it should be. I was wondering, how long you've been practicing medicine. How long have you been studying eyes and working with eyes? Because I said it's been such a long time but I don't know actually.

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 18:37

I came from the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, to McGill University, a little while ago, 1993. Almost 30 years ago as the chair of the department. And I was the chair of the department for 15 years. I continue to practice the same way. And one thing I'm going to say, because of my contact to the students and I'm very grateful to them all sorts of students and all levels. I am able to continue to have the same ideals of when I graduated from medical school. Exactly the same ideals, which patients come first. Patients come second. Patients come third and patients are the center of our healthcare system. Not as the doctor. Everything is for the patients.

Tarah Schwartz: 19:26

That's so beautiful. What keeps you so excited and passionate about what you do? Where does that come from?

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 19:34

I'm going to say two things. One is medicine is my life. Medicine gave me and made whoever I am, and whatever qualities I have, I owe to medicine. And second, imagine this. It's one of the rare occasions that even my wife thinks that I'm very cool and very good. In medicine inside the hospital, I'm a disaster in the kitchen, I'm a disaster driving the car, I'm a disaster in other areas. But in medicine and inside the hospital, even my wife thinks that I'm very cool. And there's another thing. Sophia, my granddaughter who is nine, certainly thinks that I'm the best doctor in the world.

Tarah Schwartz: 20:16

I believe it. I believe it.

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 20:21

I was born to be a doctor and medicine is everything to me.

Tarah Schwartz: 20:25

It's beautiful. We're speaking with the best doctor in the world according to nine-year-old, Sophia. Dr. Miguel Burnier, senior scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center. We're talking about eye care for cancer patients. So this program that you've just been telling us about was supported by the Mike and Valeria Rosenbloom Foundation. $500,000 donation to the MUHC Foundation. How does philanthropy, Dr. Burnier, help support programs like the one you've just been telling us about?

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 20:54

Thank you for the question and to give me the opportunity to tell you how grateful we are from the support of Michael and Valeria Rosenbloom Foundation to this work. This is extremely important to me and our team. And my team is composed of researchers, clinical fellows, medical students, graduate students. Our patients are benefiting a great deal from the study, in receiving personalized care as needed. And the end results that we hope to achieve. Our students are also benefiting from the experience, the training in the specialized equipment that we have, and of course, the opportunity to interact with the teams at the MUHC like oncology, and our patients. We really hope to help to educate the new generation of clinician scientists who are ophthalmologists in academic centers, helping the special needs of patients in oncology. And the patient-centric nature of our research is the most important characteristic. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the support were receiving from the Mike and Valeria Rosenbloom Foundation, we could not do it without them. And I'm going to tell something to that's written at the CIM in the mission statement of our unit. We don't do research as an intellectual exercise. We do research because there is a patient at the end of the day. And I'm very proud that all my team and all my students of all levels, they really believe in those words.

Tarah Schwartz: 22:19

Well, I think it's very, very clear that you believe in them very deeply. Dr. Miguel Burnier, thank you so much for joining us on the show. It's always a pleasure to speak with you.

Dr. Miguel Burnier: 22:29

It was a pleasure and an honor. And you're wonderful. And thank you very much, for what do you do for us. Very important work, Tarah. Thank you.

Tarah Schwartz: 22:36

Thank you so much. Dr. Burnier. Next up on Health Matters, a new project helping medical students identify hard to diagnose skin diseases. I'm Tarah Schwartz and this is Health Matters. There are many different skin diseases that can impact our health. But what if there was a resource for dermatology students to be able to see different kinds of skin conditions to help doctors diagnose them? Dr. Elena Netchiporouk is working on a website that will do just that. She's a junior investigator at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center. Thank you so much for joining us today.

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 23:15

Thank you very much for having me.

Tarah Schwartz: 23:17

Dr. Netchiporouk, what inspired you to pursue dermatology? What was the interest there?

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 23:23

I think dermatology is fascinating, for many reasons, but primarily because we actually are so lucky to see individuals from any age, from babies to elderly. We can also treat many different diseases such as cancer, infections, genetics, etc. So we're always engaged intellectually, by the conditions and the patient that we see. And this, I think, is the reason why I chose dermatology.

Tarah Schwartz: 23:49

And how many different kinds of skin... maybe you don't even have the answer to this, because it seems like it'd be so many. But how many different kinds of skin conditions are there?

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 23:59

There must be thousands and thousands. And the funny reason for that is probably because skin is so accessible, that we can easily take a sample of the skin look under a microscope and call it a different disease. So we end up probably having way more diseases and other specialty and other organs, just because the skin is very accessible actually. And also because it's in constant contact with our environment.

Tarah Schwartz: 24:21

And is there say a top three that you see the most? Or top five that you see most often?

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 24:28

Yes, of course. Probably the top five will be atopic dermatitis, which affects 10 to 30% of the population or simply called eczema. Psoriasis, which affects up to 4% of our Canadian population. Urticaria, it's very common. And skin cancer is very common. By age of 60, one out of four individuals who will be affected by skin cancer, so it's very common.

Tarah Schwartz: 24:57

And we've talk about skin cancer a couple of times. It's shocking to think how much skin cancer is on the rise these days.

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 25:05

Yes.

Tarah Schwartz: 25:07

What do you attribute that to in what you're seeing in your research?

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 25:11

I don't directly do research on skin cancer, but many of my colleagues do. I certainly see a lot of skin cancer in clinic. I would say, in a typical day in my private clinic in Mascouche. I would say 15 to 20 patients will be seen for skin cancer, out of 40 patients that I see in a day. So the number is actually quite shocking. And I think primarily, the risk is really the sun exposure. I don't think it's all due to the thinning of the ozone layer, but actually behavioral changes. Individuals will enjoy the sun during the summer, they will travel, they will not necessarily engage into some protective measures or not to the extent. This, unfortunately, will translate into risk of skin cancer.

Tarah Schwartz: 26:01

We're speaking with Dr. Elena Netchiporouk. We're talking about skin cancer, different kinds of skin problems, but we're also talking about a resource for doctors studying skin diseases. So you're working on a website to help dermatology students. Tell us about this project. It sounds so interesting.

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 26:17

Yes, thank you. It's certainly a project that is dear to my heart. So when I was a dermatology resident back in 2015-16, and I graduated in 2017. In the last years of my residency, I have been trying to develop tools for me to integrate this complex and extensive breadth of knowledge that we need to learn in dermatology to pass our exam and to be competent doctors to take care of our patients. I started doing some sketches and some short summaries, which really helped me to pass my exam and to integrate the knowledge. And then, as soon as I graduated, I decided that perhaps I will join others dermatologists in our division. And together, we can develop a website where more junior dermatology trainees, such as dermatology residents across the country and across the globe in general; as well as other physicians or health care professionals who are interested in learning dermatology, can use to learn. In general, we will review every single topic of dermatology there. But in a way that we believe is easier to integrate the knowledge and it's interactive. For example, for skin disease such as psoriasis, we will have a summary table that is organized. And the organization is always the same. We have epidemiology, just key factors that are really necessary to know, such as the age when it happens, the ethnicity by example, then we'll have clinical features and tips how to differentiate, how to not miss, when to talk about something else. So tips that are both practical, but also important for the exam purposes as well. And then as soon as they review this very brief, one-page summary, then they can test their knowledge in a way that their knowledge is tested in the royal college exam of Canada. It's an open question format, and about 30 questions for each of the dermatology topics.

Tarah Schwartz: 28:30

I just want to jump in to say you said that you're building the website, but we talked earlier about there being up to 5000 skin diseases. How many are you at now in terms of the number that you've got on the website that you're building?

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 28:44

We have prepared for at least 100 chapters, and each chapter can have anywhere from 1-20 diseases. So we expect on the website to cover all the medical dermatology by the end of the educational or academic year, which will be June 2023.

Tarah Schwartz: 29:06

I also thought it was interesting you were talking about how you address ethnicity. Different skin diseases, do they present differently on different skin colors and how do you teach that to young dermatologists?

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 29:18

Exactly this is very important. The presentation of a given skin disease can be quite different across the ethnicities or skin of color, and across the ages. So on our website, we are providing tips and we're providing clinical images and also clinical vignettes, to make sure that the trainees in dermatology are sensitive to that aspect of dermatology.

Tarah Schwartz: 29:44

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk is a dermatologist and we're talking about a resource for doctors studying skin diseases. What has been the reaction so far, Dr. Netchiporouk, from the young dermatology students or your colleagues? In terms of how this will help not only students but also in the end patients?

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 30:04

I think it's very much appreciated. In 2017, we integrated that as part of dermatology residency training curriculum at McGill, calling that a book club. Each week on Tuesdays, the dermatology residents from McGill will meet and will go over a series of questions. This is now five years, they integrated that as a structural part of their learning curriculum. So that shows that this type of learning, which is interactive, engaging, is really appreciated, and it helps them. And then for the initial part of our website, we did the research part, where we actually tested whether the knowledge is better retained among dermatology trainees by using the website as compared to just reading the book.

Tarah Schwartz: 30:52

Yeah, I can see that. Now, Dr. Netchiporouk you are a dermatologist. So I would be remiss to say goodbye without asking you one final question. What message would you have for the people listening to know about taking care of their skin? What is the ultimate sort of advice that you give out to the average person who says what should I be doing better to take care of my skin?

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 31:14

I think there are mainly two things. The first thing is the sun protection, because skin cancer is unfortunately very common. And there are many resources to make sure that individuals learn how to protect themselves adequately. And the second thing is, I joke kind of in clinic and I talk to my patients that do not treat your skin the way you treat your dirty dishes. Meaning that overwashing with harsh soap and hot water is not the best for the skin. So we want to be gentle to the skin and we want to protect against the sun.

Tarah Schwartz: 31:47

Wonderful points to end on. Dr. Elena Netchiporouk, thank you so much for joining us on Health Matters. We appreciate your time today.

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk: 31:53

Thank you so much.

Tarah Schwartz: 31:54

Coming up a number of MUHC doctors will be sharing their hidden talents in an upcoming concert. We'll tell you more. I'm Tarah Schwartz, you're listening to Health Matters. We know many talented healthcare heroes at the MUHC and the Research Institute of the MUHC. But many of the doctors, researchers and scientists have some not so hidden talents. Many are singers, even opera singers, musicians of all kinds, including my next guest. In addition to being an internal medicine and critical care physician and the Director of the Critical Illness Recovery Center at the MUHC. Dr. David Hornstein is also a musician who performs with his band Twenty4Seven. Dr. Hornstein is taking part in a brand new fundraising initiative at the MUHC foundation called MUHC's Got Talent. A talent show of health care professionals, where we raise money for causes close to our hearts and theirs. Dr. Hornstein, thank you so much for joining us today.

Dr. David Hornstein: 32:54

Thanks, Tarah It's great to be here.

Tarah Schwartz: 32:57

How long have you been performing with Twenty4Seven, Dr. Hornstein?

Dr. David Hornstein: 33:00

Well, I've actually played the guitar since I was about 14 and played in high school bands at that point. But it was only about 15 years ago that I bumped into my high school friend quite by accident. And we started playing in a band together. And this band, Twenty4Seven, I put together with colleagues and friends from MUHC and from music. And we're thrilled to be participating.

Tarah Schwartz: 33:22

And where do you perform with this band? How often do you get up on stage?

Dr. David Hornstein: 33:28

Not very often, we get up on stage three or four times a year as people, we have day jobs. We like to play charity events and just with a passion of playing. So few times here.

Tarah Schwartz: 33:45

Are you excited about taking part in the very first MUHC's Got Talent?

Dr. David Hornstein: 33:50

Extraordinarily excited to be part of this. It's going to be a blast.

Tarah Schwartz: 33:57

What did you think when the MUHC Foundation approached you and said, Hey, we're doing this talent show, MUHC's Got Talent, we want you involved? What went through your mind then?

Dr. David Hornstein: 34:07

I thought it was a great idea. Well I was terrified and then I thought it was a great idea, and an opportunity for us to play for a good cause, which is really whatever all of us love to do. We all do our primary thing, but we love the music. And if we can do some good with the music, this is certainly a way to do that. We're very excited about it.

Tarah Schwartz: 34:27

We're speaking with Dr. David Hornstein and we're talking about MUHC's Got Talent. A talent show of health care professionals from the MUHC taking place this November to raise funds. Now, each health care professionals are taking part in MUHC's Got Talent. Tell us what you are raising money for Dr. Hornstein.

Dr. David Hornstein: 34:49

We're trying to raise awareness and some funds for the MUHC Critical Illness Recovery Program which you mentioned. This is a program that helps survivors of critical illness and their families cope with a very unique set of difficult and very little addressed challenges that come after critical illness. We know that surviving critical illness is the end of a difficult period. But it's also the beginning of a long process of recovery. And that's what we're here to support because we believe we have a responsibility to do that.

Tarah Schwartz: 35:19

It's really interesting that you mentioned that because I think you're right, we think about the illness, but we don't think about what happens after it. So when you say critical illness, can you give us some examples? How do you define that so that we can understand what you mean?

Dr. David Hornstein: 35:32

Well, so regardless of what clinical condition landed you up in an Intensive Care Unit. If you've needed to be there for more than a couple of days, it's inevitable that you face a very specific set of challenges. So you could have come through from a surgery, or an accident, or cancer treatment or anything. But there are very specific things that happen in an Intensive Care Unit that leave their mark and need to be addressed afterwards. And that's what our program deals with. Both the physical and the psychological needs.

Tarah Schwartz: 36:03

Can you give us some examples about how you would care for somebody in the Critical Illness Recovery Program? What kinds of things do you help with? How do you help them?

Dr. David Hornstein: 36:12

Absolutely. So we're a multidisciplinary group. It includes a core group of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and psychologists. All of whom practice in the ICU. We meet patients individually, and we address medical and psychological needs. One of the simplest and most important needs people have is for them to understand exactly what's happened to them. And you'd be surprised, but it's often very much not the case. And equally crucial is to break the sense of isolation that's really common, and to normalize the phenomenon that they're facing, because there's very little talk and awareness about it in the community at large. So we do individual sessions with our patients, and then we run a peer support program where patients and families get to meet and interact with each other, and help each other. That type of support they get from each other is invaluable in recovery.

Tarah Schwartz: 37:07

I'm wondering how recent this type of program is Dr. Hornstein. Because I think the way of thinking about patients like this- you've been in a critical illness, but now we want to help you post that critical illness. Is this fairly new? Is this something that's fairly new as it has been around for a while?

Dr. David Hornstein: 37:25

That's a very good question, Tarah. I think the awareness of the recovery period, as part of the responsibility of critical care professionals, is relatively new. Certainly the awareness that these challenges people face has been there for a number of years. But accepting the responsibility that we have some role to play in it is fairly new. It's growing. It's a growing field right now.

Tarah Schwartz: 37:51

It sounds like it's a much needed one. How will donations and what you raise in MUHC's Got Talent through your fundraising page help your program?

Dr. David Hornstein: 38:02

It'll help incredibly. Number one awareness. The more people are aware of this, the better it is. And our program has essentially been running on goodwill to date. But we're in great need of having a full time clinical coordinator to allow us to reach the greatest number of patients possible, to be on the terrain visiting in the ICUs, on the floors afterwards, and obviously all the work that leads up to seeing patients and taking care of them. These patients, let's just remember, have been the sickest of our institution's patients. And the money we raise to get a clinical coordinator will allow us to ramp up our efforts and reach as many people as possible.

Tarah Schwartz: 38:44

And it sounds so important. Dr. David Hornstein is Director of the Critical Illness Recovery Center at the MUHC. He's performing in MUHC's Got Talent. What can you tell us about your band Twenty4Seven? What kind of music do you perform? What can we look forward to?

Dr. David Hornstein: 39:01

Well, I would say our musical tastes are about as eclectic as our members. We love classic rock and roll from the 70s. I'm not going to tell you my age, as well as some blues, funk, soul, pop. We love working on vocal duets and harmonies. We basically enjoy each other's company and we're thrilled when the music really hits the mark. And, we play from a place of passion for the music and to transport ourselves- and hopefully our audience- to another time and a special experience. My goal, Tarah, would be that you leave our show humming a tune and feeling uplifted and that's what we hope to nail with this.

Tarah Schwartz: 39:38

I'm going to be at that show. So I promise you I will be leaving the show humming a tune and tapping my toe. I'm really, really excited to see you and your band perform. Dr. David Hornstein, I want to thank you so much for joining us on Health Matters and good luck in MUHC's Got Talent. I'm rooting for you.

Dr. David Hornstein: 39:53

Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

Tarah Schwartz: 39:55

Now we will be showcasing all the health care professionals who will be taking part in MUHC's Got Talent over the course of the next several weeks. The big event is in November at the Corona Theater. We'll be telling you more about that as it gets closer. So if you want to help support Dr. David Hornstein or the other performers at MUHC's Got Talent, just head to the MUHC Foundation dot com website. You'll see that on the homepage, and you can find out all about the different health care professionals taking part in this brand new fundraising event, MUHC's Got Talent. I'm Tarah Schwartz, thank you for tuning in. And thank you for writing to us with your questions and asking for different kinds of doctors you'd like to hear from or issues you'd like to learn about on the show. We read every single email. So with that in mind, if you'd like to get in touch if it's Health Matters at MUHC Foundation dot com. Health Matters at MUHC Foundation dot com. You can also follow the MUHC foundation on social media and sign up for our newsletter. We'd love you to stay in touch with us. I hope you'll join us again next Sunday. Thank you so much for listening.