McGill University
and
McGill University Health Centre
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Division of General Internal Medicine
The overarching mission of the McGill University Division of General Internal Medicine is to
continue to grow as an academic leader in clinical care, medical education and research. Specific
areas of growth currently include quality improvement, peri-operative medicine, vascular health
and medical obstetrics. Excellence and leadership in clinical care, research and education are
integral building blocks for accomplishing this mission.
I.
Highlights
Achievements
A. A successful External Review of the McGill GIM Division
The external reviewers, Drs Anita Palepu, University of British Columbia, and Michel Normand,
Université Laval, gave the following comments:
Strengths
• The leadership of the chief of division is strong and the vision is clear.
Major clinical innovations are actively being developed: complex care centre,
vascular medicine, peri-operative medicine, obstetrical medicine, quality
improvement.
• Members are dedicated to the care of their patients. They provide the
backbone of clinical services in their hospitals.
• Medical education and teaching are a priority for members and forms a large
part of their core identity and these activities are highly valued. They provide
the backbone of medical education to the medical students and core residents
in internal medicine.
• Research and academic realization – all research activities have been
extremely successful and the division has demonstrated its ability to attract
new and promising clinician scientists.
• Emulating environment that promotes and supports personal academic growth.
B.
Several QI Initiatives in GIM continue to lead QI at McGill
i) McGill Quality Improvement Centre (MQuic).
Drs Dev Jayaraman, Laurence Green, Todd Lee (new recruit) and Blair Schwartz (GIM
Fellow) have developed the MQuic. Dr Schwartz will be recruited at the JGH upon
completion of his Master’s degree at Hopkins in QI.
ii) Quality Improvement
Dr Todd Lee spearheaded an antibiotic audit process coupled with an educational tool.
This data collection will form part of his Master’s degree work at Harvard.
Dr Blair Schwartz collected data on Foley catheter use and misuse on the medical wards.
This data collection will form part of his Master’s degree work at Hopkins.
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C. Pre-Op Medicine
Pre-Op Medical Director, Dr David Hornstein, set up the MGH pre-op clinic, which opened
in May 2011.
Dr Jeff Segal will be recruited to St. Mary’s Hospital after completing his formation
complémentaire in pre-op medicine at Maisonneuve Rosemont.
D. Vascular Health Unit
A vascular medicine clinic was opened at the MGH. Led by Dr Stella Daskalopoulou, it is a
fruitful collaboration between Vascular Surgery and our Division.
Dr Khue Ly was recruited by the Division to join the Vascular Health Unit upon completion
of her vascular medicine fellowship at Université Laval in July 2012.
Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funds were obtained to purchase a server and a
3D ultrasound machine for vascular studies.
With these funds, Christine Bieri, an IT professional, was hired to construct a vascular
database that will be the first OWORD/OASIS outpatient database at the MUHC. This
clinical database will also be used as a research database.
Dr Leora Birnbaum joined the Division and will play a predominant clinical role in the
Vascular Health Unit.
E.
Medical Obstetrics
At both the RVH and St. Mary`s, the clinic is physically hosted in the obstetrics area in order
to work with nurses with obstetrical experience as well as (at the RVH) provide face to face
contact with the obstetrical colleagues. The major initiatives to date that have been
successfully implemented include: pre-evaluation of all patients by a nurse with the
taking of vital signs and use of home BP sheets.
F.
Complex Care Centre / Challenges
Division members are still developing the complex care centre. The development has been
stalled due to lack of resources. We need a nurse coordinator / manager to be able to start
the project.
However, the out-patient GIM clinics at the MGH and RVH continue to provide excellent
care and teaching to medical residents and students.
Promotions, Appointments and Nominations
Dr Sam Benaroya was appointed Interim Dean, Faculty of Medicine from Sept to Dec 2011.
Dr Joyce Pickering was appointed the Executive Associate Physician-in-Chief and Director of
Operations of the MUHC Department of Medicine on 1 July 2011.
Dr Kaberi Dasgupta was promoted to an Associate Professor of Medicine with tenure in June
2011.
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Dr Lucie Opatrny was appointed Chair of the MUHC Medical Dental Pharmacy Evaluation
Committee.
Dr Lucie Opatrny was elected to the FMSQ board. She is the Division representative at the
FMSQ and ASMIQ.
Dr Lucie Opatrny completed her MSc in Health Care Management at Harvard University in
May 2011.
Dr Beth Cummings received her MSc in Health Professions Education at Maastrict University,
at the AMEE Conference in Vienna in August 2011. Dr Cummings graduated Cum Laude.
Past Year’s Activities
1) Teaching Activities
General Internal Medicine Fellowship Program (R4-R5)
In July 2011, 4 new Fellows joined the Program for a total of 16 for the 2011-2012
academic year.
Videoconferences of weekly Tuesday Academic Sessions are teleconferenced to the three
Montreal hospitals (JGH, MGH &RVH) and to the outlying regions Amos, Valleyfield,
Hull and Rouyn Noranda.
The 1st workshop on “How to Find a Job in the Community” was held on November 8th,
2011 with presentations from recent GIM graduates, Drs. Amos Hercz and Jennifer
Nguyen who have found work in the community as well as advice from representatives
from the FMRQ regarding PREMs.
The new GIM website ( http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/gimresident/)
designed by a recent graduate Dr. Jean-François Ethier, was officially launched in July
2011.
Dr. Karen Okrainec was selected for the Travel Award for the European School of
Internal Medicine conference in Brighton, England which was held in September 2011.
GIM Fellows abstract presentations:
Dr Michelle Edwards’s abstract entitled Prepartum BMI, intrapartum insulin resistance, and
higher intrapartum systolic blood pressure predict post partum dyslipidemia in women with
gestational diabetes was selected for oral presentation at the Research Session at the CSIM on
October 13th, 2011.
Dr Karen Okrainec won the CSIM Ted Giles Clinical Vignettes Prize 2011 for her
abstract, POEMS syndrome: finding rhyme and reason in a complex, debilitating and
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uncommon diagnosis. It was selected for oral presentation at the Ted Giles Clinical
Vignettes Prize session at the CSIM Annual Scientific Meeting October 12-15, 2011 in
Halifax, NS.
2) Research
Canadian Foundation for Innovations (CFI)
A joint CFI funding between McGill and the CR CHUM on metabolic syndrome (co-PI Dr
Louise Pilote) was used to buy equipment for the vascular health unit. Drs Daskalopoulou and
Dasgupta will use the equipment for their research.
Dr Suzanne Morin is a Chercheur-boursier clinician, Ranked 1st for her project: Osteoporosis
and hip fractures: treatment strategies.
Collaborative Projects (repeated under #4 Partnerships)
Headed by Drs Kaberi Dasgupta and Stella Daskalopoulou, a successful operating grant
application to the CIHR, Step monitoring to improve ARTERial health (SMARTER) was ranked
5 / 51, in the top 9.8% within the peer review committee.
Co-applicants: Dr L. Pilote, Dr S. Kahn, Dr S. Bacon, Prof. L. Joseph and Dr Ellen
Rosenberg.
International Activities and Research Collaboration
E. Schiffrin
Dr. Schiffrin is Vice-President (2010-2012) and President Elect, International Society of
Hypertension (2011-12).
Associate Editor of Hypertension, journal of the American Heart Association, renewed for an
additional 5 years until 2017, where he handles 20% of manuscripts, CME and editorial
commentaries.
Editor of two books, one on molecular methods in hypertension and the other a textbook of
hypertension with colleagues in Glasgow, UK.
Co-chair, writing group of the American heart Association Position Paper on “Arterial Stiffness:
Recommendations for Assessment and Use.”
International consortium with the Baker Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, studying
oxidative stress in type 1 diabetes
International collaboration with the vascular group with Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou in
Paris and the Université de Paris VI
Président de la Table régionale de chefs de départements de médecine spécialisée de l'Île de
Montréal à l'Agence de santé et services sociaux
Membre du Conseil d'administration de l'Agence de santé et services sociaux
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Repeatedly chairs international meetings (American Heart Association Council for High Blood
Pressure Research, American Heart Association National Meeting, International Hypertension
Society Meeting, etc.)
S. Kahn
International Guideline leadership: Deputy Editor, Prevention of Venous
Thromboembolism in Non-Surgical Patients, Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy:
American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) Evidence-Based Clinical Practice
Guidelines (9th Edition)
International research collaborations (my role: Chair of Clinical Outcomes Committee,
Steering Committee member, Data coordinating centre member): 2008-2013 (ongoing
trial)
V. Tagalakis
Writing physician clinical guidelines for the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on
thromboprophylaxis and on the treatment of superficial vein thrombophlebitis.
a) Tagalakis V. Superficial thrombophlebitis (revised). BMJ Point-of-Care 2011, available at
https://online.epocrates.com/u/2911335/Superficial+thrombophlebitis
b) Routhier N, Tagalakis V. VTE prophylaxis (revised). BMJ Point-of-Care 2011, available at:
https://online.epocrates.com/u/29111087/VTE+prophylaxis
National Activities / Collaboration
E. Schiffrin
Member of Board of Hypertension Canada
Chair of the Endocrine and member of the Vascular Protection committees of the Canadian
Hypertension Education Program
Repeatedly chairs national meetings such as the Québec Hypertension Society
L. Pilote
The GENESIS network held its 7th national meeting in Montreal. The PRAXY study has enrolled
1020 patients across 23 Canadian sites.
S. Kahn
National research meeting organized: VECTOR Pan-Canadian Collaborative Research
Conference on Venous Thromboembolism clinical and mechanistic research. Montreal,
May 6, 2011. (120 attendees; international speakers and attendees)
V. Tagalakis
Writing book chapter for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Research
Primer book
Tagalakis V. Principles of research and protocol writing (book chapter) Harvey BJ, ES Lang and
JR Frank. The research guide: a primer for residents, other health care trainees, and practitioners.
Ottawa: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Research Guide 2011.
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Noteworthy Publications
K. Dasgupta
Manjoo P, Joseph L, Dasgupta K. Abdominal Adiposity and Daily Step Counts as Determinants
of Glycemic Control in a Cohort of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. [Original research
article] Nutrition & Diabetes, a Nature Publishing Group journal. First published January 16
2012; 2(25): doi:10.1038/nutd.2011.22
Jarvandi S, Bader A, Gougeon R, Dasgupta K. Differences in Food Intake among Obese and
Non-obese Women and Men with Type 2 Diabetes. [Original research article] Journal of the
American College of Nutrition 2011;30(4): 225-232. PubMed PMID: 21917702
Lega I, Ross NA, Zhong L, Dasgupta K. Gestational diabetes history may signal deprivation in
women with type 2 diabetes [Original research article]. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2011
20(4):625-9. PubMed PMID: 21342014
S. Daskalopoulou
Doonan, RJ, Scheffler P, Yu A, Egiziano G, Mutter A, Bacon S, Carli F, Daskalopoulos ME,
Daskalopoulou SS. Altered Arterial Stiffness and Subendocardial Viability Ratio in Young
Healthy Light Smokers After Acute Exercise. PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e26151.
Gomez Sandoval YH, Braganza MV, Daskalopoulou SS. Statin Discontinuation in High-Risk
Patients: a systematic review of the evidence. Curr Pharm Des. 2011 Nov;17(33):3669-89.
K. Flegel
MacDonald NE, Flegel K, Hébert PC, Stanbrook MB. Better management of chronic pain care
for all. CMAJ 2011;183:1815.
Flegel K, Macdonald NE, Coutts J, Hébert PC, Stanbrook MB. Food in Canada: Eat at your own
risk. CMAJ 2011;183:E1274.
Flegel K, MacDonald N, Hébert PC.Binge drinking: all too prevalent and hazardous. CMAJ
2011;183:411.
J. Hoffer
Zhang M, Robitaille L, Eintracht S, Hoffer LJ. Vitamin C provision improves mood in acutely
hospitalized patients. Nutrition 27: 530-533, 2011 (doi:10.1016/j.nut.2010.05.016)
Hoffer, LJ How much protein do parenteral amino acid mixtures provide? Am J Clin Nutr
94:1396-1398, 2011
S. Kahn
Guanella R, Ducruet T, Johri M, Miron MJ, Roussin A, Desmarais S, Joyal F, Kassis J, Solymoss
S, Ginsberg JS, Lamping DL, Shrier I, Kahn SR. Economic burden and cost determinants of
deep vein thrombosis during 2 years following diagnosis: a prospective evaluation. J Thromb
Haemost 2011;12:2397-405.
Kahn SR, Shrier I, Shapiro S, Houweling AH, Hirsch AM, Reid RD, Kearon C, Rabhi K, Rodger
MA, Kovacs MJ, Anderson DR, Wells PS. Six-month exercise training program to treat postthrombotic syndrome: a randomized controlled two-centre trial. CMAJ 2011;183:37-44.
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S. Morin
Leslie WD, Metge CJ, Azimaee M, Lix LM, Finlayson GS, Morin SN, Caetano P. Direct costs of
fractures in Canada and trends 1996-2006 : a population-based cost-of-illness analysis. J Bone
Miner Res 2011;10:2419-29.
Morin S, Lix LM, Azimaee M, Metge C, Majumdar SR, Leslie WD. Institutionalization
following incident non-traumatic fractures in community-dwelling mean and women. Osteoporos
Int 2011 [Epub ahead of print Oct 19]
Leslie WD, Morin S. Fracture burden in relation to low bone mineral density and FRAX(®)
probability. J Clin Densitom 2011;3:279-85.
L. Pilote
Eisenberg M, Afilalo A, Lawler PR, Abrahamowicz M, Richard H, Pilote L. Cancer
Risk Related to Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation from Medical Imaging in Patients
Following Acute Myocardial Infarction. CMAJ 2011 Mar 8;183(4):430-6.
Jackevicius CA, Tom A, Essebag V, Eisenberg MJ, Rahme E, Tu JV, Humphries K,
Behlouli H, Richard H, Pilote L. Population-Level Incidence and Risk Factors for
Pulmonary Toxicity Associated With Amiodarone. American Journal of Cardiology 2011
Sep 1;108(5):705-10.
E. Schiffrin
Simeone SMC, Li MW, Paradis P, Schiffrin EL. Vascular gene expression in mice
overexpressing human endothelin-1 targeted to the endothelium. Physiol Genomics. 2011;43:148160.
Barhoumi T, Kasal DAB, Li MW, Shbat L, Laurant P, Fritsch Neves M, Paradis P, Schiffrin EL.
T regulatory lymphocytes prevent angiotensin II-induced hypertension and vascular injury.
Hypertension. 2011; 57: 469-476.
Marchesi C, Essalmani R, Lemarié C, Leibovitz E, Ebrahimian T, Paradis P, Seidah NG,
Schiffrin EL, Prat A. Inactivation of endothelial proprotein convertase 5/6 decreases collagen
deposition in the cardiovascular system: Role of fibroblast autophagy. J Mol Med. 2011;89:11031111.
L. Snell
Snell L. The Resident as Teacher: It’s More than Just About Student Learning. Sept 2011, J Grad
Med Educ, Sept 2011; 3(3):440-442.
Jamal M, Rousseau M, Hanna W, Doi S, Meterrisian S, Snell L. Effect of the ACGME WorkHour Restrictions on Surgical Residents and Faculty: A Systematic Review. Academic Medicine
Jan 2011; 88(1):34-42.
Steinert Y & Snell L. From Curriculum Design to Implementation: Educational Innovation and
Scholarship. In Creating and Redesigning Curricula – a CanMEDS Guide for Clinical Education.
Eds Sherbino J & Frank J. RCPSC, Ottawa, 2011. (Book Chapter)
V. Tagalakis
Dayan N*, Tagalakis V, Holcroft C. The risk of venous thrombosis, including cerebral
vein thrombosis, among women with thrombophilia and oral contraceptive use: a meta-analysis.
Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis 2011; 1-12.
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Tagalakis V, Kahn SR. Determining the test characteristics of diagnostic codes for the diagnosis
of venous thromboembolism in a medical service claims database. Pharmacoepidemiology and
Drug Safety 2011; 20: 304-307.
Tagalakis V. Superficial thrombophlebitis (revised). BMJ Point-of-Care 2011, available at
https://online.epocrates.com/u/2911335/Superficial+thrombophlebitis
3) Involvement in the community
Dr Suzanne Dubé works as a consultant in Val d’Or.
Dr Patrick Willemot clinics: Nunavik, Lachine, Yellowknife, Baie Comeau
Dr Leora Birnbaum is the hypertension consultant to the CSSS
GENESIS and VECTOR meeting as outlined above.
Videoconferences to outlying regions
Resident electives in outlying regions, CHIME Program
4) Partnerships
Dr Laurence Green coordinates the Physician Assistant Program in Internal Medicine for the
Canadian Armed Forces.
Collaborative Projects
Headed by Drs Kaberi Dasgupta and Stella Daskalopoulou, a successful operating grant
application to the CIHR, Step monitoring to improve ARTERial health (SMARTER) was ranked
5 / 51, in the top 9.8% within the peer review committee.
Co-applicants: Dr L. Pilote, Dr S. Kahn, Dr S. Bacon, Prof. L. Joseph and Dr Ellen
Rosenberg. The latter is in family medicine at St. Mary’s Hospital.
The new vascular clinic at the MGH collaborates with vascular surgery.
The PRAXY study led by Dr Pilote with participation of Drs Daskalopoulou, Dasgupta
and Tagalakis has to date enrolled 1020 patients with premature acute coronary syndrome
across 25 Canadian sites.
5) Fundraising
The Azrieli Foundation has gifted/contributed $20,000 towards the Complex Care Centre
at the RVH.
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6) Clinical Activities
Specialized Clinical Programs
GIM Clinics : MUHC / JGH
Peri-Op Clinics : MGH and RVH
Vascular Medicine / HTN clinic / CVD : MUHC and JGH
Medical Obstetrics: RVH and St. Mary’s Hospital
Thrombosis: JGH
Acute Outpatient Thrombosis Program: RVH
Point-of-care ultrasound: MUHC/JGH
General Internal Medicine Clinics MUHC and JGH
These clinics provide the bulk of training in ambulatory internal medicine. Over the past
five years, the major initiatives in terms of clinical programs have been the revamping of
the GIM clinics at the MUHC and the design of the Complex Care Centre, which will
become a model for multidisciplinary internal medicine clinics with ongoing outpatient
QI projects. We are working on incorporating electronic medical records.
Peri-op Medicine MUHC and JGH
GIM is involved with peri-operative clinics at the two sites: in collaboration with surgery
we are planning to expand the peri-operative services.
1. Dr. David Hornstein has been recruited as the Medical Director of the Pre-op Centre at the
MGH. His role will be to build an academic centre with the excellence in clinical care and
teaching and with participation in the research.
2. Drs Maniatis, Willemot and Dawson are increasing their leadership role at the RVH.
3. Dr. Beth Cumming is also developing a pre-op clinic at the JGH.
Vascular Health Unit (hypertension clinic and vascular clinic) MGH
This is a hypertension clinic which is paired with a state-of-the-art vascular biology lab; Dr
Lawrence Green and Dr Stella Daskalopoulou, a recent recruit, head the clinic. Dr Daskalopoulou
also leads the lab, and Dr Leora Birnbaum will help develop the training program
1. The vascular health unit at the Montreal General Hospital expanded to additional space and
received funding from the MGH Foundation to proceed with required renovation (see
description of program under research program).
2. The recruitment of Dr Leora Birnbaum, who completed training at the IRCM in
hypertension and is completing a Masters of Medical Education at the University of
Chicago, will increase the academic profile of the Hypertension/Vascular Health Unit
at the MGH.
The Cardiovascular Prevention Centre JGH
Dr Ernesto Schiffrin is the Director and Dr Luc Trudeau the Associate Director of the
Cardiovascular Prevention Centre at the JGH. The Cardiovascular Prevention Centre is
dedicated to diagnosing and treating all risk factors of cardiovascular disease through our
hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, nutrition and smoking cessation clinics. With a
unique multi-disciplinary approach, a team of trained nurses, nutritionists, psychologists
(for smoking cessation) and specialized physicians (Internal Medicine, Endocrinology,
Neurology, Cardiology), attend patients in primary and secondary prevention. As well,
the Clinic serves as a platform for physician training and research projects in basic and
clinical cardiovascular medicine. The clinic generally has two fellows from the Internal
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Medicine Fellowship program either from McGill or from other universities, currently
Laval University, as well as foreign fellows. This has allowed the development of the
program of research in blood pressure measurements, large artery and small artery
changes in all these conditions.
Medical Obstetrics: RVH and St. Mary’s Hospital
Consultation with internal medicine for medical obstetrics (medical complications of pregnancy)
is available at the RVH in two clinics weekly and at St. Mary`s once weekly. When needed,
telephone and inpatient consultations are provided as well.
At both the RVH and St. Mary`s, the clinic is physically hosted in the obstetrics area in order to
work with nurses with obstetrical experience as well as (at the RVH) provide face to face contact
with the obstetrical colleagues. The major initiatives to date that have been successfully
implemented include:
 Pre-evaluation of all patients by a nurse with the taking of vital signs
 use of home BP sheets
Current priorities as discussed with the obstetricians and nurses include:
 improved communication between internist and treating physician
 improved communication between internist and obstetrical triage regarding BP target
 ability to provide regular inpatient consultative services
Strengths
 Unique specialty of internal medicine with increasing visibility and recognition
 high appreciation by users of the consultative service (anonymous questionnaire feedback)
 filling a gap of clinical need
 high connectivity with other medical obstetrics colleagues in Quebec and Canada
Weaknesses
• Only one specialist internist providing the service makes it vulnerable to care interruptions. It
also prevents growth of the service as well as inhibiting optimization of the rotation
experience for the GIM fellowship rotation
• No current database, or research that has been initiated from the service.
Future Opportunities
A recent planned recruit who will have expertise in medical obstetrics (Nathalie Dayan) should
help dealing with the weaknesses mentioned above.
Thrombosis JGH
The Thrombosis Clinic is part of the Thrombosis Program, of which Dr Susan Kahn is
the Director. Both Dr Kahn and Dr Vicky Tagalakis participate in the Thrombosis Clinic,
providing state-of-the-art patient care, teaching thrombosis medicine to medical students,
residents and nurses, and conducting research and research training in causes, risk
factors, prevention and treatment of thrombosis.
Acute Outpatient Thrombosis Program RVH
This program involves the assessment and management of deep venous thrombosis as well as
pulmonary emboli in the outpatient setting, with care coordinated by a dedicated Nurse Clinician
in liaison with outpatient community resources.
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Point-of-care ultrasound: MUHC/JGH
This program involves the training and implementation of point-of-care ultrasound on the Clinical
Teaching Units across McGill's core teaching network. In the first phase, select physicians and
residents are being trained in point-of-care ultrasound techniques and will pilot the use of these
techniques on the Clinical Teaching Units, before widespread adoption of these techniques can be
assured.
Clinics that Division members either run or participate in:
Bone Clinic (S. Morin)
Hip Fracture Clinic (S. Morin)
Tropical Medicine (L. Green)
Diabetes Clinic (K. Dasgupta)
Transition Clinics (T. Maniatis, S. Morin)
CHIPS (S. Grover)
Clinical Centres of Excellence
The Vascular Health Program at the MGH and the Cardiovascular Prevention Centre and
Thrombosis Clinic at the JGH are becoming centres of excellence.
Clinical Activity Trends since Last Review
RVH
IMU: 5057
New patients: 96
Follow-up: 4961
AIM : 1211
New patients: 437
Follow-up: 774
MGH
MOD: 2226
New patients: 549
Follow-up: 1677
Internal Med Offices: 1099
New patients: 46
Follow-up: 1053
Hypertention: 794
New patients: 135
Follow-up: 659
Vascular Health Clinic: 79
New patients: 31
Follow-up: 48
Strengths
The Division has clinical and research expertise in vascular medicine and complex care.
Weaknesses
Our challenge relates to our inability to obtain funds for the administrative and nursing
support required for the complex care centre.
Planned Recruitments
After interviewing 7 candidates, Drs Ning Zi Sun and Natalie Dayan were recruited to
grow quality improvement through medical education and the medical complications of
pregnancy program respectively.
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7) Academic Staff
Recruitment 2011
Dr Todd Lee, from the University of Toronto, joined the Division on 1 August 2011. Dr Lee will
be working on quality improvement. He is completing a MSc at Harvard and he has a fellowship
in Infectious Diseases.
Dr Leora Birnbaum was recruited in 2011 and started on 1 January 2012. Dr Birnbaum is
completing her MSc in Medical Education at the University of Chicago.
Dr Khue Ly was recruited in 2011 to join the Division in July 2012 after having completed her
formation complémentaire in vascular medicine in Quebec City.
8) Consulting Activities
In order to provide a summary of the consulting activities of members of your division,
use the table below.
Name of Faculty Member
Private
Sector
Consulting
(# of days)
Public
Sector
Consulting
(# days)
Other (# of days) please explain
Total
Patrick Willemot
0
42
42
0
42
the CSSS de Manicouagan
in Baie-Comeau (dépannage
médecine interne)
Stanton Territorial Hospital
in Yellowknife (internal
medicine locum)
42
9) Honours, Awards and Prizes
Dr Ernesto Schiffrin: A symposium was held in honour of Dr Schiffrin. The 48th André
Aisenstadt Memorial Clinical Day was held on October 26, 2011 at the Block Amphitheatre, Rm
B-106, at the JGH. Dr Schiffrin is distinguished for his career in the field of Hypertension and
Vascular Research. The topic of this year’s programme was Hypertension from Bench to
Bedside: A Tale of Mice and Men.
Dr Ernesto Schiffrin was selected as one of the two recipients of the 2011 Excellence Award
for Hypertension Research, sponsored by Novartis. This is the most prestigious award of the
High Blood Pressure Council of the American Heart Association and recognizes researchers
who have had a major impact in the field of hypertension and whose research has contributed to
improved treatment and greater understanding of high blood pressure.
Dr Louise Pilote won the George Fraser Award 2011
Dr Susan Kahn won the Venous Disease Coalition Research Award that celebrates
exceptional published research contributing to the understanding and treatment of venous
disease. The VDC's Venous Disease Research Awards recognize important research
relevant to the understanding and/or treatment of venous disease.
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Dr Tom Maniatis won the RCPSC Program Director of the Year Award 2011 for his
commitment to enhancing residency education.
Dr David Dawson : The Douglas G. Kinnear Award 2011 for Best Teacher
Dr Linda Snell : The W.H. Philip Hill Award 2011 for Outstanding Clinician-Teacher
Dr David Hornstein : Physicianship Award 2011
Dr Patrick Willemot : Department of Medicine Award for Innovation in Clinical Care 2011
Dr Michelle Elizov was named to the Faculty Honour List for Educational Excellence 2011
Dr Vicky Tagalakis received a $12,000 Clinical Research Award 2011 at the JGH for her project
Epidemiology of venous thrombosis and pharmacoempidemilogy
Dr Michelle Elizov received a $12,000 Clinical Research Award 2011 at the JGH for her project
Mentorship in clinical medicine
Drs Jeff Wiseman, Bert Govig and Tom Maniatis were named Fellows of the American
College of Physicians at the April 2011 Convocation in San Diego, CA
II.
Objectives and Priorities
As a result of the external review of the Division conducted in 2011, goals were set:
McGill Division-wide Goals:
• Formalize the Clinical/Research/Education Innovation groups to share and promote McGill
wide innovation within the division
• Actualize McGill-wide programs in peri-operative medicine, medical obstetrics, vascular
medicine and quality improvement
• Yearly McGill GIM academic day
• McGill-wide review of GIM job descriptions and come to an agreement about expectations
MUHC Actionable Items
• MUHC CTUs : Many issues related to the CTUs were raised in the report. We should
continue to give our input to improve the situation and look at the ways we wish to continue
Division involvement in the CTU. A CTU Committee was formed.
• Clinical schedule review /reform schedule: It was felt by the group that the site directors
should continue to work on the schedule based on willingness of individuals but that some
form of policy would be desirable. We will revisit early in the next academic year.
The Division held a mini-retreat on 21 November 2011 to discuss Faculty Job Descriptions and
CTU Best Practice.
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