Part of the family
A donor-funded research fellowship brought Dr. Jamie Fleet to St. Joseph’s to help keep people healthy and strong after a stroke.
“Everybody at St. Joseph’s has been really helpful,” says Dr. Jamie Fleet, physiatrist and inaugural holder of the Dr. Robert Teasell Fellowship in Stroke Rehabilitation Care & Research, of her time at St. Joseph’s so far.
“I’m always connecting with patients and colleagues on this work. I just feel like part of a family here.”
In 2021, Dr. Fleet was awarded this fellowship, giving her a unique opportunity to pursue stroke research in a clinical setting. Dr. Teasell is internationally renowned for his contributions to stroke rehabilitation research. The Fellowship in his name was created to fund the work of a promising young researcher.
With donor support on her side, Dr. Fleet is already making waves in stroke rehabilitation research in Canada. She’s hoping to develop best practice guidelines for long-term recovery and bone health to help stroke survivors maintain their quality of life, prevent secondary strokes and stay healthy and strong as they grow old.
Bone strength weakens rapidly after a stroke, but she noticed there weren’t any guidelines for Canadian care providers on how and when to screen, diagnose and treat osteoporosis (loss of bone strength) in stroke survivors – before it leads to a catastrophic problem like a hip fracture. That’s a troubling gap that Dr. Fleet is trying to fix.
“Osteoporosis is a silent disease until it isn’t,” says Dr. Fleet. “A lot of patients say that they wish they would have known sooner about their bone density.”
To help people avoid surgery, chronic pain and high care needs, Dr. Fleet is assessing how many people experience fractures post-stroke, how many are being treated for osteoporosis and how many are screened for bone health. Developing clear guidelines in stroke survivors will help physicians detect changes early and prevent complications for stroke rehabilitation patients.
Working at St. Joseph’s has allowed Dr. Fleet’s career to flourish, and she thanks the organization’s culture for that, along with the donors who helped bring this fellowship to life.
Why I Give
Caroline Hancock and her late husband Rodney have had a close connection with St. Joseph’s for years. All five of their children were born here, and they’re grateful to have access to great health care so close by.
It’s what inspired them to start giving back to the organization. Rodney passed away in early 2024 after receiving care for three years for a ruptured brain aneurysm. Since then, Caroline has continued their legacy of helping others.
“Being fortunate enough to help other people is fulfilling,” Caroline says. “I have a profound sense of community and belonging knowing that I may have made a difference in someone’s life.”
In 2021, they made a gift to the Dr. Teasell Fellowship – a project near and dear to their hearts.
“When the fellowship came up, I definitely wanted to support it,” Caroline says. “It’s a project that will help so many others in the future.”
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