Our Stories

Read the latest stories about what's going on at St. Joseph's Health Care London.

Tall dream comes true

With a list of burning questions in hand, Patricia Prance answered an incoming video call. On the other end of the line – a giraffe and his zookeeper. Prance has virtually visited not one but two giraffes thanks to St. Joseph's Health Care London's Palliative Care Unit at Parkwood Institute. Her interest in giraffes first sparked when she visited African Lion Safari as a kid. “I just fell in love with the way they ran and their tall necks. And I'm tall and lanky and run kind of like a giraffe,” she laughs. Prance always dreamed of meeting a giraffe and being able to pet it, but travel...
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Howard Rundle

Howard at the Helm

Meet Howard Rundle, the new Chair of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Health Care London. He is a research scientist who led one of Ontario’s largest colleges for nearly two decades. Now Howard Rundle has a brand new role – one that melds the researcher in him with governance prowess and...
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Occupational therapist Shrikant Chinchalkar

The best person for the job – hands down

Expertise in hand therapy and a “handy” Indian accent create the perfect formula for teaching in South Asia. Shrikant Chinchalkar, occupational therapist and renowned leader in hand therapy couldn’t stay away too long as after his recent retirement from the Roth|McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre...
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Parkwood patients get a bird's-eye view

The wildlife in the back garden at Parkwood Institute got a little wilder with the arrival of some out-of-town visitors. Falconer Mike Shore brought three of his birds of prey – "Doc Holliday" the juvenile bald eagle, "Emmy Lou" the Harris hawk and "Loretta Lynn" the eurasian eagle owl – for a visit...
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a family photo of a wife, husband and their two daughters

Your donation matters to Stephanie

When Stephanie Wilds was 45 she was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in both breasts. A mom to two young girls, she feared the worst: that she wouldn’t make it past five years. Stephanie underwent a lumpectomy performed by Dr. Muriel Brackstone at St. Joseph’s Breast Care Program, along with 15...
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Dr. John Denstedt

A Lifetime of Achievement

Dr. John Denstedt, renowned surgeon at St. Joseph’s Health Care London has been chosen to receive the Endourological Society Karl Storz Lifetime Achievement Award for 2019, which is presented to a urologist who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of endourology. Given to a...
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woman holds up a portrait photo of her late mother

Your donation matters to Casandra

Casandra Haas’ mom Diane lived her life fully. She was driven at work and passionate about her hobbies, taking up scuba diving despite a fear of water. When she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer Diane was determined to be “fine”. And for five years she was. When Diane entered the...
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couple sitting on a park bench with an umbrella

Your donation matters to Lois and Paul

There are certain times in our lives that stand out for us. For Paul Martin it was the day he learned about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). His wife Lois has battled bipolar depression most of her life. Over the years, the depression had grown into additional ailments, such as anxiety and...
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