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A Message to the Alumni
Dr. Thierry Mesana, MD, PhD, FRCSC, President and Chief Executive Officer, University of Ottawa Heart Institute speaks to the Alumni about the importance of its impact on the Institute.
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The Patient Alumni Association shares news articles and videos, reminders about upcoming events and more through our online communities:
Members’ Stories
Members of Patient Alumni come from all walks of life but have one thing in common, their experience with the Ottawa Heart Institute. Get to know a bit more about our members and who makes us what we are.
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The Five-Boro Ride, New York City, May 2015 By Stephen Sharp, CPA, CA, Board Member and Treasurer of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni I have been meaning to write this article since we returned from our memorable bicycle ride in New York City. Today, I realized how truly important it was to get this article submitted. It is two years since my…
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| Posted on March 1, 2016 |
A Simple Solution for a Complex Problem By: Carolyn Cooper RN, MScN, BA Crim, BA RLST, CD Clinical Nurse Manager I represent the Ottawa Heart Institute on the Board of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Patient Alumni. In this capacity, I am privileged to see first hand the difference the Patient Alumni make in the every day lives of our patients. I would…
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| Posted on March 1, 2016 |
Towards a Healthier Lifestyle: One Step at a Time A First Person Story By John Herzog Each time the respected professionals at the Heart Institute reminded me to walk at least half an hour a day, I committed to do so. Much to my embarrassment, the resolve evaporated, usually within weeks. There was always a good reason: the weather is too cold, too warm,…
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| Posted on March 1, 2016 |
Greetings and Salutations; My name is Joseph Lunn but you can call me Joe. I was asked if I could, to write down something that would describe my experience here at the Heart Institute. Well the first thing that pops into my head is, have you ever watched MASH, the show about a hospital unit in Korea? Well being here reminds me of that…
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| Posted on November 29, 2015 |
WOMAN WITH HEART DISEASE, AGE 55, OTTAWA, ON My name is Diane Burton, I’m 55 years old and I have heart disease. I was not at risk of a heart attack; after all I was only 54 years old. My husband’s father passed away at the age of 52 with a massive heart attack, so he was the one we worried about. Although my…
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| Posted on November 20, 2015 |
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HEART KEEPER, AGE 65, OTTAWA, ON Hello, my name is Lannie Mitchell. I am 65 years old. The issue that most affects my heart health is my weight. I have had a constant struggle with being overweight for the past 40 years. Although I’m never sick, and I do exercise daily, both my blood pressure and cholesterol are controlled by medication. My family doctor…
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| Posted on November 20, 2015 |
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WOMAN AT RISK, AGE 59, OTTAWA, ON Hello my name is Maureen Monaghan. I am 59 years old and 10 years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes. I also have a family history of heart disease so I know I have a higher risk of heart problems. Up until last year I had been able to manage my diabetes on my own with diet…
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| Posted on November 20, 2015 |
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Often when we think of heart disease, we think of it affecting the elderly. The truth is that heart disease can affect anyone, at any age. Even somebody who is only 24 years old, like me. When I was only two years old, I had open-heart surgery at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. At 16, I received his first pacemaker. I suffer from Atrial…
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| Posted on February 10, 2014 |
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In August 1988, Dr. Keon replaced my aortic valve with a metal one. Of all the challenges I faced while recovering, the greatest was an emotional and mental one. It was very difficult immediately after surgery for me to get my head around the idea of getting well and exercising again. However, I stuck to my challenge and thanks to the help of the…
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| Posted on February 10, 2014 |
In December 2005, at the age of forty-two, I bent down to pick something up from the floor at my father’s house and experienced a sharp pain my chest followed by a tingling sensation in my arms. I knew I was having a heart attack. After driving myself home my wife called 911 and an ambulance arrived. After being taken to the Queensway Carleton…
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| Posted on February 10, 2013 |
