At the HealthEast Pain Center, we are committed to helping you manage your pain and experience an improved quality of life. For your reference, we have compiled the following list of frequently asked questions. If you have further questions, please ask us. We are happy to help.
- What should I do if my medicine is not working?
- What if I have side effects from my medication?
- What happens if my pain narcotic medication is changed?
- What information should I leave on the prescription refill line?
- What should I do if I have a problem after clinic hours or on the weekend?
- How do I get my test results?
- What should I do if my problems or symptoms continue, worsen or come back?
- What if I have more pain after my injection?
- What should I do if I need more information about my condition or treatment?
- What if the prescribed medication, test or treatment is not covered by my insurance?
- What if I need my medical records sent to myself or another party?
- What should I do if I have forms that need to be filled out by my provider?
It may take some time to see the benefits of new medications; however, if you have been on your new medicine for 14 days and it isn't helping your pain, please make an appointment in the clinic with your nurse practitioner (NP) or physician's assistant (PA). We cannot make changes to medication or prescriptions over the phone.
If you have symptoms such as hives or trouble breathing, stop taking the medicine and call 911. Less serious side effects such as nausea, increased tiredness or mild dizziness usually get better within a few days. If they do not, please schedule an appointment with your NP or PA.
You may be asked to bring your unused medication to the clinic appointment. You will be given information on how to safely dispose of your medications.
You are responsible for your medication and making sure it is filled on time. Refills can only be provided during office hours of 8 am to 4:30 pm. If you need a refill of non-narcotic medications, please call your pharmacy. For narcotic or opioid medication refills, call 651-232-5354 and leave a message on your provider line including the following information: your first and last name name (including spelling), the medication you need, and if you want the prescription mailed or picked up. Please allow three days notice for prescriptions to be picked up, and allow seven days notice if the prescription is to be mailed. If you want the prescription mailed, please leave the mailing address. Opioid prescriptions are mailed directly to your pharmacy.
The after hour number for the on-call doctor is 763-537-6000. For emergencies, call 911.
If your test was ordered through HealthEast, we will discuss results with you during your next clinic visit. If your primary care clinician ordered the test, please contact that office for results.
Tell your provider about your symptoms at your next scheduled visit. If you do not have a scheduled appointment, call to schedule the next available appointment at 651-232-5354.
If you received a therapeutic injection using local anesthetic (numbing medication) and a steroid, it might take three to seven days for the steroid to work. If you received only numbing medicine, this is a diagnostic injection, and the pain might return when the numbing medicine wears off. Sometimes pain is not relieved with one injection. Your clinician may recommend additional injections. For steroid injections, we recommend waiting two to four weeks between injections. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please call us at 651-232-5354.
Discuss any questions or concerns with your provider at your clinic visit. We suggest you come with a list of your questions in preparation for your appointment.
All procedures scheduled in advance are submitted to your insurance company before the procedure. If medications are not covered by insurance, your pharmacy should fax us at 651-232-5217 to start the prior authorization process with your insurance company. If a prior authorization is needed, this may take one to two weeks to complete. We will notify your pharmacy once we receive the decision.
If you need copies of your records, you need to sign a release of information form and provide complete information about where to send the records, including the address. Click here for the release of information form.
Forms typically require two weeks to process and need to be discussed with your provider at your clinic visit to clarify documentation requirements and responsibility. If you have an attorney or third party requesting forms or a letter, the request needs to come from the attorney's or third party's office in writing.
Contact HealthEast Pain Center
We'll design a program specifically for you.
Procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, allowing you to keep a regular daily routine.


The following is written to outline some points of consideration regarding pregnancies progressing beyond 42 weeks in length.
Postdates pregnancies are often treated as conditions of absolute risk and result in much intervention. While interventions may be required in specific cases, induction of labor is commonly justified by referring to unreliable means of assessing gestational length. After this classification, labor is often induced with aggressive methods which cause undue stress on the unborn, while little consideration is given to equally-effective and minimally invasive natural methods.
It has been discovered that as many as half of “postdates” women are really at term.
Our dating methods and definition of the average length of pregnancy could stand to be reconsidered. It has been discovered that the average gestational length exceeds 280 days.  Also, “ultrasound dating has a margin of error greater than dating by LMP.” (p. 186)  If both the methods for determining age and the commonly-accepted “average” are both highly innaccurate, we are subjecting women to unnecessary stress by implying that they are outside the realm of normal when, in fact, they are experiencing a very normal pregnancy.
While ultrasound dating may be more accurate when performed between 6 and 12 weeks menstrual age,  many obstetricians are not “trained to do or interpret sonograms and over 70% were performed by their assistants”.  This is a possible correction within the system which has not been taken into practice. Thus, “components of the biophysical profile will continue to be measured against equally poorly validated fetal surveillance tests.”
- Even in cases of postmaturity, induction may pose a greater risk than any concerns related to the fetus’ gestational age.
“…There is absolutely no study, no evidence whatsoever, that routine induction at any gestational age improves perinatal outcome.”  It has been proven that induction and augmentation may increase chance of infection, fetal stress, etc., [4, 11] and the findings of a study comparing early versus late induction were: “Paradoxically, induction succeeds best in women with ripe cervixes, but these are the women most likely to begin labor shortly. If the goal is preventing postmaturity syndrome, these women may not need induction. ‘[W]e now postpone the induction of labor in post-term cases, as the risk in monitoring the natural course, certainly up to day 308, seems minimal.’”
This tells us something very important. When inductions “fail” or do not succeed to induce labor within OUR time frame, it is safe to assume that the mother’s body is simply not responding because the time is not right. If one had never intervened, then, labor and birth would proceed at the rates which were intended in the first place.
Tests, such as the antepartum non-stress test (NST) are known to have a 40-80% false-positive rate. The conditions for which it screens are largely incurable, which gives one cause to wonder what the exact advantage is of a test with such a high false-positive rate which “can lead to undue psychological strain on the woman and her family, unnecessary intervention, and possible iatrogenic problems from the intervention.”
- The safest option is to wait, followed by the option of using more natural means of inducing labor.
Rather than contribute to anxiety, discontentment, and possibly danger to the mother and baby, care providers ought to watch and wait, knowing that indications for induction/augmentation will present themselves if they are truly necessary. Natural induction methods are to be considered first, although resulting stress on the fetus cannot be dismissed.
“In the absence of signs [of growth retardation] and in otherwise uncomplicated pregnancies, the safest management of prolonged pregnancy is to await the spontaneous onset of labor.”
It has been proven that:
- Nipple stimulation ripens the cervix and shortens pregnancy [8-9]
- Membrane stripping does not affect the mode of delivery when used to shorten labor [5-7]
From these findings, we may conclude that many a healthy mother carrying a pregnancy lasting longer than 42 weeks may do so more safely under limited management without increased risk to her or her child. If it becomes necessary, intervention ought to begin in its most minimal form, progressing to more invasive means with the correct indications and with full disclosure of the risks to the parents.
- Shearer MH and Estes M. A critical review of the recent literature on postterm pregnancy and a look at women’s experiences. Birth 1985;12(2):95-111.
- Nichols CW. Postdate pregnancy. Part I. A literature review. J Nurse-Midwif 1985a;30(4):222-239.
- Schutte MF et al. Management of premature rupture of membranes: the risk of vaginal examination to the infant. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1983;146(4):395-400.
- Sims ME and Walther FJ. Neonatal morbidity and mortality and long-term outcome of postdate infants. Clin Obstet Gynecol 1989;32(2):285-293.
- Satin AJ and Hankins GD. Induction of labor in the postdate fetus. Clin Obstet Gynecol 1989;32(2):269-277.
- McColgin Swet al. Stripping membranes at term: can it safely reduce the incidence of post-term pregnancies? Obstet Gynecol 1990;76(4):678-680.
- El-Torkey M and Grant JM. Sweeping of the membranes is an effective method of induction. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1992;99(6):455-458.
- Elliott JP and Flaherty JF. The use of breast stimulation to prevent postdate pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1984;149(6)628-632.
- Salmon YM, et al. Cervical ripening by breast stimulation. Obstet Gynecol 1986;67(1)21-24.
- Gregor CL, Paine LL, and Johnson TR. Antepartum fetal assessment. A nurse-midwifery perspective. J Nurse Midwifery 1991;36(3):153-167.
- Augensen K et al. Randomised comparison of early versus late induction of labour in post-term pregnancy. Br Med J 1987;294:1192-1195. (Norway)
- Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities, Henci Goer


We recommend our services and invite to cooperate on:
- Pharmacokinetic studies of drug candidates in various animal species (mouse, rat, rabbit) following intravenous, intragastric, subcutaneous (including osmotic pumps) and intraperitoneal administration with the possibility of multiple sampling from the single animal (jugular vein cannulation)
- Allometric scaling and dose selection for clinical trials
- Evaluation of binding of new compounds to plasma proteins by means of equilibrium dialysis and ultrafiltration with mathematical data analysis (Scatchard method)
- Assessment of metabolism and transport of new compounds using isolated, perfused organs
- Basic physicochemical and kinetics studies of drug release in a flow-through apparatus as well as data analysis using mathematical models.
- Determination of drug (drug candidates) and their metabolites concentrations in blood, urine and tissue homogenates using HPLC analytical methods with DAD, fluorimetric and electrochemical detection as well as LC – MS/MS technique.
- Chromatographic separation and quantitative analysis of enantiomers in biological matrices
- Monitoring of drug and metabolite concentrations in blood and body fluids in patients
- Pharmacokinetic and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data analysis using professional software


Providing the highest standard of education, the most informed curriculum and a nation-wide campus footprint, Endeavour is Australia’s largest provider of Higher Education to the complementary medicine sector.We provide Bachelor of Health Science degrees in Naturopathy, Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine, Acupuncture and Myotherapy, and an Honours Program in these disciplines, as well as a fully online Bachelor of Complementary Medicine.At Endeavour College of Natural Health (formerly known as the Australian College of Natural Medicine) we are committed to the future and success of Natural Health both in Australia and internationally.
- Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy)
- Bachelor of Health Science (Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine
- Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture)
- Bachelor of Health Science (Myotherapy)


When it comes to the dental health of your child, finding the right pediatric dentist is crucial. A top-rated pediatric dentist can provide exceptional care and create a positive dental experience for your little one. If you’re seeking the best dental care for your child in Las Vegas, look no further than the Top Rated Pediatric Dentist in Las Vegas. In this article, we will unveil the qualities and services of a top-rated pediatric dentist, highlighting their expertise, nurturing approach, and the impact they can have on your child’s oral health. Join us as we explore the exceptional care provided by a top-rated pediatric dentist for little smiles.
The Qualities of a Top Rated Pediatric Dentist
A top-rated pediatric dentist possesses a unique set of qualities that contribute to their excellence in caring for little smiles. Here are some key qualities to look for:
1. Extensive Pediatric Expertise
A top-rated pediatric dentist has specialized training and extensive experience in treating children’s dental needs. They understand the unique growth and development of children’s teeth and jaws, allowing them to provide specialized care tailored to their young patients.
2. Gentle and Nurturing Approach
A top-rated pediatric dentist creates a nurturing environment that helps children feel comfortable and at ease during dental visits. They employ a gentle approach and use child-friendly techniques to minimize anxiety and build trust with their young patients.
3. Excellent Communication Skills
Effective communication is crucial in pediatric dentistry. A top-rated pediatric dentist communicates clearly and compassionately with both children and their parents. They explain procedures in a way that children can understand, answer questions patiently, and provide oral health education to parents.
4. Behavior Management Techniques
Managing the behavior of young patients is a vital aspect of pediatric dentistry. A top-rated pediatric dentist possesses excellent behavior management skills, using positive reinforcement, distraction techniques, and age-appropriate explanations to create a positive dental experience for children.
5. Advanced Facilities and Technology
A top-rated pediatric dentist invests in advanced facilities and utilizes modern dental technology to provide the highest level of care. They stay updated with the latest advancements in pediatric dentistry to offer their patients the most effective and comfortable treatments available.
6. Focus on Preventive Care
Preventive care is a key component of pediatric dentistry. A top-rated pediatric dentist places a strong emphasis on preventive treatments such as dental cleanings, fluoride applications, dental sealants, and nutritional guidance. They work closely with parents to educate them on oral hygiene practices that promote optimal oral health.
Services Provided by a Top Rated Pediatric Dentist
A top-rated pediatric dentist offers a range of services to meet the unique dental needs of children. Here are some common services provided:
1. Dental Examinations and Cleanings
Regular dental examinations and cleanings are essential for maintaining good oral health. A top-rated pediatric dentist conducts thorough examinations, checking for tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental issues. They also perform professional cleanings to remove plaque and tartar buildup.
2. Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a preventive treatment that involves applying a thin, protective coating on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. This helps prevent tooth decay by sealing out food particles and bacteria from the deep grooves and pits of the teeth. A top-rated pediatric dentist can apply dental sealants to help protect your child’s teeth from cavities.
3. Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride treatments are an effective way to strengthen the tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay. A top-rated pediatric dentist can apply fluoride treatments to your child’s teeth, helping to protect them from acid attacks and promoting overall oral health.
4. Restorative Treatments
In the event of dental issues such as cavities or tooth damage, a top-rated pediatric dentist can provide restorative treatments. This may include dental fillings, dental crowns, or other procedures aimed at restoring the form and function of the affected teeth.
5. Orthodontic Evaluations
A top-rated pediatric dentist can evaluate the alignment and growth of your child’s teeth and jaws. They can identify any orthodontic issues early on and provide appropriate guidance or referral to an orthodontic specialist if necessary.
6. Dental Education and Guidance
A top-rated pediatric dentist recognizes the importance of dental education and provides guidance to both children and parents. They offer advice on proper brushing and flossing techniques, discuss the importance of a balanced diet for oral health, and address any concerns or questions related to children’s dental care.
Choosing a Top Rated Pediatric Dentist
Selecting a top-rated pediatric dentist for your child is an important decision. Here are some factors to consider:
1. Recommendations and Reviews
Seek recommendations from trusted sources, such as family, friends, or your child’s pediatrician. Read online reviews and testimonials to gain insights into the experiences of other parents and their children with different pediatric dentists.
2. Qualifications and Credentials
Research the qualifications and credentials of the pediatric dentists you are considering. Look for dentists who have completed specialized training in pediatric dentistry and are members of reputable dental associations.
3. Communication and Comfort
Schedule a consultation or initial visit with the pediatric dentist to assess their communication style and the comfort level they create for your child. Pay attention to how well they engage with your child and address any concerns or questions you may have.
4. Office Environment
Visit the dental office to observe the environment and facilities. Ensure that the office is child-friendly, clean, and equipped with modern technology. A welcoming and comfortable environment can contribute to a positive dental experience for your child.
5. Location and Convenience
Consider the location of the dental office and the convenience it offers for regular visits. A conveniently located pediatric dentist can make it easier to maintain consistent dental care for your child.
Choosing a top-rated pediatric dentist is essential for ensuring exceptional care for your child’s dental health. A top-rated pediatric dentist possesses specialized expertise, a nurturing approach, and a commitment to providing the highest level of care for little smiles. By focusing on preventive care, utilizing advanced technology, and emphasizing communication and comfort, these dental professionals create a positive dental experience that sets the foundation for a lifetime of optimal oral health. Take the time to research and select a top-rated pediatric dentist who can deliver exceptional care and help your child maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.


MESSAGE FROM THE CEO AND VP RESEARCH
At Women’s College Research Institute (WCRI), we are asking the questions that really matter. Our internationally recognized scientists lead innovative and focused research programs that deliver essential health system solutions and are designed to improve the health of women and to target chronic conditions affecting women across their lifespan.
By collaborating with other scientists internationally and engaging with diverse groups, we are reaching out to the world and transforming care through science. Our research enhances prevention strategies, improves treatment models, and transforms how care is delivered.
In WCRI’s 2014 Impact + Innovation Report, we demonstrate how our research is being used to support services for women with mental illness, to empower women in managing their cancer risk, to create standards that are being adapted internationally to increase the value and quality of research, and to shape international guidelines for chronic diseases.
As part of our dedication to disseminate knowledge on women’s health, we created Women’s Xchange. Through this knowledge translation and exchange centre, we are leading a provincial initiative to make sex- and gender-based analysis part of all research studies and to provide the tools to make this happen. Our goal is to ensure that all studies will provide a unique perspective on the distinctive aspects of women’s health. And when we learn about women, we also learn about men. Promoting a gender-sensitive approach to research improves health and quality of life for all.
Much of our impact can be measured in the way we share our knowledge with the world. Our scientists continue to be exceptionally productive, publishing their findings in some of the most influential journals internationally. In the past year, our scientists published more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, a 60 per cent increase from the last five years, and the global media coverage of our science shows just how important and relevant our work is to the world. Our growing leadership and capacity is also reflected in our steadfast fiscal growth – our external research funding has grown more than 25 per cent over the last year and more than 60 per cent over the last five years – and in a challenging funding environment.
Most of our scientists are also clinicians – their research is informed by their clinical practice and can be directly translated into improving clinical care locally and beyond. This will be enhanced when the research institute moves into Women’s College Hospital’s new facility, which will be completed in 2015. This union will bring our scientists even closer to the clinics, programs and patients that they are impacting. The iconic pink cube at the centre of this new state-of-the-art facility will become a space that we will use to exchange ideas and continue to grow our groundbreaking research and reach.
DEVELOPING INTERVENTIONS TO HELP PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN MANAGE MENTAL ILLNESS
Untreated depression in pregnancy and postpartum can have harmful effects for mothers and their infants and families.
That’s why Cindy-Lee Dennis, PhD, and Dr. Simone Vigod are working together to better understand depression in pregnancy and postpartum and to develop innovative, accessible treatment interventions to help manage it. Their work has attracted remarkable funding and international media attention and is advancing mental health services for women in Ontario and beyond.
Dennis currently holds the Shirley Brown Chair in Women’s Mental Health Research at Women’s College Hospital (WCH). The chair – a partnership between WCH, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the University of Toronto – was created by a community-based fundraising campaign honouring a young lawyer who succumbed to severe depression.
“If left untreated, depression in pregnancy or the postpartum period can have significant negative effects on child development that can last into adulthood,” says Dennis. “My program of research focuses on developing and evaluating interventions that improve maternal health and enhance infant outcomes.”
Dennis recently evaluated, for the first time, telephone-based interpersonal psychotherapy by trained nurses for the treatment of postpartum depression. The results showed that therapy can be effectively administered to depressed mothers across Canada.
“We know that interpersonal psychotherapy is an effective treatment for postpartum depression and mothers often prefer it over medication,” says Dennis. “However in its usual face-to-face format, women in rural and remote areas often do not have access to it. If the telephone format is implemented, all women could receive this effective treatment at times that are convenient for them.”
Dennis was invited to discuss this trial with health policy-makers in New York City, as they are considering implementing the intervention for depressed mothers across their city.
Dennis is also conducting a study to examine the onset, course and consequences of postpartum depression in mothers and fathers.
“This study will produce urgently needed knowledge that will inform the development of effective postpartum depression interventions for both parents,” she says.
"While antidepressant drugs are the standard of care for moderate to severe depression, many pregnant women are hesitant to take the drugs; however, these women are also aware of the risks of untreated depression. They have a difficult decision to make about their treatment during pregnancy."
– Dr. Simone Vigod
In 2012, Dennis presented the inaugural Clinician-Scientist Award from the Shirley Brown Chair program to Dr. Vigod, a psychiatrist in the reproductive life stages program at WCH and scientist at Women’s College Research Institute. One of Dr. Vigod’s areas of research is answering important questions about how to better manage depression in pregnancy.
“Current treatments for depression in pregnancy are less than ideal,” says Dr. Vigod. “While antidepressant drugs are the standard of care for moderate to severe depression, many pregnant women are hesitant to take the drugs; however, these women are also aware of the risks of untreated depression. They have a difficult decision to make about their treatment during pregnancy.”
To address this issue, Dr. Vigod is exploring the use of non-drug treatments for depression in pregnancy. This year she will launch a pilot study to evaluate an innovative treatment – transcranial direct current stimulation – for moderate to severe depression in pregnant women.
“If effective, this would offer women an alternative to medication,” says Dr. Vigod.
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS THAT STRENGTHEN THE REACH OF HEALTH SERVICES
Gender-based violence is believed to be the most widespread human rights violation of our time, seriously harming women, families and communities across the globe.
"According to the World Health Organization, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence, and we know that this type of violence has a detrimental effect on the mental, sexual and reproductive health of women and girls that can sometimes be fatal," says Janice Du Mont, EdD, a scientist at Women’s College Research Institute (WCRI).
Du Mont’s research is focused on making the world a better place for women and girls. She leads an interdisciplinary research program that examines the impact of gender-based violence on women’s health. Her work has focused largely on evaluating hospital-based programs and policies in order to improve health service delivery to victims of sexual assault and interpersonal violence in Ontario and abroad.
"Much of my work could not have been possible without my partnership with the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centres," says Du Mont.
The Ontario Network of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centres is made up of 35 hospital-based centres that provide emergency care to victimized individuals. The first centre was established at Women’s College Hospital (WCH) in 1984, and since then, the network has grown to include hospitals across the province. Sheila Macdonald, MN, is the provincial coordinator of the network and clinical manager of the centre based at WCH.
"My close collaboration with Sheila and the network is allowing us to do research that addresses the complex needs of victims of violence and provides the basis for improving and expanding forensic and healthcare services for these individuals," says Du Mont.
Du Mont and Macdonald have conducted several large-scale multi-centre studies to develop, implement and evaluate programs of sexual assault care. Their findings are effectively shaping health policy and practice; for example, recommendations from a study designed to address the unmet needs of drug-facilitated sexual assault victims led to new provincial standards for sexual assault care. This research received widespread global media attention. Another province-wide multi-centre study resulted in a policy to provide free-of-charge HIV post-exposure prophylaxis to sexual assault victims in Ontario.
"We are able to make these significant strides in advancing care and service delivery because we involve important stakeholders in the work we do," says Du Mont. "This includes policy-makers, healthcare providers, community organizations, and representatives from the legal and law enforcement sectors."
"Much of my work could not have been possible without my partnership with the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centres."
– Janice Du Mont, EdD
Currently, Du Mont and Macdonald are collaborating with elder abuse experts to develop an elder abuse intervention that will eventually be implemented and evaluated at Ontario’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centres. In a coordinated and integrated manner, this intervention will address the complex functional, social, forensic and medical needs of older adults who have been abused.
"Elder abuse is a growing issue in the world’s aging population, particularly for women," says Du Mont. "We hope that our intervention will prevent or reduce the use of emergency services and other health services by victimized older adults."
USING VIRTUAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE WOMEN’S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Women who have been treated for gynecological cancer often struggle with concerns about body image, sexuality and self-esteem. And because these concerns are personal and sensitive, many women feel uncomfortable talking about their challenges with their doctor and close ones.
Helping these women has been an area of interest for Catherine Classen, PhD, senior scientist at Women’s College Research Institute, as well as academic lead of the Trauma Therapy Program, director of the Women’s Mental Health Research Program, and clinical psychologist at Women’s College Hospital.
Classen and her team developed a much-needed private, online support group to help reduce psychosexual distress for women who have been treated for gynecological cancer. The intervention, called GyneGals, is currently being trialled across North America with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Ovarian Cancer Canada.
"The idea behind GyneGals was to create a comfortable space for women to discuss how gynecological cancer has changed the way they feel about themselves, their relationships and their sexuality, and to learn new ways for coping," says Classen. "And because GyneGals is online, it’s accessible to women, no matter where they live."
GyneGals is a 12-week intervention provided in a discussion board format, where women can contribute at any time and mental health professionals participate as moderators. There are also two moderated chat sessions. Radiation oncologist Dr. Lisa Barbera of Odette Cancer Centre and surgical oncologist Dr. Sarah Ferguson of Princess Margaret Hospital participate in the second chat session to address concerns or questions.
"In my experience, cancer patients are reticent to talk about sexual issues in face-to-face groups. Offering online support groups for gynecological cancer patients addresses an unmet need."
– Catherine Classen, PhD
"Online groups can be particularly helpful for conditions that are highly sensitive and private, potentially stigmatizing, or so rare it is virtually impossible to get a group together," says Classen. "In my experience, cancer patients are reticent to talk about sexual issues in face-to-face groups. Offering online support groups for gynecological cancer patients addresses an unmet need."
Although the trial is still ongoing, many women have already said that GyneGals provided them with useful information and tips for coping and helped them realize that their challenges are not unusual.
If the intervention proves to be effective, the long-term goal is to make it widely available to women.
"We hope to reach as many women as possible with GyneGals and help support them in their journey towards improved health and well-being," says Classen.
SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN ONTARIO
At Women’s College Research Institute (WCRI), we believe that investing in community-based women’s health research has the potential to improve the health and well-being of all women in Ontario.
This vision sparked the creation of Women’s Xchange, a knowledge translation and exchange centre based at Women’s College Hospital (WCH) and funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. By promoting the development of women’s health research across the province, the centre aims to create a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system for women and all Ontarians.
"Women’s Xchange is really about reaching out to researchers, trainees and community partners, and connecting and supporting them to make women’s health a priority in research," says Dr. Paula Rochon, vice-president of research at WCH and lead of Women’s Xchange. "It leverages the 100 years of history and expertise housed at WCH to grow momentum in women’s health research throughout Ontario."
Last year, Women’s Xchange launched the $15K Challenge, a competition that provides funding to researchers and community organizations across Ontario to conduct research to advance the health of women and girls. The initiative allows community groups to come forward with research ideas and partner with academics to study important questions. Ultimately, these projects will benefit local communities and some may be further developed provincially and beyond.
"We know that women’s health is influenced by many factors beyond traditional healthcare," says Robin Mason, PhD, a community-based researcher at WCRI and scientific lead of Women’s Xchange. "The $15K Challenge is not only an opportunity for us to mentor and empower community organizations in conducting research, but it also has the potential to improve the health of local communities."
"The $15K Challenge is not only an opportunity for us to mentor and empower community organizations in conducting research, but it also has the potential to improve the health of local communities."
– Robin Mason, PhD
Women’s Xchange developed a community-based research application and review process for the $15K Challenge and invited groups across Ontario to submit projects that would identify unmet needs within a community, explore or test solutions to problems, or better understand factors that influence women’s health.
In its first three rounds of competition, Women’s Xchange received 71 proposals for small-scale projects initiated by community organizations, as well as 17 for large-scale projects that would involve collaborations between community and academic organizations. In total, 24 small projects and two large projects were funded.
"The research funded by the $15K Challenge will address a number of women’s health issues across a broad range of populations and locations," says Mason. "Through these projects, we will learn more about how to improve the health of Ontario’s tremendous diversity of women."
EMPOWERING WOMEN TO MANAGE THEIR CANCER RISK
The Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit at Women’s College Research Institute (WCRI) is a world leader in the study of inherited cancers. Led by Dr. Steven Narod, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair at Women’s College Hospital (WCH), the unit has become internationally recognized for identifying effective strategies to prevent and manage breast and ovarian cancer, particularly in women and families with an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes produce proteins that help repair DNA; but when the genes are mutated, the proteins don’t function normally and increase a woman’s risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Dr. Narod and his team have the world’s largest bio-bank of samples from BRCA mutation carriers (in collaboration with over 70 centres across the globe), and they are using this resource to better understand how BRCA mutations shape cancer risk and prognosis in women.
In the past year, the team has published several high-profile studies that may strengthen the recommendation for a number of cancer management strategies. A study by Amy Finch, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Narod, demonstrated the clear benefit of preventive removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes on reducing overall cancer risk and mortality in women with BRCA mutations. Kelly Metcalfe, PhD, an adjunct scientist at WCRI, found that bilateral mastectomy may be an effective first-line treatment for BRCA mutation carriers with early-stage breast cancer. And Joanne Kotsopoulos, PhD, a scientist at WCRI, showed that the use of oral contraceptives at a young age increases the risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 carriers and should be avoided.
"Our team’s work is benefiting women of all ages and providing accessible prevention and management strategies that women and clinicians around the world can use," says Dr. Narod. "Many of our findings also inform the genetic testing and counselling services we provide at our own unit to families with BRCA mutations."
The Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit is also working to uncover new genetic markers that have a role in cancer risk and mortality. Using the latest technology, Dr. Mohammad Akbari, scientist at WCRI, is leading the team’s state-of-the-art laboratory at WCH to identify new genetic mutations that may impact cancer risk and survival.
"Our research studies demonstrate, time and time again, the importance of providing genetic testing for women at the time of cancer diagnosis and even earlier in their lives."
– Dr. Steven Narod
In addition to conducting world-class cancer genetics research, Dr. Narod and his team are continuously striving to increase global access to cancer genetic testing. The team’s laboratory was the first to offer rapid comprehensive genetic testing for BRCA mutations at the research level in Canada. Since then, the unit has been actively involved in enabling other countries to initiate their own cancer genetics screening programs. For instance, Dr. Narod and his team have provided genetic testing infrastructure and training for physicians and scientists in the Bahamas, so that all women on the islands can be eligible for BRCA testing. The unit is following this model to do the same in other countries including Brazil, Iran, Mexico and Vietnam.
And here in Ontario, Dr. Narod and Metcalfe have re-launched the world’s only cancer genetic testing program for Jewish women. As part of the study, Jewish women in Ontario are being offered free genetic testing for the common BRCA genetic mutations found in the Ashkenazi Jewish population.
"Our study on Jewish women will help identify those with a genetic predisposition to developing cancer who might otherwise not come to the attention of the medical community and receive the preventive care and screening that might benefit them," says Metcalfe, who is leading the study with Dr. Narod.
"Our research studies demonstrate, time and time again, the importance of providing genetic testing for women at the time of cancer diagnosis and even earlier in their lives," says Dr. Narod. "Knowing whether a woman has a BRCA mutation will help guide prevention and treatment decisions and improve the health and longevity of women around the world."
IMPROVING QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY IN MEDICAL RESEARCH
Health research has led to significant global health improvements. But experts have made the case that many more important discoveries could be made if the global research community addressed inefficiencies in the way studies are designed, carried out and reported.
This year, Dr. An-Wen Chan, Phelan Scientist at Women’s College Research Institute, co-led a group of experts from Europe, Australia and the United States to publish a series of papers in The Lancet that outlined solutions to reverse these inefficiencies.
"Over one hundred billion dollars of research investment are wasted globally every year," says Dr. Chan. "But much of this waste is avoidable. Our series of papers documents the extent of problems at each stage of health research and proposes far-reaching recommendations to increase value and reduce waste in research."
These recommendations targeted academic institutions, funders, policy-makers, journals, research ethics boards, and regulators – stakeholders who shape how research is conducted.
One of the papers, led by Dr. Chan, put a spotlight on the fact that the research community and healthcare professionals do not have access to complete and unbiased study information.
"Half of all health research is never published," says Dr. Chan. "When studies do get published, access to them is often restricted and costly, and key details are often missing about how well the study was conducted. We need to fix this inaccessibility issue because it not only wastes research and healthcare dollars, but more importantly, it jeopardizes patient health as doctors may unknowingly prescribe ineffective or harmful treatments."
In his paper, Dr. Chan called on stakeholders to implement incentives and standards that will encourage scientists to fully share and report their studies.
"Half of all health research is never published. We need to fix this inaccessibility issue because it not only wastes research and healthcare dollars, but more importantly, it jeopardizes patient health."
– Dr. An-Wen Chan
One initiative already fulfilling this goal is a set of guidelines developed by the SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) group to help scientists develop high-quality, detailed clinical trial protocols.
Chaired by Dr. Chan, the SPIRIT group is an international group of trial investigators, journal editors, industry sponsors, ethicists and funders. Their guidelines have received global endorsement by over 25 trial groups, industry sponsors and academic institutions. In addition, over 75 medical journals have introduced policies to encourage scientists to adhere to the SPIRIT guidance, and some countries in Europe have implemented the SPIRIT guidelines nationally.
Dr. Chan is now collaborating with MaRS Innovation to develop a web-based tool that will help researchers develop, format and manage their clinical trial study protocols according to SPIRIT guidelines.
TAPPING INTO SILICON VALLEY TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE
People with complex chronic diseases frequently transition between hospital care and community care and are not well served by our health system, which is built around institutions and disease conditions.
"As a primary care provider, I see first-hand how my patients with complex needs jump from one specialist to another to manage their health," says Dr. Onil Bhattacharyya, Frigon Blau Chair in Family Medicine Research at Women’s College Hospital (WCH). "Pulling this information together and creating a cohesive plan of care for these patients is challenging. A big question that drives much of my work as a scientist is, how can we organize care so that healthcare providers work together to meet patient needs?"
To address this issue, Dr. Bhattacharyya is co-leading an initiative called BRIDGES (Building Bridges to Integrate Care), a platform funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to select, support and develop new models of innovative, integrative care for people with complex chronic diseases.
"BRIDGES is an incubator that brings together researchers, healthcare providers, policy-makers and community service workers to think about healthcare solutions," says Dr. Bhattacharyya. "We have funded nine new models of care and helped project teams refine and test their model, creating a collaborative environment to help them redesign or expand their idea into a suite of related programs."
Dr. Bhattacharyya is building from this experience to create an incubator at WCH and lead a provincial network called BEACCON (Better Access and Care for Complex Needs), which is funded as part of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research.
"A big question that drives much of my work as a scientist is, how can we organize care so that healthcare providers work together to meet patient needs? "
– Dr. Onil Bhattacharyya
Under Dr. Bhattacharyya’s guidance, the incubator will apply methods from the software and design industries – which involve iteratively testing and refining a product or service to find something that works well for users – to develop new models of care for people with complex needs. These methods are about generating new ideas and managing uncertainty.
"Silicon Valley has been a hotbed of disruptive solutions that have delivered waves of products and services based on users’ needs and increased efficiency – something the health system desperately needs," says Dr. Bhattacharyya. "The approaches used by Silicon Valley startups embrace uncertainty and may offer health system solutions better suited to patients with complex chronic diseases."
Dr. Bhattacharyya’s work, focused on quality and innovation, is transforming the way health system research is done. His work has the potential to enable hospitals, institutions and doctors across the province to deliver cost-effective solutions that improve patient experience and outcomes.
VIEWING Anita Benoit, PhD
NEXT Dr. Jacob Udell
Some Aboriginal women are overburdened with stressors like violence, discrimination, stigma and poverty, all of which have contributed to this population’s over-representation in the Canadian HIV and AIDS epidemic.
"The goal of my research is to understand how Aboriginal women living with and without HIV experience and manage stress, so that I can then work with them to develop culturally appropriate, stress-reducing therapeutic interventions that will improve their health and well-being," says Anita Benoit, PhD.
Benoit is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Mona Loutfy, a scientist at Women’s College Research Institute whose research focuses on sexual and reproductive health, stigma and access to care for women with HIV.
To conduct her research, Benoit is collaborating with the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, and the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto. Her work is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Alternative Funding Plan Innovation Fund.
"Interventions to promote healthy outcomes and well-being in Aboriginal women typically lack a cultural component and an awareness of the lived experiences of Aboriginal women," says Benoit. "In my research, Aboriginal women’s lived experiences are at the forefront."
Benoit will use methods such as in-depth semi-structured one-on-one interviews and sharing circles to collect data. Her research process will include ceremonies by a spiritual leader, and the impact of stress on well-being will be discussed using a medicine wheel (a symbolic representation of the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of well-being and wholeness). Once Benoit designs an intervention with and for the women, she will pilot it with the group.
Some of her findings have already been used by the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto to create a space for peer outreach workers to talk about healthy sexuality and HIV prevention with interested individuals.
VIEWING Dr. Jacob Udell
NEXT Dr. Javaid Iqbal
Dr. Jacob Udell, a research fellow at Women’s College Research Institute and cardiologist at Women’s College Hospital, is leading innovative research to improve the heart health of Canadians.
This year, he was awarded the Rising Star Award from the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research for his novel work on understanding the effect of the flu vaccine on cardiovascular health. One of his recent studies found that the flu vaccine may reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
"If the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of cardiac events, these shots could have a considerable impact on cardiac health," says Dr. Udell.
To confirm the effectiveness and safety of the flu vaccine as a therapy for people with heart disease, he is now collaborating with researchers across the United States and Canada to conduct a large clinical trial. He hopes that this trial will explain the mechanism behind how the flu vaccine protects cardiovascular health.
"Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from cardiac causes in North America," says Dr. Udell. "While preventive care involves lifestyle changes and medication, soon we may also be able to tell patients that getting your flu shot may save your life."
Dr. Udell’s other projects include a trial to investigate the metabolic benefits of a new non-invasive laser liposuction technique, as well as a study of the long-term cardiovascular outcomes for women who take fertility therapy. His work has generated national and international recognition and media coverage, leading to his role as a spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
VIEWING Dr. Javaid Iqbal
"It is well known that immigrant women often face barriers to timely breast screening, putting themselves at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer at a more advanced stage," says Dr. Javaid Iqbal, a research fellow working with Drs. Paula Rochon and Steven Narod.
"Given the diverse and large immigrant population in Canada, understanding how immigrant status affects breast cancer presentation has been a major area of interest for me."
For his postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Iqbal is linking multiple databases in Ontario to compare breast cancer stage at diagnosis between immigrant women and the general population in Ontario.
"Diagnosing breast cancer at an earlier stage significantly increases a woman’s chances of survival," says Dr. Iqbal. "I hope that my research findings will help the scientific community to understand biological differences in breast cancer among multiethnic immigrants, as well as assist policy-makers to create awareness programs and screening policies to increase early detection in the most vulnerable ethnic groups among immigrants."
Once his fellowship is complete, Dr. Iqbal will start a master’s, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to evaluate the impact of recent and subsequent pregnancies on breast cancer mortality.
Young women diagnosed with breast cancer often ask about subsequent pregnancy and its possible impact on breast cancer mortality. Unfortunately, there are no guidelines that define a safe time to get pregnant after breast cancer.
"It is important that we obtain accurate data on the impact of pregnancy on breast cancer, so that health professionals can offer evidence-based guidance to women wishing to have a baby after breast cancer," says Dr. Iqbal.
THIS IS HOW OUR SCIENCE IS TRANSFORMING HOW CARE IS DELIVERED
Our scientists are partnering with other experts in Canada and around the world to lead scientific research that is having a global impact on improving the health of women, advancing care for people with chronic conditions, and delivering much needed health system solutions. Together we are tackling some of the most pressing issues in healthcare today and are inspiring real innovations in patient care globally.
IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF PATIENTS WITH BOTH OSTEOARTHRITIS AND DIABETES
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting one in eight Canadians. With no cure, management of the condition focuses on pain relief and preserving mobility.
"Diabetes is particularly common among people with osteoarthritis, given the shared risk factors – aging and obesity – and the negative effects of diabetes on joint tissues," says Dr. Gillian Hawker, a senior scientist at Women’s College Research Institute (WCRI) who focuses on improving access and outcomes of care for people with osteoarthritis.
Dr. Hawker is now collaborating with Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe, director of the Centre for Integrated Diabetes Care at Women’s College Hospital and scientist at WCRI, to understand the relationship between osteoarthritis and diabetes.
"Despite the fact that many people suffer from both conditions, little research has been done to understand how osteoarthritis impacts diabetes outcomes in people with both conditions," says Dr. Hawker.
"For example, physical inactivity due to osteoarthritis leads to poorer fitness and weight gain – does this contribute to poorer outcomes in people with diabetes? And does reduced hand strength and dexterity from hand osteoarthritis affect the ability of people with diabetes to prepare meals and perform glucose monitoring? Currently, we don’t have sufficient evidence about how these common chronic conditions interact. Understanding these relationships will help us to improve the way these patients are cared for."
Drs. Hawker and Lipscombe are conducting a population-based study that will answer important questions about the impact that osteoarthritis disability has on diabetes self-management and complications.
"If there is an association, our study will make a case for targeted screening and enhanced management of osteoarthritis in people with diabetes," says Dr. Lipscombe.
" Despite the fact that many people suffer from both conditions, we don’t have sufficient evidence about how these two common chronic conditions interact."
– Dr. Gillian Hawker
" While prophylactic oophorectomy is recommended for women with a BRCA mutation, the long-term effects on cardiovascular health and quality of life are not well understood."
– Dr. Steven Narod
RESHAPING THE FUTURE FOR WOMEN AT HIGH RISK FOR BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER
When a woman has a mutation in her BRCA genes, she is at a higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Research has long shown that women with a BRCA mutation can decrease their risk of cancer and mortality by surgically removing their ovaries and fallopian tubes. For this reason, doctors often advise women who carry such a mutation to have this procedure.
"While this prophylactic surgery is safe, its long-term effects on cardiovascular and bone health, as well as quality of life, are not well understood," says Dr. Steven Narod, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Breast Cancer at Women’s College Hospital. "We need to do more research so that we can establish clinical guidelines to help keep the young women who opt for this surgery healthy."
Dr. Narod and his postdoctoral fellow Amy Finch, PhD, are doing just that by teaming up with Dr. Paula Harvey, a scientist at Women’s College Hospital who specializes in cardiovascular disease in women.
"When a woman loses ovarian estrogen, it increases her risk for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death for women," says Dr. Harvey. "Understanding the effects of ovary removal surgery on young women with a BRCA mutation is a priority for this population."
Dr. Narod and Dr. Harvey’s study, funded by the the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, will follow a cohort – the largest of its kind in Canada – of premenopausal women undergoing this procedure.
"We’re hoping that our study will tell us more about how this surgery affects young women in the short and long term, and what doctors should be doing to improve these women’s health and well-being," says Dr. Narod.
ABOUT WCRI - WOMEN'S COLLEGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
A MESSAGE FROM KATHERINE HAY AND WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
The innovative work of Women’s College Research Institute (WCRI) is diverse, far-reaching and life-changing. While our reach is extraordinary indeed, so too is the exceptional commitment and generosity of our supporters!
By investing in multidisciplinary women’s health research with an international reach, our donors are partnering to enable the translation of groundbreaking discoveries into new models of clinical care, here and across the globe. Together, we are changing the future of healthcare.
Through the generosity of our donors, Women’s College Hospital Foundation was able to provide funding to support the extraordinary work of WCRI – over $1.3 million this year alone! We are also proud to announce the establishment of an endowed research Chair in Ambulatory Anesthesia, the first of its kind in Canada, created through the partnership and generous support of the department of anesthesia, an individual donor, a corporate donor and an estate gift. The creation of the chair provided the vehicle to establish the Toronto Pain Medicine Institute Network at Women’s College Hospital that will offer patients across the city integrated services and improved wait times.
The enormous ripple effect of the $8.4 million invested by donors since 2006 is best reflected in the inspiring work being carried out by WCRI chairs today. For example, the Shirley Brown Chair in Women’s Mental Health Research, Cindy-Lee Dennis, PhD, is exploring clinical problems facing women with postpartum depression and developing innovative, accessible treatment interventions. Last year, over 49,000 Canadian mothers experienced depression within the first 12 months postpartum, putting at least 80,000 children at risk for adverse outcomes. Work such as Dennis’s not only demonstrates the significant impact of donor support, but also serves as an illustration of how donor contributions can be a catalyst for future breakthroughs.
There is a sense of pride when we reflect on the partnership we have with donors and with WCRI. Our collective commitment to excellence and making a difference has put Women’s College Hospital at the forefront as an international leader in women’s health. Our scientists, physicians, staff, volunteers and – you, our donors – are building the hospital of the future, and changing the future of healthcare. Together, we can!
Endowed chairs, established by our generous supporters:


Around 8:15 p.m. Feb. 19, 1994, a woman named Gloria Ramirez was brought to the emergency room of Riverside General Hospital in Riverside, California while suffering from the effects of cervical cancer. What happened next landed Ramirez a place in the medical history books forever.
Ramirez was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, and although she was still conscious Ramirez could only answer questions with brief and sometimes incomprehensible responses. In terms of her health, she was taking short, rapid breaths and her heart was beating too quickly for its chambers to fill with blood causing her blood pressure to drop. Symptoms such as these are normally seen in elderly patients, and yet Ramirez was 31.
To help her, medical staff gave her Valium, Versed and Ativan to sedate her and lidocaine and Bretylium to slow her heartbeat. Meanwhile, Ramirez was having air forced into her lungs using an Ambu-bag, but nothing was working. Opting to instead try a defibrillator on her heart, the staff removed her shirt and pressed the electrodes to her chest, which is when the staff noticed an oily sheen covering Ramirez’s body and a fruity, garlicky odor which seemed to come from Ramirez’s mouth.
One of the nurses, Susan Kane, drew blood from Ramirez’s right arm, when Kane noticed a chemical smell coming from Ramirez’s blood, similar to ammonia. After a syringe was filled with Ramirez’s blood, both a medical resident and a doctor noticed manila-colored particles floating in the blood.
Then, Kane turned towards the door of the trauma room and began to sway, before someone gently guided her to the floor as she said her face felt like it was burning. As Kane was wheeled away on a gurney, medical resident Julie Gorchynski left the room and sat at a nurse’s desk. Before she could even say how she was feeling, Gorchynski slumped over and was also wheeled away on a gurney. Gorchynski began shaking intermittently and would stop breathing, take a few breaths, then stop breathing again.
In the trauma room, a third person passed out, and then woke up unable to control their limbs. Several other stafff members said they were feeling sick, which prompted the hospital to declare an emergency and move all of the emergency room patients to the parking lot outside the hospital. A skeleton crew of four people remained inside to try and save Ramirez’s life, but despite drugs and electric shocks Ramirez was pronounced dead at 8:50 p.m. Two staff members moved Ramirez’s body to an isolation room; one of whom, Sally Balderas, began retching and felt a burning sensation on her skin.
Overall, 23 of the 37 emergency room staff suffered at least one symptom from being exposed to Ramirez. Kane eventually started flailing and kicking while her skin continued to burn, while Gorchynski (the most severe victim) spent two weeks in intensive care and suffered from apnea, hepatitis, pancreatitis and avascular necrosis, a condition where bone tissue is starved of blood and begins to die.
Around 11 p.m., a Riverside County HAZMAT team arrived at the hospital looking for a volatile toxicant which may still be in the air of the emergency room. In particular, the HAZMAT team was searching for toxins such as hydrogen sulfide, also known as sewer gas, or phosgene, which can be used either to prepare ordinary chemicals or as a chemical warfare weapon. Fortunately, the HAZMAT team found nothing in the air that would indicate what was making people sick.
Unfortunately, the Riverside County Coroner had to perform an autopsy on Ramirez using airtight moon suits in a sealed examining chamber. But several days after taking blood and tissue samples, the Coroner had to seek help from the Forensic Science Center at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Ramirez’s sister, Maggie Ramirez Garcia, said he sister was treated like a “toxic monster” and her body wasn’t released to the family until nine weeks later, even though the official cause of death was kidney failure due to cervical cancer. Eventually the Coroner chalked up the mysterious fumes as the “smell of death,” while the California Department of Health Services claimed some of the medical staff had succumbed to mass hysteria.
But what caused Ramirez’s body to become toxic enough to cause an emergency at a hospital and make several medical staff severely ill?
Eventually the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory determined dimethyl sulfone was present in Ramirez’s blood, which they believed was a sign Ramirez had been using dimethyl sulfoxide (or DMSO), a non-FDA approved anti-inflammatory drug which is believed by some people to be a cure-all. The DMSO may have oxidized into dimethyl sulfone when the doctors gave Ramirez oxygen, and when the doctors drew blood the dimethyl sulfone could have turned into possibly deadly dimethyl sulfate crystals when exposed to the cool air.
Although the Ramirez family had an attorney file a medical malpractice and wrongful death suit against the county, the Riverside County Coroner corroborated the laboratory’s conclusion, saying the crystals in the blood, Ramirez’s body’s oily sheen and the medical staff’s symptoms were all signs of exposure to dimethyl sulfate.