October
Dr. Pavel Roshanov, MD’16 - On Sept. 22, the LHSC announced the start of a new large-scale randomized clinical trial, called DIALEX, to determine the effectiveness of Elisio HX, a new kind of dialysis filter. Dr. Pavel Roshanov, a nephrologist at the London Health Sciences Centre and an assistant professor at Western University in medicine, epidemiology and biostatistics is leading the trial.
Dr. Richard Johnston, MD’69 - Dr. Richard Johnston will be inducted to the Orillia Hall of Fame on October 30 as a Medical Leader and Community Builder. With a 45-year career in obstetrics and gynecology, Johnston has been a pillar of excellence at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, mentoring generations of physicians and raising the standard of care through initiatives like perinatal rounds and standardized hospital procedures now used nationwide. Johnston’s leadership includes serving on the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and founding the Ontario Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He also co-founded community initiatives such as the Take a Vet to Dinner event and the Orillia Museum of Art and History annual fundraiser.
Derek McLachlin, PhD’00 - A video of biochemistry professor Derek McLachlin turning a chemistry lecture into a pop performance has gone viral, racking up more than 1.4 million views on TikTok. McLachlin, who has been teaching for more than two decades, often uses music and humour to make complex topics easier to understand. His latest remix reimagines Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’ as a lesson about ketone bodies, a concept in biochemistry.
Renee Guerville, BSc’25 - Renee Guerville, who graduated with an honours specialization in neuroscience and a major in psychology, was named regional winner in the psychology category for her research on sensory processing in children with autism and ADHD. Her study used EMG (electromyography) to explore how the brain filters sensory information. “Children with autism and ADHD have altered sensory filtering, so they’re often hyperreactive compared to typically developing children,” Guerville explained. “I’ve always believed that knowledge is power,” she added. “The more we understand about how people experience the world, the better we can support and accommodate them.” Now lab manager of Western’s Sensory Perception Lab, Guerville plans to continue this work through graduate studies focused on neuropsychology and child clinical psychology.
