News
Announcement: Dr. Christopher Watling appointed Director, Centre for Education Research & Innovation
September 10, 2019
Dr. Christopher Watling has been appointed Director for the Centre for Education Research & Innovation (CERI) at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University for a five-year term effective January 1, 2020.Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre performs first paediatric robot-assisted neurosurgery in Ontario
August 07, 2019
A London youth was the first paediatric patient in Ontario to receive a robot-assisted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) procedure that was performed by the Paediatric Epilepsy Program at Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).Award: Dr. David Spence named to the Order of Canada
July 09, 2019
Please join us in congratulating Dr. David Spence on his appointment to the Order of Canada. This award is one of our country's highest honours and recognizes a lifetime of distinguished service.Funding received for brain research leading to peace of mind
April 25, 2019
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences receives $12,000 dollar donation in support of brain cancer research.Celebrating Faculty Acheivements
April 10, 2019
Congratulations to faculty from the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences on their recent achievements.Reconnecting with alumni for International Women's Day
March 08, 2019
CNS alumni, Dr. Navjot Chaudhary and Dr. Amparo Wolf have gone from neurosurgery residents to international role models.Let's Talk: Resident mental health and wellness
January 30, 2019
A recent Canadian Medical Association survey with more than 2,500 physicians and 400 resident doctors across the country found that residents are the most vulnerable to develop depression and burnout. Dr. Caroline Just shares her take as a neurology resident in the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences.Announcement: Dr. David A. Steven appointed as Chair/Chief, Clinical Neurological Sciences
December 03, 2018
Dr. David A. Steven has been appointed as Chair/Chief, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University and its teaching hospitals, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care London, effective January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2023.Against all odds: The road to patient advocacy
November 25, 2018
“My life changed the day Dr. Angelica Hahn (now retired) brought me and my parents into the decision making process. She heard what I wanted, and from that day forward she was one of my biggest advocates in helping me live the life I wanted to live,” says Preston. “Dr. Hahn, along with my nurse practitioner, Wilma Koopman, and my parents advocated for me to attend regular classes at school when the school board insisted I go into a special ed. class because I was in a wheelchair.Waking up to a health-care crisis: When life and art froze
November 11, 2018
As the pain worsened, Easden returned to the Emergency Department at LHSC’s University Hospital. She received a CT scan, then an MRI, and was eventually referred to neurosurgeon and orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Fawaz Siddiqi.CNS Neurology Residents Visit Former Faculty Member Dr. George Ebers
September 13, 2018
Dr. George C. Ebers is a world-renowned neurologist and researcher in multiple sclerosis. Neurology Residents Dr. David Kim and Dr. Adrian Budhram visited Dr. Ebers at his home to discuss his experiences at the University of Western Ontario and his neurological career.Faculty Members Receive Certificates of Promotion
July 31, 2018
Five faculty members received their certificates of promotion at CNS Grand Rounds.Western to host 2019/2020 Neurosurgery Rookie Camp
July 17, 2018
As a beginning neurosurgery resident, taking part in this camp will give PGY1s the essential knowledge and skills needed to excel as they embark on residency training. They will learn from Canada’s top neurosurgeons, in realistic scenarios that will simultaneously test and develop their abilities.Gut microbiome plays a role in atherosclerosis
July 11, 2018
Researchers at Western University's Robarts Research Institute along with scientists from Lawson Health Research Institute have shown a novel relationship between the intestinal microbiome and atherosclerosis, one of the major causes of heart attack and stroke. This was measured as the burden of plaque in the carotid arteries.CNS Faculty Support Summer Medical Student Research
June 27, 2018
The Summer Research Training Program (SRTP) and Schulich Research Opportunities Program (SROP) provide support for undergraduate medical students to engage in research under the supervision of Schulich faculty members.CNS Celebrates One-Year Twitter-versary!
June 26, 2018
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences launched its official Twitter account on June 16th, 2017 as a part of an overall communications strategy with the goal of elevating the Department’s status in the world of neuroscience research, at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, and the international research and educational community.The Legacy of Dr Earl Russell
June 13, 2018
Dr. Dwight Moulin, Dr. Earl Russell Chair in Pain Management, is featured in this article in the UWOMJ looking at the legacy of Dr. Russell's work.Dr. Dwight Moulin Recognized in UWOMJ Article
June 12, 2018
Dr. Moulin was interviewed for this article on Dr. Earl Russel due to his current role as the Dr. Earl Russell Chair in Pain Management.Dr. Jennifer Mandzia Featured in CTV News Interview
June 06, 2018
Dr. Mandzia was interviewed as a part of a segment on the Heart and Stroke Foundation's report on how women are disproportionately affected by stroke.Congratulations to two new Collaborative Research Seed Grants teams
April 24, 2018
Dr. Matthew Hebb is a member of one of the two new interdisciplinary research teams have received funding from the Collaborative Research Seed Grants (CRSG) program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.Recognizing Research: 2018 Research Day Award Winners
April 18, 2018
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences hosted its 2018 Departmental Research Day on April 17th, 2018. This annual event features platform and poster presentations by residents, graduate students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral fellows.Alumnus and Former Faculty Member Dr. Alastair Buchan to Receive Honourary Degree
April 11, 2018
Dr. Buchan will receive an honorary degree this spring as Western celebrates its 311th Convocation.CNS Faculty and Staff to be Recognized at Awards of Excellence Dinner
April 10, 2018
Dr. Mel Boulton, Neurosurgeon, and Ms. Nicole Farrell, Manager of Administration and Finance, are the recipients of 2018 Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Awards of Excellence.Invisible impact: cognitive effects of Multiple Sclerosis
April 02, 2018
MS is an inflammatory disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. With MS, the immune system destroys myelin, which is the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.Dr. Tim Doherty honoured by CAPM&R
March 28, 2018
Congratulations to Dr. Tim Doherty, for being named the 2018 Award of Merit Recipient from the Canadian Association of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Dr. Doherty is being honoured for his contribution to the field of Physiatry.Epilepsy Program Co-Founders Honored with Plaque
March 27, 2018
On March 27th, 2018, 36 years after the Western University Epilepsy Program was originally founded, the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences honored its co-founders, Dr. Warren T. Blume and Dr. John P. Girvin, with a plaque to be placed outside of what has become Canada’s largest Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU).LHSC's Epilepsy Monitoring Unit improves patient experience with addition of an Epilepsy Navigator
March 26, 2018
March 26th is Purple Day for epilepsy – a seizure disorder that affects 50 million people worldwide. It is an important awareness day that LHSC is pleased to support.In search of meaningful feedback conversations
March 20, 2018
Article by Dr. Chris Watling and Kori LaDonna arguing for the value of embracing vulnerability and inspiring honest conversation to enhance the meaningfulness of feedback.Tom Mikkelsen Announced as Guest Speaker at 2018 CNS Research Day
March 13, 2018
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences will host its annual Research Day on April 17th, 2018 at the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre. The full day event will feature research presentations from faculty, residents, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as well as a guest presentation from Dr. Tom Mikkelsen.National Neurology Grand Rounds Spring 2018 Date Announced
March 01, 2018
Dr. Gerald Pfeffer, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, will be the speaker at National Neurology Grand Rounds this May.The 2018 Charles G. Drake Professorship: A History of Collaboration
February 01, 2018
On January 31st, 2018, the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University celebrated the Charles G. Drake Distinguished Visiting Professorship.Research uncovers new link between head trauma, CTE and ALS
January 15, 2018
Researchers at Western University have uncovered a unique neurobiological pathway triggered by head trauma which underlies both Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease).CNS Alumnus Appointed to Order of Canada
January 09, 2018
CNS Alumnus and former faculty member Dr. Thomas E. Feasby has been appointed to the Order of Canada.Remembering Della Reese
November 21, 2017
Thanks to two successful surgeries performed by Dr. Drake she was able to make a full recovery. She continued her singing and acting career and starred in the inspirational drama series Touched By An Angel, still in syndication.WORLDiscoveries® Vanguard Awards celebrate commercial potential of health research
November 09, 2017
Dr. Matthew O. Hebb, a Lawson scientist, neurosurgeon at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and assistant professor of neurosurgery at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, was recognized for the development of two innovations that offer hope in treating two deadly diseases – Parkinson’s disease and glioblastoma.CNS Faculty Assist in Administering Kuwaiti Resident Examinations
November 02, 2017
In October 2017, two Clinical Neurological Sciences (CNS) Department members, Dr. Michael Nicolle, Chief of Neurology and Dr. David Steven, Co-Chair of the Epilepsy Program, traveled to Kuwait with a delegation from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) to assist the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS) administer specialty training exams to their neurology and neurosurgery residents, the first time that this type of examination has been administered in Kuwait.Endovascular treatment of stroke leads to positive patient outcome
October 29, 2017
“EVT is a remarkable treatment option for stroke patients who won’t see a lot of benefit from tPA because of the size or placement of the clot,” says Dr. Mel Boulton, neurosurgeon at LHSC. “It’s not only a procedure that saves lives, it has also been demonstrated to lead to better patient outcomes; so that someone who would be destined to have deficits without EVT can be returned to normal or near normal quality of life.”2018 Inductees into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
October 03, 2017
Dr. Vladimir Hachinski is among a group of exceptional healthcare leaders who will be inducted into The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF). Dr. Hachinski, a Distinguished University Professor in Clinical Neurological Sciences, is a world-renowned neurologist and has transformed the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the two greatest threats to the brain, stroke and dementia.Resident Spotlight: Dr. Faizal Haji, PGY6, Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurological Sciences
September 28, 2017
In his last year of the Neurosurgical Residency program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Dr. Faizal Haji says the great mentors he has encountered over the years, and at all levels of education, have helped him to realize his potential and accomplish new feats.Awards Day at the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences
September 26, 2017
Tuesday, September 26th was “Awards Day” in the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences. Every fall, the Department honours residents and faculty members for their accomplishments over the previous year.A Multi-angled Approach to Research
September 22, 2017
“Cognition is often described as an invisible symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS),” explained Dr. Sarah Morrow. “It’s easy to write off because there isn’t a predictable decline like we see in dementia; it’s more episodic. It also presents differently from dementia – the first signs people notice are usually difficulty processing information or not remembering things unless they are written down.”Providing care for adults with muscular dystrophy
September 21, 2017
Dr. Shannon Venance, neurologist at LHSC, along with Dr. Anita Florendo-Cumbermack and nurse practitioner, Wilma Koopman, lead the adult care team for muscular dystrophy within the neuromuscular clinic.Rare case of stroke recovery after 23 years, noted by researchers at Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute
September 21, 2017
Functional MRI showed widespread recovery in both hemispheres of Humphrey’s brain, said Spence, who is also a scientist at Western’s Robarts Research Institute. Swimming had apparently triggered a rewiring within parts of the brain.New treatment available for people with early multiple sclerosis
July 03, 2017
Researchers from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry are part of a groundbreaking study showing that a common acne medication called minocycline can be used to help treat multiple sclerosis (MS) in its earliest stages.LHSC epilepsy patients first in Ontario to benefit from robot-assisted neurosurgery
June 14, 2017
London Health Sciences Centre’s (LHSC) Epilepsy Program is the first in Ontario to perform a robotic-assisted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) procedure, in which electrodes are placed into the brain to map epileptic seizure activity.Stroke prevention among older Ontarians may also reduce risk of some dementias
May 01, 2017
Ontario’s stroke prevention strategy appears to be having an unexpected, beneficial side effect: a reduction also in the incidence of dementia among older seniors.Deep Brain Stimulation
April 01, 2017
In June 2016, LHSC University Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Keith MacDougall and his team performed an eight-hour surgery to implant two electrodes deep into DJ’s brain. The electrodes are connected to a battery-powered neurostimulator which is embedded under the skin just below her collarbone.Neurology resident sleuths self into Times fame
November 22, 2016
Adrian Budhram has a knack for the quick diagnosis. The third-year Neurology resident is a three-time winner of the Think Like a Doctor monthly feature in the New York Times. He has won back-to-back months, prompting long-time columnist Dr. Lisa Sanders to joke she may have to initiate a ‘let others play’ rule when it comes to Budhram.The Power of Imagination
August 01, 2016
“Pilocytic astrocytoma is a benign tumour located at the back of the head in the cerebellum, occurring commonly in children under 20 years of age,” says Dr. Ranger. “They are often curable with surgery if located in an accessible part of the brain.”A Stroke of Luck
August 01, 2016
“Fast action is vital in patients presenting with stroke symptoms to determine whether they have a clot obstructing blood flow or a hemorrhage in the brain,” says Dr. Mandzia. “This allows us to determine which treatment options are available to potentially limit the amount of damage that could have a severe impact on quality of life.”2016 Innovation Award: Dr. Stephen Lownie
June 10, 2016
Dr. Steve Lownie is a neurosurgeon and neurointerventionalist, with a primary interest in vascular diseases of the brain. He was honoured with the 2016 Lawson Innovation Award for his recent publication titled, “Catheter Based Selective Hypothermia Reduces Stroke Volume during Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Swine,” published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery.On April 1, 2015 the Acute Stroke Unit opened on the 7th floor at University Hospital.
October 08, 2015
Building on the hyper-acute stroke work implemented last year, the Acute Stroke Unit opened at UH.Lawson Impact Awards celebrates research excellence
October 06, 2015
Lawson Health Research Institute hosted the second annual Lawson Impact Awards on May 21, 2015 celebrating hospital-based scientists, staff, trainees and partners who are making an impact in London, and around the world. 300 guests attended the event, including Howard Rundle, Lawson Board Chair, Matt Brown, Mayor of London, and senior leaders from LHSC, St. Joseph’s, and Western UniversityLHSC celebrates Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
October 04, 2015
If you happened to be around LHSC’s University Hospital on March 26, you might have seen a lot of people wearing purple, and it was no coincidence. It was Purple Day for epilepsy awarenessThe movement towards better treatment of Parkinson's
October 01, 2015
Intrigued by the potential of this technology to measure and assess movement, LHSC’s Dr. Mandar Jog, neurologist, and engineer Dr. Rajni Patel – both also researchers with Lawson Health Research Institute – are testing how the suits can be used to improve the lives of patients with Parkinson’s by helping physicians understand how well a medical intervention is working to ease symptoms.Living with ALS
October 01, 2015
“There is unfortunately no specific test for ALS. As a consequence, when symptoms begin they can be quite mild and may be initially dismissed by the patient, or even the family doctor. When the symptoms evolve to be more noticeable, the initial symptoms may not be specific for ALS and several potential diagnoses need to be considered,” says neurologist Dr. Christen Shoesmith, Medical Director of the MND clinic.One Year Twitterversary!
September 10, 2019
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences has been on Twitter for a full calendar year! Here's to the next one!
