“Thinking Ahead” for MS
Scotiabank’s gift of $500,000 to expand Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
Scotiabank today announced a donation of $500,000 to the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital’s (The Neuro) “Thinking Ahead” campaign, which will expand the hospital’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic. The expanded facility will result in improved service and care for people with MS.
“Canadians have one of the highest rates of MS in the world, and while most often MS is diagnosed in young adults, it affects people of all ages,” said Diane Giard, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Quebec/Eastern Ontario. “As employer of choice, employee health and well-being are very important to Scotiabank – and health issues are very important to our employees, customers and the communities we serve.”
The Neuro’s original MS Clinic was established in 1949, the first in Canada, and it has remained a priority for clinical and research activities ever since. Many patients with MS are now living longer, more productive lives thanks to improvements in treatments available in recent years and every year physicians at The Neuro see more patients. Currently, Neuro scientists lead numerous international multidisciplinary programs and clinical trials and are conducting twelve clinical studies at the present time. Neuro physicians follow 2,000 patients in the MS Clinic and see close to 4,300 patients annually. The Scotiabank expansion will give Neuro physicians and researchers the space and facilities to enhance multi-disciplinary research and patient care.
“For almost 75 years, patients at The Neuro have benefited from an environment where there is constant interaction between clinicians and researchers,” said Dr. David R. Colman, Director of The Neuro. “Private funding has always been essential to this effort and we salute Scotiabank for its crucial support of our programs.”
The Neuro’s clinical expansion will create 7,624 square feet of multi-purpose shared clinical space, physically located in one area, where patients can be seen by a diverse yet all-encompassing health care team. The multi-disciplinary approach includes strengths in neurosurgery, neurology, radiation oncology, neuropsychology, psychiatry and includes physicians, nurses, social workers, physical, occupational and speech therapists, nutritionists, and psychologists. By consolidating all of these resources in one location – a one-stop approach – patients and their families can discuss treatment options with their health care team all in the course of one visit.
Scotiabank’s support will enhance the ability of clinicians to provide researchers with valuable information about the patients, the disease progression being seen in the Clinic, and the effectiveness of treatments. This, in turn, will enhance the translation of basic research findings to the development of novel treatments and therapies, an approach that makes the Neuro unique and holds great promise for significant progress in the battle against MS.
About the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) is a unique academic medical centre dedicated to neuroscience. The Neuro is a research and teaching institute of McGill University and forms the basis for the Neuroscience Mission of the McGill University Health Centre. Founded in 1934 by the renowned Dr. Wilder Penfield, The Neuro is recognized internationally for integrating research, compassionate patient care and advanced training, all key to advances in science and medicine. Neuro researchers are world leaders in cellular and molecular neuroscience, brain imaging, cognitive neuroscience and the study and treatment of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular disorders. For more information, please visit www.mni.mcgill.ca.
About Scotiabank:
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2008 the Bank provided about $43 million in sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education and social services and arts and culture. Please visit us at www.scotiabank.com.