FeedRSS Feed
February 27, 2012 07:49  by Dr. Grant Lum
So you’re relaxing by the pool with a Coco Loco in hand, and you’re pondering doing the beach aerobics workout, or doing your best Baywatch impersonation and trotting down the beach for a mile or so, hair blowing in the salty ocean breeze. The only problem is, you hadn’t been exercising in the Great White North, and so suddenly you find yourself hurt. [More]
January 29, 2012 16:34  by Dr. Grant Lum
Sidney Crosby's neck injury could be concerning for the future. Any instability left in that area could lead to a greater risk of future injury, and these injuries can be catastrophic. [More]
January 27, 2012 08:27  by Dr. Grant Lum
So you’ve booked your vacation down south for Reading Week, or March Break, and you can’t wait to go running on the beach, or windsurfing, or just playing with the kids in the pool. But are you really ready? [More]
November 10, 2011 13:12  by Dr. Grant Lum
A young patient of mine has been the victim of bullying over the last several months. His mom tells me that he was being physically and emotionally abused by a teammate. He became so severely depressed, his parents were deeply concerned for his safety. When he reported this abuse, he was further bullied on Facebook, with accusations of being a liar. [More]
November 3, 2011 11:00  by Dr. Grant Lum
So now you, like all of us, have a cupboard full of Halloween goodies! How are you going to resist the temptation to dive head-first into the junk drawer and eat every single, last piece of delicious goodness? We all have cravings. But where do cravings come from? [More]
July 4, 2011 09:36  by Dr. Grant Lum
As Canadians, we often spend all winter complaining about the cold, then when summer finally comes, we complain about the heat (or the humidity)! Regardless of those complaints, we know that most Canadians are more physically active in summertime. With the dog days of summer upon us, we have to watch out for heat-related illnesses. [More]
March 2, 2011 07:29  by Dr. Grant Lum

There is little we know about treating concussions. The most important weapon in the fight against post-concussive syndrome is rest.

Returning a player too quickly to play can lead to serious consequences. Witness Mikhail Grabovski, who went back into play right away after one hit, and stumbled badly on trying to get up from the ice after a second hit. [More]
February 9, 2011 09:20  by Dr. Grant Lum
As you may have read in my last blog entry, concussions can be difficult to diagnose. One method is to ask about symptoms. Using symptoms to diagnose a concussion relies on athletes being truthful in reporting those symptoms. Since reporting symptoms usually means being pulled from a game, many athletes under-report their symptoms. [More]
January 20, 2011 10:11  by Dr. Grant Lum
We've all been reading about the pro athletes who’ve had concussions recently, how these injuries have ended careers, and shattered lives. In a series of articles, I’m going to explore the basics of concussion, diagnosing and treating concussion, and perhaps most importantly, how to prevent concussions. [More]
December 15, 2010 15:09  by Dr. Grant Lum
My wife, son and I just got back from a two-week vacation in the Dominican Republic. We had a wonderful time, with great, sunny weather, and lots of exercise in the pools and the ocean. But the great danger lurking in the shadows of our all-inclusive Caribbean vacation was – THE ALL-DAY BUFFET! [More]
September 20, 2010 11:05  by Dr. Grant Lum
It’s called PRP, or platelet rich plasma injection. There was a lot of press about it when a doctor in Toronto was charged for allegedly importing controlled or banned substances into Canada and the U.S. He had allegedly been using these substances for the treatment of some high-level athletes. Although these allegations haven’t been proven, and the athletes’ handlers deny any use of these substances, the issue of PRP was elevated to headline news. [More]
January 15, 2010 13:32  by Dr. Grant Lum
ACL injuries occur around 3 times more commonly in women than men, and there are an estimated 100,000 new ACL injuries per year in the United States. But a study published last week in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that 75% of sport-related knee injuries can be prevented with a simple exercise routine. [More]
January 6, 2010 08:22  by Dr. Grant Lum
For those of you who have been told to “pick something fun, that you like to do” or “integrate exercise into your daily activity, like parking your car further from the grocery store,” I have some harsh words for you: That just isn’t going to cut it. [More]
November 9, 2009 09:35  by Dr. Grant Lum
Well, I hope that you’re ready for yet another flu article. This one doesn’t talk about government mishandling of the crisis, or vaccine shortages, or the dangers of adjuvant. It’s about exercise. [More]
Dr. Marla Shapiroclose [x]

Dr. Marla Shapiro, MDCM CCFP MHSc FRCP(C) FCFP, is a family physician and the Health and Medical Contributor for CTV's Canada AM as well as the editor of Parents Canada magazine, launched in March 2007.

She completed medical school at McGill University and trained at the University of Toronto for her Masters of Health Science in Community Health and Epidemiology. She holds a Fellowship in Family Medicine and is a NAMS credentialed menopause specialist. She is an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, where she recently won an award for Creative Professional Activity.

Dr. Shapiro won the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/Canadian Foundation for Women's Health Award for Excellence in Women's Health Journalism in 2006 for her documentary "Run Your Own Race." Her book, "Life in the Balance: My Journey with Breast Cancer" was released in the fall of 2006 and is a national bestseller.

For her lifelong commitment to family medicine, Shapiro was awarded the College of Family Physicians of Canada's Award of Excellence for 2008.

Angela Mulhollandclose [x]

Angela Mulholland is the editor of CTV News' semi-weekly health newsletter MedNews Express as well as the MedNews Express Blog.

She has been a journalist for CTV News since 2000, covering current affairs, health and entertainment for CTV.ca. Before CTV, she worked for CBC.ca for two years.

She has a degree from St. Jerome's University in Waterloo, ON, and studied journalism at Sheridan College in Oakville. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

Monica Matysclose [x]

Monica Matys has been the health and wellness reporter for CTV News Toronto since 2001. Her feature health report, Lifetime, can be seen on CTV Toronto's News at Noon and at 6 p.m.

Her interest in the medical field began while working for a medical publishing company as the editor of a monthly magazine. One of Monica's favourite days on the job was the time she got to spend a day in Credit Valley Hospital's Emergency unit. "It really opened my eyes to the strains on our system," Monica explains.

Matys grew up in Scarborough, and has an honours degree in Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

Avis Favaroclose [x]

Avis Favaro has been with CTV News since 1992, producing stories for CTV National and CTV News Channel - Newsnet- as well as for CTV affiliate stations across the country.

Avis and producer Elizabeth St. Philip won the 2008 Media Awards for Excellence in Health Reporting handed out by the Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian Medical association for a story on BPA found in food cans.

She has been nominated for an impressive 12 Geminis, winning once for a unique story on an experimental cancer treatment developed in Winnipeg in the 1940's.

Avis has a masters in journalism from UWO and a Bachelor's degree in History, and launched her journalism career as a writer/reporter at Global in 1982.

Dr. Yoni Freedhoffclose [x]

Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, MD CCFP Dip ABBM, is the founder and Medical Director of the Bariatric Medical Institute in Ottawa, a multi-disciplinary behavioural weight management program. Formally trained in family medicine, since 2004 his practice has been exclusively dedicated to the treatment of overweight and obesity.

Dr. Freedhoff has been referred to as a "nutritional watchdog" by the Canadian Medical Association Journal and a national "obesity expert" by the Canadian Obesity Network. His advocacy efforts for improved public policies regarding nutrition and obesity have found him testifying in front of the Canadian House of Commons, giving press conferences with the Ontario Medical Association, commenting regularly in the national media, and as a sought after lecturer.

Dr. Freedhoff explores issues pertinent to nutrition, obesity, public policy and advocacy in his daily blog Weighty Matters which is ranked among the world's top health blogs and was voted the top Canadian health blog of 2008 by the Canadian Blog Awards.

Dr. Grant Lumclose [x]

Dr. Lum is a sports medicine physician. He is the medical director and founder of Athletic Edge Sports Medicine, a multidisciplinary sports medicine organization offering services to the athletic and active public.

He is involved in the care of recreational, elite amateur and professional athletes, including players in the NHL, NFL and NBA. He is also involved in the performing arts medical community, taking care of musicians, vocalists, dancers and other performing artists.

Dr. Lum studied medicine at the University of Toronto, where he graduated in 1992. He completed a two-year residency in Family Medicine, and then specialty training in Sports Medicine.

He is a lecturer at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine, an adjunct professor at York University's Faculty of Fine Arts, and medical director of George Brown College's Fitness and Lifestyle Management Program.

Dr. Lorne Brandesclose [x]

A senior oncologist at CancerCare Manitoba, Dr. Brandes received his MD from the University of Western Ontario in 1968.

Following post-graduate training at the Royal Marsden Hospital (London) and the University of Manitoba, he joined the faculty at U. Of M. in 1975, where he is a professor in the Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology.

He is also affiliated with the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology.

Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C. Psych.close [x]

Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C. Psych., is a Clinical Psychologist at the Work, Stress and Health Program/Psychological Trauma Program, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She also provides private practice at the CBT Associates of Toronto and is a lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.

She completed her Honours Degree in Psychology and Mathematics at York University and her Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Concordia University. She also completed a Clinical/Research Postdoctoral Fellowship at CAMH. She has received numerous academic awards and distinctions.

Kamkar provides consultation, comprehensive assessments, and evidence-based Cognitive-Behavioural treatment for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, including psychological distress related to stress and anxiety in the workplace. She also provides training, education, and supervision as well as various educational seminars and workshops. She adheres to a scientist-practitioner model of practice and integrates research and science with practice.

One of Dr. Kamkar's greatest interests has been to provide education to enhance public awareness of mental health/illness in general and of psychological distress in the workplace. She has written articles for comprehensive public resources and provided numerous public relations - media work.

Dr. Neil Rauclose [x]

Dr. Neil Rau grew up in Ottawa. He initially studied mathematics at the University of Waterloo before completing his MD at the University of Toronto in 1991. He completed training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at McGill University in 1996, before establishing a busy private practice in Oakville. He is currently the medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at Halton Healthcare Services.

In 2008, he completed his training in medical microbiology at the University of Toronto and he now serves as the medical microbiologist and chair of the patient safety steering committee at his hospital.

He is a lecturer at the University of Toronto. Since 2008, he has also been Infectious Diseases section head at the Association for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada. He is also a frequent contributor to CTV News.

He lives in Toronto with his wife and two children, and is an avid amateur concert pianist.

Cara Rosenbloom, RD close [x]

Registered dietitian Cara Rosenbloom believes that nutrition can make a difference in overall health and wellness and enjoys translating complex nutrition information into usable and helpful advice.

Rosenbloom holds a literature degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Food & Nutrition from Ryerson University. She completed a dietetic internship at North York General Hospital to become a registered dietitian.

Prior to becoming a nutrition columnist, Rosenbloom worked as a dietitian at The Hospital for Sick Children for three years. She is a member of Dietitians of Canada and the College of Dietitians of Ontario and the president of Words to Eat By, a nutrition communications company.