MUHC in the Media - July 27, 2026

Every transplant journey is unique, but no one should have to navigate it alone.

At the Montreal General Hospital, the Kidney Transplant Ambassador Program connects patients and families with trained volunteers who have experienced kidney donation or transplantation firsthand. By sharing their lived experiences, these ambassadors provide encouragement, practical advice and hope to people preparing for or recovering from a transplant.

Among the ambassadors are Serge Pisapia, who received a kidney from his younger sister, Christine. Today, they volunteer together and help make the transplant journey more personal, compassionate and connected, one conversation at a time.

The program also complements the work of healthcare professionals such as Vicki Tan, an advanced nurse practitioner at the Montreal General Hospital.

Read more in The Globe and Mail.

A single glance is all it takes: Drs. Sinziana and Teodora Dumitra understand each other without even having to speak. Sisters in real life and oncological surgeons at the McGill University Health Centre, they operate side by side in the operating theatre at the Royal Victoria Hospital. One is an expert in open surgery, the other in robotic surgery. Although their approaches differ, they use their complementary skills to benefit patients and their families. Together, they look after each other’s families. Discover their inspiring story in La Presse and Cantin le matin 98,5 FM

Pregnant with her third child, Zupa Semitego was working out at the gym when she suddenly experienced dizziness, vision problems and other alarming symptoms. She was quickly diagnosed with a cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a rare condition requiring urgent treatment. In February 2025, Dr. Marie-Christine Brunet, a neurosurgeon at The Neuro, performed a highly complex procedure in the brain to remove the malformation. The 10-hour surgery brought together a multidisciplinary team, including specialists from the Montreal Children's Hospital, who were on standby to intervene if necessary to ensure the safety of both mother and baby. Fortunately, the operation was completed without complications. A few months later, in May, Zupa gave birth to a healthy baby girl. It is an inspiring story featured in CTV News and Global News.

Research into the rare cases of patients who have been cured of HIV following a bone marrow transplant could pave the way for new approaches to immunotherapy, explains Dr Jean-Pierre Routy, a senior scientist with the Institute’s Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Programme. Dr. Routy, who is attending the International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, emphasizes that these exceptional cases are helping researchers to better understand the mechanisms behind a cure. La Presse

A study led by Dr Carolyn Baglole, PhD, Scientist in The Institute’s Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, shows that, while many lung cells recover after quitting smoking, some retain persistent molecular changes, paving the way for future research into lung repair. Radio-Canada

Richard Jamieson was diagnosed with young-onset dementia at age 52 and is sharing his story to raise awareness and challenge misconceptions about the condition. In a CBC News report, Dr. Simon Ducharme, a neuropsychiatrist at the MUHC and researcher at The Institute, explains that young-onset dementia is more likely to have a genetic cause than later-onset dementia, while highlighting advances in diagnosis and new treatments that can slow the progression of early Alzheimer's disease.

The measles outbreak in the United States is increasing the risk for unvaccinated Canadians who travel, explains Dr Brian Ward, an infectious disease specialist at the MUHC’s Centre for Vaccine Studies. According to Dr Ward, vaccination offers excellent protection, but Canada remains vulnerable in regions where vaccination coverage is insufficient. Radio-Canada

The rise in cyclospora infections in Quebec was the focus of a Global News report featuring Dr. Donald Vinh, an infectious-disease specialist and microbiologist, and a scientist in the Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program at The Institute. Dr. Vinh says the increase warrants close attention from public health and healthcare professionals but emphasized there is no reason for the general public to be alarmed.