MUHC in the Media - November 2, 2026

On October 30, the conference Beyond Innovation: Transforming Health Care Systems took place. This event helped foster the development of concrete courses of action and the creation of partnerships aimed at making health care systems more responsive, equitable, and effective. Dr. Lucie Opatrny, President and Executive Director of the MUHC, participated as a panellist. TVA Nouvelles

The Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH) offers a peer support program to assist families who have lost a child. Bereavement Program Coordinator Matthew Park and Dr. Lea Sultanem, pediatric palliative care resident, explain that while it remains a taboo, having conversations about grief can make a difference. CTV News, Noovo Info

Star Trek and X-Men actor Patrick Stewart, who passed away last week in Los Angeles, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia, according to a statement shared on his social media. While Lewy body dementia is a lesser-known condition, it is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's. In this video, neurologists including Dr. Philippe Huot, at The Neuro, explain what LBD is and how it affects patients. CBC News

Flu season has begun in Quebec, five weeks earlier than last year. Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at the MUHC, confirms that the positivity rate is currently five times higher than it was at this time in 2025. Dr. Donald Vinh, also a microbiologist and infectious disease specialist at the MUHC, adds that the arrival of the flu coincides with a rise in COVID-19 cases. They stress the importance of vaccination. They also commented on the new recommendations to offer the vaccine free of charge only to groups at risk of developing severe complications. Le Journal de Montréal, CPAM 1410, Montreal Gazette, Noovo Info

Dr. Rhian Touyz, Chief Scientific Officer of The Institute, and Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation, spoke to City News about the Foundation's initiative called the Women’s Health Circle. The initiative aims to bring together up to 500 women donors to fund research on health issues affecting women and improve their treatment. Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou, a senior scientist in the Cardiovascular Health Across the Lifespan Program, explained how her research program aims to better understand how cardiovascular risk evolves for women from menstruation to postmenopause to allow for more proactive care. CityNews

Dr. Kaberi Dasgupta, Senior Scientist in the Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program at The Institute, co-led a clinical trial on remission of type 2 diabetes at The Institute. As reported in the findings published in Lancet Regional Health Americas, more than half of the young adults with type 2 diabetes who participated in the study achieved remission after six months in a program combining a low-calorie diet and supervised exercise. Fox News Digital

Carolyn Baglogle, PhD, a scientist in the Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program at The Institute and Director of the McGill University Cannabis Research Center, believes that education and information campaigns on cannabis use and its associated risks may explain the decline in the number of cannabis users observed in Quebec since 2021. La Presse

Linda Peltier, PhD, director of The Institute’s Cellular Therapy Laboratory, was a guest on the program Trait d’union on CIBL to discuss cancer, genetics, and the future of stem cell research.