MUHC in the Media - January 26, 2026

Dr. Talat Bessissow (standing) with patient Hubert Jacob and Marie-Amélie Turcin, nurse at the MUHC's Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic.

Two patients from the MUHC Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic share their medical journeys shaped by Crohn’s disease. Under the care of gastroenterologist Dr. Talat Bessissow and his team at the Montreal General Hospital, Hubert Jacob and Tejal Patel describe the profound impact this chronic inflammatory disease has had on their daily lives. Although specialists are unable to explain the increase in cases observed worldwide, a few possible lines of inquiry are beginning to emerge. To learn more, read the two articles published on Saturday in the Health section of the Journal de Montréal. Journal de Montréal (1) Journal de Montréal (2)

Last week was “Blue Monday”, also known as the “most depressing day of the year”.

We are deep into winter, and for many people this time of year can take a real toll, between shorter days and post-holiday stress. To help us better understand what’s normal, what’s not, and how to cope, Dr. Maxim Lewkowski, a clinical psychologist at the MUHC, gave an interview to the Andrew Carter Morning Show, on CJAD.

Dr. Adam Shapiro, a researcher at The Institute and pediatric pulmonologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital, spoke about his recent study that identified a rare genetic variant of the ODAD4 gene responsible for primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). This variant could explain undetected cases of PCD across Quebec, particularly in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Côte-du-Sud regions. Profession Santé (login required)

Researcher Nancy Mayo, PhD, a senior scientist at The Institute, has designed a small device called Heel2Toe, which is featured in an article in the business section of La Presse. The device helps people with neurological disorders or who are aging to improve their gait, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. La Presse

The free Hurtblocker app uses artificial intelligence to detect and analyze jumping movements to assess the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Developed over a ten-year period by Dr. Paul Martineau, an orthopedic surgeon at the MUHC, and his team, this innovative application aims to improve injury prevention among athletes.  Global News

Dr. Bryan Ross, a pulmonologist at the MUHC and researcher at the Institute, focuses his research on the effects of pollution on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was asked to comment on a study by Northwestern University in Chicago, which found that residential wood combustion causes 8,600 premature deaths each year in the United States. La Presse

Dr. Don Vinh, an infectious disease specialist at the MUHC, gave an interview last week to Shawn Apel, host of CBC Radio Noon, to discuss the flu season, which began earlier than in previous years. CBC Radio Noon (10:00)