jjablkowski's blog

The Ontario Brain Institute’s (OBI) epilepsy research program (EpLink) wants input from Canadians living with or caring for people with epilepsy or seizures to set the priorities for epilepsy research. This initiative aims to identify a list of Top 10 questions that people living with epilepsy, their family and friends, and health care professionals jointly agree are the most important for research to address.

1.    COVID-19 does not appear to cause birth defects but may increase pregnancy complications.

Unlike viruses such as rubella, chickenpox, or Zika virus, there is no evidence that COVID-19 causes birth defects. Because of the immunosuppression and increased respiratory demands of pregnancy, expectant mothers who become infected with COVID-19 must be closely monitored. COVID-19 in pregnancy can pose some increased risks to the baby, such as preterm birth and growth restriction. 

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it!” This is from legendary baseball player and advisor, Yogi Berra. Unlike him, I have never played baseball and never felt quite comfortable giving advice to my patients. Rather, I tried to be an assistant to them in their problem solving. I learned this perspective in my role as a family practitioner during the 1956–1966 era from my mentor, Dr Clarence McNeill, pioneer North Shore doctor and soft spoken, kind, and wise man of few words. 

Who is Dr Naismith and what has he in common with Kobe Bryant, Sue Bird, Magic Johnson, Diana Taurasi, Steve Nash, and Maya Moore? These men and women are some of the best basketball players in the sport’s history, and Dr Naismith was the inventor of the game of “basket ball” 130 years ago, in 1891.

The following 10 medical innovations are anticipated to make a significant difference in medical care in 2021. They were recently announced at the Cleveland Clinic’s 2020 Medical Innovation Summit. In its 18th year, the summit is organized by Cleveland Clinical Innovations, the clinic’s development and commercialization arm.