When Joey’s right shoulder began shooting with pain in the summer of 2009, a torn rotator cuff was thought to be the source. A visit to the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), however, revealed the tumour causing his duress, and Joey was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer.

Many may have despaired, being caught in cancer’s grasp, but not Joey. “We made it very positive,” he says, describing how he and his mother often spoke of staying optimistic and making the experience one to remember. “We tried to make it the most memorable year ever and it was a year that will be in our hearts until the end of time,” says his mother, Maria Mazzucco.

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Over the next 12 months, Joey lived at SickKids, undergoing a marathon 16-hour surgery to remove the cancer. He lost half his body weight and all his hair due to the chemotherapy and other treatments. “I don’t like being bald,” he says, explaining his lack of hair was why he first sported an iconic fedora. “I don’t really wear another. I love it. It’s a cool hat.” Even through these hardships, Joey found solace in his positive attitude, hosting, for example, chemo parties everytime he or one of his friends was scheduled for treatment.

“He’s a remarkable kid, mature beyond his years,” says Dr. Paul Nathan, staff oncologist at SickKids. “I think he has an incredibly positive outlook, but he’s also a born performer,” he says, recalling how Joey, wearing his unmistakable hat, would often be found visiting others in the hospital, spreading cheer.

Today, nine-year-old Joey is back home and living life to the fullest. He recently gave an inspiring speech at the Rally for Kids with Cancer event in Toronto this past September. Joey has also found a new passion: acting. “I’m doing a Willy Wonka play right now,” he says enthusiastically.

When asked what message he would give to others faced with similar adversity, Joey replies, “I would always tell them to stay positive and think positive, I think that’s a really good strategy. It’s very hard for us [those with cancer], but I would just say never give up.”
www.sickkids.ca

Dr. Marc DuPéré, Visage and AgeLess Clinics.

AgeLess Clinic, Becoming Age-Less
Science and art create a natural look at the AgeLess Clinic.
Modern cosmetic plastic surgery isn’t just nips and tucks. It takes the creative eye of an artisan to deliver that desired, untreated look. With over 20 years of experience, Joyce M. Palmer, owner and director of the AgeLess Clinic, explains that, “To achieve results that are really natural looking, the plastic surgeon has to be both technically and artistically skilled.”

Medical director of the AgeLess Clinic is Dr. Marc DuPéré, a board certified cosmetic plastic surgeon. He brings superb specialized skills and that creative talent to the AgeLess Clinic, which is essential for natural results. “He is considered an elite plastic surgeon,” says Palmer, noting that Dr. DuPéré’s accolades include graduating as a gold medalist from the McGill School of Medicine, certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and mentored by top European plastic surgeons.

The AgeLess Clinic is the only clinic in York Region to have five hospital-grade lasers to ensure the appropriate and safest technology.

All surgery is conducted in a fully accredited (CAAAF) private surgical facility. Surgical clients are given both Dr. DuPéré and Palmer’s cellphone numbers for round-the-clock post-surgery care.

Dr. DuPéré performs all wrinkle treatments and dermal filler procedures personally, and is often called upon to train other physicians because of his expertise.

“We’re very friendly and we’re very attentive,” says Palmer. Our main goal is getting optimal results for our patients, along with their personal comfort and safety. Nothing is done halfway here.”

Toronto: 416-929-9800179 John St., Toronto, www.visageclinic.com
York Region: 905-773-9675, 13311 Yonge Street, Suite 114, Richmond Hill, www.agelessclinic.ca

Dr. Jack Slome of The Accolade Dental.

The Accolade Dental Centre, That Hollywood Smile
The impact of a great first impression is undisputable, and there’s no better lead-in than a striking smile. Veneers are a great solution for those who, like many celebrities, love to flash those picturesque pearly whites. But the traditional means of applying veneers is both time-consuming and uncomfortable. Thankfully, The Accolade Dental Centre’s equipment eliminates the stress, giving you plenty to grin about.

In the past, having veneers made wasn’t the most pleasant process. “A lot of people really dislike having an impression done,” explains Dr. Jack Slome. “It’s gooey, it makes them gag, it doesn’t taste too great – it’s just not a comfortable experience.” Patients would then need to wait a couple weeks before the veneer was finalized and ready to be cemented on. “The whole process was really a hassle,” Dr. Slome adds.

Using The Accolade Dental Centre’s advanced CEREC machine, veneers are created and applied effortlessly within a single session. A digital photo of the teeth is taken, it’s customized via a computer and the porcelain veneer is quickly milled in-house. “Patients love the convenience of it. This process if far more comfortable, it’s quicker and the quality is as good, if not better, than the traditional way.”

This streamlined process is brief, relaxed and leaves patients beaming. If you’re hungry for that coveted Hollywood smile, The Accolade Dental Centre will have you smiling from ear to ear.
www.accoladedental.com , 416-928-6828

The interior of Norton Dental Centre.

Norton Dental Centre, Service with a Smile
When you smile, do it with confidence! From the moment you step into Norton Dental Centre, you’ll be treated with the utmost care. A general dental practice offering everything from dental cleanings, single unit dental implants and All-on-4 implant restorations, all treatment plans are customized to fit individual needs and expectations. Beaming with the smile you’ve always wanted becomes reality with the dentists at Norton Dental.

With many years of experience, Dr. Anca Bordeianu brings out beautiful smiles in all her patients. She performs all aspects of general dentistry, including traditional orthodontics and Invisalign, the clear alternative to braces. For those requiring oral surgery and implant dentistry, Dr. Ammar Taimish carries out wisdom teeth extractions under IV sedation, as well as implants to replace a single tooth or full arch. Procedures are quick and comfortable, the results esthetically pleasing.

Norton Dental’s personable dentistry team also offers service in Arabic, Romanian and Italian to make patients feel at ease. For general and cosmetic dentistry for the whole family, look no further than Norton Dental. Call to schedule your complimentary consultation today. www.nortondental.ca, 905-832-8181

Dr. Kevin Davis of Davis Orthodontics.

Davis Orthodontics, Smile with Confidence
A great smile affects others’ attitudes towards you and can also shape self-esteem. In the past, some adults shied away from orthodontic work, but braces aren’t just for kids anymore. In fact, teeth can be predictably moved at any age, and today’s esthetic orthodontic procedures can do so in subtle ways.

“Today, getting braces is less time-consuming, more comfortable and less visible,” says Dr. Kevin Davis of Davis Orthodontics.“Now you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.”

Davis Orthodontics offers inconspicuous yet effective options for straighter teeth. Clear choices, such as Invisalign and behind-the-teeth braces, are much less visible than traditional metal types, but provide the same results. “We treat a lot of patients with Invisalign” says Dr. Davis. “Everyone loves how unobtrusive they are, and the results are amazing.”

Technological advancements have also made orthodontics a more enjoyable experience. Patients at Davis Orthodontics only need to come in once every two months, and most require 5 –15 visits in total. SureSmile, a robotically engineered system of braces, can also decrease treatment times by 25 – 50 per cent.

If you’re uncomfortable with your teeth, visit Davis Orthodontics for a complimentary consultation and find out how you can help boost your health and your confidence. www.davisortho.ca
905-884-7550 (Richmond Hill), 905-856-9200 (Woodbridge), 905-898-4848 (Newmarket)

Suzie Swica, The Laser Generation’s owner and director of clinical services.

The Laser Generation
Innovative anti-aging clinic The Laser Generation gets you glowing with a celebrity star treatment.
The Laser Generation lets you in on the world of celebrity with a coveted star secret that will leave your skin red-carpet-ready after just one visit. Touted as a leading skin-perfecting treatment by celebrities Madonna to Justin Timberlake, the Intraceuticals Rejuvenate Infusion facial dramatically transforms your skin by plumping away fine lines and boosting your complexion with dewy, youthful radiance. Your skin is gently pampered with a blend of therapeutic-grade oxygen and a cocktail of antioxidants for a relaxing experience free from the discomfort of injectable fillers. The treatment’s star component is hyaluronic acid – our skin’s natural filler that depletes as we age. “This facial gives you plump, glowing skin and it promotes collagen synthesis for a flawless complexion,” explains Suzie Swica, The Laser Generation’s owner and director of clinical services. She recommends a course kit, which includes six facials and three take-home products, to enjoy lasting results. This affordable and attainable secret to the stars is also available for problematic skin, with the Intraceuticals Clarity Infusion facial becoming the first to address acneic and aging skin simultaneously.
www.thelasergeneration.com, 905-264-7160

Chrysalis Skin Renu founder Michele A. Gambino.

Chrysalis Skin Renu Medical Clinic, A New Year, A New You
Come out of your shell with Chrysalis Skin Renu.

Chrysalis Skin Renu Medical Clinic helps its clients shed their layers to reveal a revitalized glow. “When you have someone that feels good about him or herself, and exudes that confidence and aura, it just feeds you to keep going,” says founder Michele A. Gambino, who has a background in natural medicine and nutrition. Her expansive Vaughan facility, which focuses on advanced laser treatments, also consists of a weight loss clinic with women’s circuit training.

Chrysalis Skin Renu uses the industry’s most innovative technologies, as seen on The Dr. Oz Show, such as the new VelaShape II, which helps tighten and tone skin, and elōs, which is used for a range of procedures, including skin rejuvenation and permanent hair removal for grey, blond and red hair. Chrysalis Skin Renu also offers advanced European hyaluronic dermal fillers Fortelis and Modelis, which produce similar results to a facelift without the downtime. The clinic is now offering a new bridal registry designed to improve the confidence of mature brides-to-be, and no-interest finance plans. “To help others feel better about themselves is a big key in this industry; it’s all about that positive energy,” says Gambino.
www.skinrenu.ca, 905-856-6767

BodyBare owner Dina Martins.

BodyBare Laser, Skin and Wellness Clinic: Luscious Lashes
BodyBare’s latest line of eyelash extensions stretches lashes to Xtremely luscious lengths.
As  the snow begins to fall, blanketing the city in fluffy white powder, those holiday socials will certainly start to cover your calendar. Like the sparkling ornaments wrapping your tree, accentuate your smoky holiday eyes with voluminous eyelash extensions from BodyBare Laser, Skin and Wellness Clinic, and leave partygoers blinking in awe.

Renowned for its anti-aging skin-care and wellness treatments, BodyBare is gearing up for its Holiday Glam Event, and with it, unveiling its new eyelash extensions, Xtreme Lashes. “We offer a trio of services that highlight your best features,” says owner Dina Martins, a certified medical esthetician and professional makeup artist. “From holiday mineral makeup applications to high-definition brows and our newest addition, luscious lash extensions, it’s all about minimum fuss, but with maximum wow factor.”

BodyBare’s superior quality lash extensions are natural-looking, comfortable and long lasting. Skillfully applied by qualified Xtreme Lash professionals, it’s the perfect accessory for the everyday woman.

On for a limited time, BodyBare’s Holiday Glam Event offers customers a full set of Xtreme Lashes at 30 per cent off, plus a High Definition Brow treatment at no extra charge. As well,  receive a free HauteBox lip gloss with every holiday makeup application at BodyBare.
www.bodybarelaser.ca, 905-553-0022

Melanie Graham, Sandra Cesarone and Diana Ciampa-La Rosa of Salon Poise.

Salon Poise
Grace yourself in the triple-threat experience of Vaughan’s latest beauty haven.
When a woman carries herself with confidence, a special elegance trails behind her. And it’s this individual grace that is captured after every visit to Salon Poise. Spoiling guests from head to toe, the newly opened Salon Poise is a culmination of the passion and expertise of locally recognized and trusted colour expert Sandra Cesarone, esthetician Diana Ciampa-La Rosa and stylist Melanie Graham. Together, the trio delivers a triple-threat experience that has clients beaming with beautiful shiny hair styled to perfection, sexy skin and polished nails. “Beauty is carrying yourself in a positive and confident way, and we want you to walk out the door with your head held high,” says founder Cesarone, a recipient of Makeover Stylist of the Year at the North American Hairstyling Awards. The beauty experts of Salon Poise offer the latest in hair colour and style, bridal makeup and updos, natural-looking hair extensions, eyelash extensions, manicures, pedicures, and more. “Clients love our organic and anti-aging spray tan, permanent hair removal system and professional treatments using the award-winning skin care line PCA Skin,” says Ciampa-La Rosa. With over three decades of combined experience, the Salon Poise team will have you walking away looking and feeling your best. New clients receive 20% off for the month of January
830 Rowntree Dairy Road, Unit 16. Woodbrige, Ont. 289-371-3268

“It was a great honour to have men of their stature visit our schools,” says Kyoshi Cos Vona, an instructor and sixth-degree black belt at Northern Karate. “It’s extremely rare to have experts of this calibre visit North America, let alone Canada.”

From the island of Okinawa, Japan, the birthplace of karate, Hokama and Shiroma both hold the rank of “Hanshi,” essentially a senior expert or grand master. Through demonstrations and lectures, these teacher-of-teachers shared their vast knowledge with eager students. They also presided over an advanced level grading for the most senior teachers of Northern Karate. “They used to be school teachers, so they’re very personable with a good sense of humour,” says Vona, who has also trained at Hokama’s dojo in the southern Japanese prefecture. “Hanshi Hokama does not personify your typical Japanese karate practitioner. He is down to earth and very humble in nature.”

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Hokama’s dedication  to traditional Okinawan karate – a style that wasn’t introduced to mainland Japan until the 1920s – has honed a deep understanding for the ancient art, earning him tremendous respect within the karate community. As Vona explains, “He really showed us what traditional, old-school karate is all about. The students were very impressed.”

Shiroma’s martial art is Motobu Ryu Uden Di, an ancient style of grappling that was traditionally reserved for
royalty. “His lineage stretches back over 1,000 years and his style has never been seen before in North America. For many, this was a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Besides authoring several books, including History and Traditions of Okinawan Karate (Masters Martial Arts Supply, 2000); opening the first Karatedo Museum, the Okinawan Prefecture Karatedo and Kobudo Museum, in 1987, and being named the technical advisor for the All-Japan Karatedo Ken Yu Kai, Hokama is also a master of calligraphy. His steady hand has even inked kanji for many Japanese movie posters. Before departing, Hokama painted several motivational banners encouraging students to stay on the path and to hold fast in the face of adversity. “He really tried to instill traditional martial arts values in our students. It was truly an enlightening experience.”

www.northernkarate.com

Those new to yoga may feel intimidated and worried that they will not succeed because they “cannot wrap their leg around their neck.”  While it is true that there are some very interesting and challenging poses (asanas), there are many yoga classes available that are suitable for beginners.  In these types of classes, poses are gently introduced in their foundation and then any progression of the pose will gradually be taught.  Individuals are encouraged to honour their own bodies by tuning into the signals that arise during a practice.  Along with beginner classes, there are Hatha style classes at a variety of levels: Yin, Flow, Hot yoga, Kripalu and Ashtanga (also known as Power yoga).

Just like the fond memory of a favourite grade-school teacher, a great yoga teacher will not only provide you with a solid class, but will, more importantly, inspire you to achieve your personal dreams and goals.  Along with finding the appropriate class, you must find the right instructor. Try out a variety of teachers and classes until you find one that resonates with you. You may appreciate a gentle, soft-spoken voice, a high-energy, assertive style, or a combination of both.  Whatever you prefer, you will realise that you have found that special teacher and the right class by the feeling you are left with.

Why yoga? Consider the plethora of health benefits yoga may bring into your life, such as a decrease in stress, increase of energy, strength and flexibility, mental alertness and awareness; a connection to one’s self and to the world, and a flood of positive feelings such as joy, peace, harmony, gratitude and, above else, love.  In our busy and hurried world, a regular yoga practice can really help us to slow down, and help us remain focused on the present. It is in these moments that life unfolds its splendour and glory and yoga, at the very least, can help us learn to be right here.

Martha Eleftheriou is a registered yoga instructor at I Love Yoga Studio.

416.937.2565

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Mom’s Reconstructed Chili
1 tbsp canola oil, preferably expeller-pressed
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 tbsp chopped garlic
1 lb ground soy burger alternative
2 tbsp cumin
1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tbsp smoked paprika, optional
1/2 tbsp dried red chili flakes
1 12 ounce can light beer, at room temperature
1 1/2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 14 – 15-ounce cans chili hot beans with can juices, preferably organic
2 14 – 15-ounce cans pinto beans, preferably organic, drained
2 14 – 15-ounce cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes, preferably organic
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp dried oregano
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fat-free saltines or cornbread for serving, optional
Hot pepper sauce, for serving, optional

1.  In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat and when hot, sauté the onion and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground soy and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up the soy further and encourage even cooking. Add the cumin, chili powder, paprika, and chili flakes and continue to cook, stirring, until the spices are slightly toasted and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
2.  Using a wooden spoon to prevent sticking, stir in half of the beer and the soy sauce. Add the rest of the beer and stir to mix.
3.  Add the chili hot beans, pinto beans, tomatoes, and 1 cup of water and mix well. Add the bay leaves and oregano and stir to mix.
4.  Bring the chili to a low boil over medium-high heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so until the stew is well blended. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently until cooked through, 30 to 40 minutes, until the flavours blend. Stir the chili occasionally during cooking. Adjust the heat up or down to maintain a simmer. Serve hot, with crumbled saltines or cornbread, and some extra hot sauce, if desired.

Apart from selecting baby names and paint chips for the nursery, women in Canada have choices when it comes to where, how and who will deliver their little one. But with more babies being born, a maternal health-care crisis looms due to a shortage of delivering doctors and a slowly growing number of midwives.

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Sanna’s decision on a midwife-assisted pregnancy reflects the burgeoning interest of Canadian women who are considering the alternative birthing experience. While Sanna – as well as other women – expressed initial hesitancy in embracing the practice, others like her are pushing past the archaic perceptions of a practice that smoothly transitions women into motherhood while relieving pressure off delivering doctors and obstetricians. “More women are hearing about midwifery, are knowing that it’s an option,” says Kara Brockington, who received a bachelor of health sciences in midwifery degree in 2004. “I would say seven years ago [that] I wasn’t seeing that quite often. A woman would come to us in her second pregnancy and she would say, ‘I didn’t know I could have a midwife.’” Brockington is employed at Midwives of York Region in Newmarket, which has hospital privileges at South Lake Regional Health Centre. In February of this year, the clinic expanded into Vaughan with Family Care Midwives, which services women in Woodbridge, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Concord, King City and Oak Ridges. The practice, which has hospital privileges at York Central Hospital, is open to helping women in other areas as well.

According to The Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System’s Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey (MES) 2006 – 2007, 71.1 per cent of women praised their labour and birth experience with a midwife as a positive experience. “It was always, ‘here are your options, this is your pregnancy, this is your birth.’ My midwives would check with me before proceeding with everything. I felt in control of my situation,” says Sanna.

Midwives are recognized health-care professionals that provide primary care to low-risk healthy women during pregnancy, labour and birth with a personal and attentive approach. Once a family physician confirms a pregnancy, one can contact a midwifery practice that services her area to schedule prenatal appointments at its clinic, just as you would do with a doctor. No referral from a general practitioner is needed. Conducting care in groups of two, midwives are trained in spontaneous vaginal deliveries. They stay by your side for the duration of your delivery – sometimes up to 24 hours. A midwife’s post-partum care brings many benefits to a tired mom, with home visits up to six weeks after delivery. “I would see them every couple weeks and the last four weeks every week, and they were with me the whole delivery,” recalls Sanna. “It’s nice, too, because instead of getting nurses that are changing shifts, I had my two best friends there, my midwives, that I had known for nine months. I had my friends there that were going to help me through this and they knew what they were doing.”

Every two years, midwives must re-certify in CPR, neo-natal resuscitation, post-partum hemorrhaging, breached deliveries, and other emergency skills. If a complication or emergency caesarian-section is needed, transfer of care to a delivering physician or OB/GYN is immediately arranged. Registered midwives also provide pregnant women with the same tests that doctors order, like genetic screening and ultrasounds. They can prescribe various medications, and some are now able to administer an epidural if you so choose to have it. Midwives are considered colleagues by medical doctors, and have hospital privileges, allowing an expectant woman to decide between an at-home or hospital birth. However, those unfamiliar with the practice may circulate uninformed views of midwifery, which include untrained labour coaches using aromatic oils during at-home births. “The demand for midwifery has spread through word-of-mouth … but there are myths out there,” says Lisa Weston, a midwife and president-elect of the Association of Ontario Midwives. “A lot of people think you have to pay for midwifery care. Clients say, ‘when I tell people the kind of care I got and that you came and did home visits and that someone was available for me all the time by pager, they asked me how much I had to pay for it. They were amazed when I said they didn’t.’” In 1994, Ontario became the first province in Canada to regulate and support midwifery. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care fully funds midwifery services.

According to a Statistics Canada report, there were 377,886 live births across the nation in 2008. A disparity between the rising number of births and available human resources in Canada is placing a strain on our maternal care system, with demands to quality care outweighing supply. The Canadian Institute for Health Information says that in 2009, there were 1,767 OB/GYNs in Canada, with 704 practising in Ontario. The majority of expectant mothers in this nation receive prenatal care from an obstetrician, gynecologist or family physician. A 2008 report by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) says that overburdened obstetricians (who prefer to practice in populated urban cities) deliver about 80 per cent of babies in this country, making the need for obstetrical care urgent in a climate where women become pregnant later on in life and/or have pre-existing conditions.

Low-risk, healthy women can be placed under the primary care of midwives, who deliver about three to four per cent, or about 45 babies each per year. There are close to 1,000 registered midwives across Canada, of which 528 reside in Ontario, says a representative from the Canadian Association of Midwives. This low number, coupled with the hands-on approach of a midwife, results in long waiting lists at midwifery clinics. Appointments with a midwife are often 45 minutes long, filling the silent gap left with brief appointments by beleaguered OB/GYNs. Solving the shortage of maternal care in Canada is critical.

A joined force of obstetrician-gynecologists, family physicians, registered nurses and midwives is required to advance women’s health, advises Dr. André Lalonde, executive vice president of the SOGC. “The problem we are having with health care right now is that everybody is in kind of their own area in their little box; everybody has their own separate practice. What needs to improve in Canada is to break down these barriers. People should be working in groups; you should be able to go to a prenatal office where you have midwives and doctors working in the same office.” The efforts of the SOGC include a 2003 policy statement entitled the “National Birthing Strategy and the Multidisciplinary Collaborative Primary Maternity Care Project” in 2006, which urges a collaborative approach between maternal health-care professionals. Goals to increase the availability and quality of maternity services for all Canadian women include reducing key barriers so that a collaborative approach can be fulfilled.

If you’re one of hundreds of thousands of women pregnant in Canada each year, you’ll know that the excitement of having a baby goes hand-in-hand with providing quality care for baby and you. “A pregnant woman has a lot of choices in Canada,” says Dr. Lalonde. “She can contact a family physician, she can contact a midwife, she can contact an obstetrician. I think the three professions in Canada provide essential services for women – they are [all] very competent.”

www.midwivesofyorkregion.com
www.sogc.org

With a family history of heart disease and a father who suffered two heart attacks in his 40s, Neena felt inclined to pursue a career in cardiology. In the early ’80s, she obtained a degree in nuclear medicine from the Toronto Institute of Medical Technology, which led to a position at St. Michael’s Hospital as a nuclear medicine technologist. It was there that she became perturbed by the long waits patients endured to see doctors, take tests and receive results, noticing a major gap in the field of health care. “I felt like something better could be done.”

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Rather than watch these issues progress, she took initiative, and in a valiant demonstration of faith and ambition, Neena and Vijay  sold their family home to finance the development of KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic Centres’ first facility in Mississauga. “The thought never occurred to me that it wasn’t going to work. I didn’t have any thoughts, my only thought was, ‘this is what I want to do. So what do I have to do to get it done?’” says Neena.

Today, KMH has grown to more than 10 locations across Ontario, Canada and Maryland, U.S., and has provided more than 600,000 cardiology, nuclear cardiology and nuclear medicine diagnostic tests. “It created a different environment on how humans should be respected, treated and how quickly and efficiently testing should be done. Businesses exist to serve people, and one must give back to communities,” says Vijay, who was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 for his work as KMH’s president and chief financial officer.

By providing timely services to approximately 90 – 100,000 community members annually, KMH helps detect health problems while still in their early stages, allotting hospitals more time to care for the critically ill. “If you know that there is something wrong with you,  then there is the possibility of a cure. We just love what we do. We are able to have an impact on people’s lives,” says Neena.

Neena has overcome several obstacles to get to where she is today, but according to her, having the XX gene has never been one of them. “If you think that being a woman is going to make a difference, than it will, but at the end of the day, if you want what you want you are going to do whatever you can to get what you want. I don’t think it makes a difference if you are a woman or a man,” she says. “Woman is twice smarter than man,” adds Vijay.

Being honoured by a roomful of people isn’t an inaugural experience for Neena, who could easily fill a library with accolades. From her entrepreneurship to numerous philanthropic endeavours, Neena makes it clear that you can’t simply wait around for success to fall on your lap – you have to get out there and grab it. “If you have a goal in mind, or if there is something you really want to do, then figure out how to get it done and do it.”
www.kmhlabs.com

Eligible research candidates completed an eight-week yoga intervention in which they provided pre- and post-program salivary cortisol samples, attended two 75-minute hatha yoga sessions weekly, filled out multiple questionnaires concerning pain, and took part in a final follow-up session. In total, 19 female yoga beginners with fibromyalgia participated. Results showed increased levels of cortisol in post-intervention participants, a stress-reducing steroid hormone that is thought to be less prevalent in women with fibromyalgia. “We found that levels of continuous pain and pain catastrophizing decreased after the yoga program and that levels of pain acceptance and mindfulness increased,” says Curtis, adding that further research is needed to address the results definitively.

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This study is in stride with the exploration of physical and psychological responses to yoga. “I think many individuals with pain shy away from yoga, as it is so often portrayed as highly vigorous or athletic, but the practice of yoga is multi-faceted and can be tailored to any body, to any person,” she says.

www.news.yorku.ca

Those discouraged by the lack of compassion from conventional medicine, but also with the absence of alternative medicine’s access to modern technology, will find potential answers in UMG’s integrative medicine method. Medical technology such as MRIs and CT scans are made available, as well as specialist referrals, intravenous vitamins, Reiki, reflexology and other more personal complementary health-care services to better treat each patient’s unique condition.

Founded in 2009 by Rita A. Mikkelsaar and Dr. Vlade M. Gagovski, UMG was the culmination of Dr. Rudy Falk’s years of inventive work, pushing to improve treatment responses of conventional caner therapy, and the need to harmonize its strengths with new medical treatments.

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A nurse who began her career at Toronto General Hospital, Mikkelsaar worked with Dr. Falk since 1980, helping to start the first active cancer centre in Canada in 1985. Today, Mikkelsaar continues this work by assisting physicians wanting to broaden their current practice to incorporate complementary medicine into their repertoire.

UMG’s rare approach takes into consideration psychological and emotional factors, creating a personal approach that looks outside of medication alone for treatments. This collective of private, integrative medical clinics continues to innovate and meld conventional medicine with complementary methods, to provide patients with therapies that best suit
their circumstance.

Q&A with Dr. Vlade Gagovski
Q: You are one of the few doctors in Canada offering Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT). What is IPT?
A: Basically, it’s giving lower doses of chemotherapy. The unique thing about the treatment is using insulin as a delivery system to enable the use of lower doses of chemotherapy agents.

Q: What are the major benefits of IPT?
A: Generally, if chemotherapy is going to work, and that’s a very difficult thing to determine, we try to do it on genetic testing that we do abroad in west Germany at the present time. We do a chemo-sensitivity analysis, whereby circulating tumour cells from the patients’ blood are isolated, and based upon that testing that’s done on them, they send back a chart stating which chemotherapy and other agents are preferable in terms of killing the most cancerous cells of that type. Having that information at hand, we use IPT with those chemotherapy agents.

Q: Why is this better than chemotherapy on its own?
A: Because you’re using a much lower dose, generally 10, 14, 16, 18 per cent of a conventional dose. And studies have been done whereby the mechanism of delivery using the insulin followed by 50 per cent glucose after you’ve given the chemotherapy enables you to get a therapeutic concentration of your chemo agent inside the cancer cells preferentially, thereby immune suppression, bone marrow suppression, cardiac, renal, hepatic, peripherally neuropathy, the nausea, the vomiting, the weakness, the hair loss, is very minimal.

Dr. Vlade M. Gagovski, MD, LMCC, DMP: A member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the Ontario Medical Association, Dr. Vlade Gagovski is always searching for cutting-edge treatments. He affords adjunctive therapy for cancer, providing cellular, nutritional and immune support for patients undergoing conventional therapy, and one of, if not the only physicians in the country, offering Insulin Potentiation Therapy.

United Medicine Group / Dr. V. Gagovski-Cancer Immunotherapy Centers:
18 Wynford Dr., Suite 511, Toronto, ON  M3C 3S2. Tel: 416-385-9900  Fax: 416-385-9907

www.unitedmedicinegroup.com

A former commando of the British Royal Navy, Waterson’s resolute determination, unrelenting motivation and incorporation of military philosophy into exercise has made him a leading man in Hollywood personal fitness. “That kind of philosophy suits the film business very, very well, because they’re very, very similar,” explains Waterson. Between tight deadlines, strict regiments and the constant need to improvise for an always-shifting filming location, Waterson’s muscle-packing military method has yielded fantastic results.

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Before transforming Craig into an athletic MI6 agent, Waterson began in Hollywood working with Pierce Brosnan on both The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day. He’s also been Craig’s go-to-guy on The Invasion, The Golden Compass, Quantum of Solace, Defiance, and the upcoming, unnamed 23rd James Bond movie.

Although transforming petite performers into warrior-like Gods has become his trademark, Waterson feels that personal fitness doesn’t have to consume your life. “Everybody’s different, but keep yourself a little book or a little chart with your goals and aims of what you would like to achieve,” recommends Waterson, who recently trained Jake Gyllenhaal on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Source Code, as well as bulking up Chris Evans for Captain America: The First Avenger. He is currently keeping Sam Worthington in Spartan-like shape on Clash of the Titans 2. Setting realistic goals and making the most of your time at the gym is still a more than adequate means of getting into shape, “As long as you’re doing something rather than nothing then psychologically it makes you feel better and it motivates you for the next time,” says Waterson, author of Body Challenge and Commando Workout.

For those of us who don’t have two hours a day for training, Waterson suggests finding ways to elevate your heart rate for 15 minutes and using your own body weight for exercise. “You always have it with you and you’ve got no excuse that you don’t have the equipment,” says Waterson. “Everyone can do push-ups, everyone can do some abs and everybody can do some squat lunges.”

www.simonwaterson.com