Advertise on podcast: Pulse: The Ottawa Hospital Foundation Podcast

Fight for the Cure is more than a night in the ring. It's a powerful testament to resilience, community, and the deeply personal reasons that drive ordinary people to do extraordinary things. In this episode of Pulse, fighter Eric Bellemare shares how a lifetime of family cancer experiences fuels every step of his training, while CEO Trevor Clark reflects on how this iconic Ottawa event transforms months of hard work into powerful support for cancer research. It's a glimpse into the heart behind the punches, and the hope driving the fight forward.

In this episode of Pulse, we sit down with someone who has faced moments that would shake anyone — and found a way to meet them with honesty, grit, and hope. Ziyada Callender tells us about the fear that settles into quiet moments, the people who carried her through, and how she's turning everything she's been through into something meaningful. It's a candid, heartfelt conversation about resilience, gratitude, and finding your way forward one step at a time.

In this episode, Rockland's Mathieu Chatelain shares the extraordinary story behind his mission to run 100 kilometres in 12 hours and raise $100,000 for The Campaign to Create Tomorrow. What begins as a conversation about an ultramarathon quickly becomes a deeply personal journey — from the childhood moment when The Ottawa Hospital saved his father's life, to the emotional discovery that the surgeon who operated on his dad decades ago was sitting beside Mathieu at an Ottawa Hospital Foundation event. Mathieu tells us why he's pushing himself beyond his limits: to inspire generosity, strengthen the future of healthcare in Ottawa, and help bring more parents back to their families.

Dr. Doug Manuel joins Pulse to talk about how The Ottawa Hospital is becoming a global leader in AI‑powered care — from ER decision tools to AI scribes that give clinicians more time with patients. He shares why AI's future in healthcare is both exciting and nerve‑wracking, and why "the most important thing right now is talking about it" as Ottawa shapes a more human, more connected model of care.

In Episode 121 of Pulse, we sit down with Dr. Nicholas Fabiano — a rising researcher whose journey into psychiatry began with a broken bone and an unexpected lesson in the mind–body connection. We explore how physical trauma shaped his understanding of mental health, why exercise is emerging as a powerful treatment for depression, and how community movement can support emotional well‑being. This is a conversation about resilience, innovation, and the future of integrated care at The Ottawa Hospital.

This episode of Pulse takes listeners behind the scenes of the partnership between the Ottawa Hospital Foundation and RBC, the presenting sponsor of our podcast. Host Melanie Adams speaks with Glenn Sheen, Regional Director of Marketing and Citizenship at RBC, about why the organization is deeply invested in community health and the future of care in Ottawa — a future that every one of us will rely on.

Danika Fleury was newly married and building a life she loved when a sudden breast cancer diagnosis — and the return of severe endometriosis symptoms — upended everything. In this episode of Pulse, we hear from Danika and Dr. Sony Singh about the groundbreaking imaging, virtual‑reality planning, and expert surgical care at The Ottawa Hospital that uncovered the true extent of her disease and helped her reclaim her life. Dr. Singh shares why he won't stop talking about the gaps in women's healthcare and why "we can't stand for this anymore," offering a powerful call for change rooted in compassion and hope. It's a story of resilience, innovation, and the growing movement to transform women's health in Canada.

When sudden, severe abdominal pain led to a diagnosis of an aggressive and rare "double‑hit" lymphoma, Ted Wagstaff found himself facing the unthinkable. Pulse follows Ted's journey through intensive, highly personalized treatment at The Ottawa Hospital, guided by hematologist Dr. Kevin Imrie and a collaborative team determined to outpace a fast‑moving disease.

Melanie Adams opens her first episode as host of Pulse by welcoming a familiar face — former host Shelley McLean — for a heartfelt conversation about her many years with The Ottawa Hospital Foundation and the deeply personal experiences that connect her to the hospital. Shelley reflects on how her family's cancer journey shaped her passion for research, why new clinical trials offer so much hope, and what excites her about the new campus development. They also explore the power of community events like Race Weekend in driving the Campaign to Create Tomorrow forward, and the many ways people can make a meaningful impact.

Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng is Head of Critical Care at The Ottawa Hospital. He's also a researcher and advocate for patients, through media interviews and his own podcast — Prevention Over Prescription. On top of all that, he's a co-chair of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation's $500 million Campaign to Create Tomorrow. In this conversation, Dr. K, as he's known, takes us into the day in the life of his role at the hospital. He discusses his research and the focus on making the most out of our healthcare dollars. We also dive into this historic fundraising campaign — why it's vital to our community and his message to others to join the movement. (22:05)

Dr. Dawn Stacey has dedicated her career to improving patient decision-making processes and helping implement better systems for healthcare providers to guide patients and their families through their options. She is a Senior Scientist and Co-Scientific Director of the Patient Decision Aids Research Group at The Ottawa Hospital, and the 2025 recipient of the Grimes Career Achievement Award. In this conversation, you'll hear more about her career and how important her work is not only for our patients but also for patients worldwide. (15:53)

Annie Grenon has strong ties to The Ottawa Hospital.  She was a patient for kidney care years ago and, more recently, for a pulmonary embolism. She's also seen both of her grandchildren born at the Civic Campus, and her late husband received cancer care. It was when her husband was diagnosed with a rare cancer that their family came together to discuss leaving a gift in their will to The Ottawa Hospital. It was about helping other families in the future — forward-thinking to create a healthier tomorrow. (25:31)

Dr. Safraz Mohammed is a neurosurgeon at The Ottawa Hospital specializing in the brain and spine. In this engaging conversation, you'll hear what led him to neurosurgery and how he's helping educate the next generation of medical talent. Dr. Mohammed also takes us behind the scenes of the highly skilled neurosurgical team at our hospital and shares an important message about the impact of philanthropy. (33:43)

The Ottawa Hospital is creating a comprehensive epilepsy program — a one-stop shop that will be a changemaker for patients. As a key part of bringing specialized, state-of-the-art care to the region, The Ottawa Hospital completed its first-ever stereo EEG procedure in January 2025. Dr. Tad Fantaneanu, the Medical Director of the Epilepsy Program, shares the exciting developments in the program and why this is important for patients. (18:24)

Ottawa businesswoman Helen Tang knows what it means to reinvent yourself and to find your passion in life. Today, her passion includes leading with purpose, and that's why she's joined the Campaign to Create Tomorrow.  In our conversation, Helen discusses her connection to our hospital and how it compelled her to give back, the life lesson from her father that guides her professionally and personally, as well as her message about the power of one. (17:03)