New opioid pilot study at St. Paul’s Emergency Department
Speaking about a new pilot trial he is co-leading, new CHÉOS Scientist Dr. Andrew Kestler was quoted in a press release and subsequent stories appearing in CBC News, The Globe and Mail, The Vancouver Sun, and The Star Vancouver. As part of the study, people treated for opioid overdose at St. Paul’s Hospital will now be discharged with a take-home supply of Suboxone.
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The province could save hundreds of million dollars by switching drugs
CHÉOS Director Aslam Anis and Scientist Dr. Kam Shojania co-authored an op-ed for The Province, with Dr. Jon Esdaile and Cheryl Koehn, about the potential cost-savings of switching to biosimilars for treating arthritis. Biosimilars are near identical copies of drugs that can be made available once the original patent expires, typically for half the price.
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Ethics of mandatory vaccination policies
CHÉOS Scientist Dr. Anita Ho was interviewed on CBC Radio (On the Coast — 1:52:42) about the implications of mandatory vaccinations. The conversation was spurred by recent outbreaks of measles in the lower mainland.
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Declining stigma related to mental health could be behind increase in diagnoses
Speaking to Global News and Huffington Post Canada, CHÉOS Scientist Dr. Joseph Puyat commented on a report from the Provincial Health Officer which estimates that the number of people in B.C. with mental health problems is on the rise. Dr. Puyat suggested that this trend could be linked to the decreasing stigma around depression and anxiety.
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Vancouver’s injectable opioid treatment programs serve as examples for others
Dr. Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes, CHÉOS Scientist and principle investigator for multiple injectable opioid treatment clinical trials, spoke with The Atlantic about the acceptability and effectiveness of heroin assisted treatment in the Canadian context and how it relates to efforts by U.S. researchers to explore treatment options.
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The social aspects of eating
Commenting on the release of the new Canada’s Food Guide, Dr. Annalijn Conklin explained the importance of recognizing food as a social event and discussed the potential positive and negative aspects of the social component of eating. The piece appeared in the Ottawa Citizen.
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Canadian specialist surgeons head to Uganda for annual training program
CHÉOS Scientist Dr. Brian Westerberg was among the list of Canadian physicians and surgeons who lead an annual training program at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda. Running since 2015, the program trains attendees in otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat surgery) through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association and MUST.
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