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2024 year in review: patient stories
here are some of healthing's favourite uplifting and inspiring patient stories from 2024.
2024 year in review: technology stories
from groundbreaking advancements to everyday tools making a big impact to shape a healthier future, these are healthing’s favourite technology stories of 2024.
parkinson's patient fabio dwyer gets a second chance to return to the stage after deep brain stimulation.
fabio dwyer // united health network
technology continues to revolutionize healthcare, bringing innovation and hope to patients and providers alike. from groundbreaking advancements to everyday tools making a big impact to shape a healthier future, these are healthing’s favourite technology stories of 2024.
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angelica bottaro
ultrasound anywhere: virtual reality tool aims to change the face of rural healthcare for canadians
david black is still just a student, but his invention of a virtual reality tool-based ultrasound has the potential to implement positive changes to the landscape of rural healthcare. this story, to me, is an essential look into the next generation of medical intervention and how, as we excel as a society, things can continue to improve in the healthcare space. the invention is also just remarkably cool, for lack of a better word.
musician gets a new lease on life after deep brain stimulation for parkinson’s disease
fabio dwyer developed early-onset parkinson’s disease, which led to a complete halt in his music career since he was no longer able to use his hands. but with the help of deep brain stimulation done by the university health network (uhn), he regained the use of his hands so he could once again play music. this story means a lot to me because, as an amateur guitar player myself, i couldn’t imagine having a love for music taken away due to a debilitating disease. the innovation in care for parkinson’s disease is another reason why this story deserves to be highlighted. with uhn providing this type of life-changing care, more people can continue to explore and experience life without debilitating diseases holding them back, which paints a picture of a very exciting future in the healthcare and treatment space.
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karen hawthorne
leaders in health: megan mantle and caring for caregivers through workhorse health
patient partners, whether they’re family caregivers, emergency nurses or surgeons with always-expanding case loads, experience fatigue, stress and ultimately burnout. they need support and care just like everybody else, but where do they turn for help? megan mantle’s virtual service, born out of the chaos of covid, shows how powerful support services from social workers, psychotherapists and nurses can be in a flexible, agile format that is tailored to the individual.
what it feels like: ‘i lost literally everything’ to epilepsy
the krembil brain institute in toronto is leading new advancements for treating brain and spine problems like epilepsy, a debilitating disease that made jessica thomas feel bewildered and out of control. the young uxbridge, ontario woman had to drop out of college, give up her driver’s licence and move back home with her parents. her body rejected medications to control her seizures, but she was referred to the epilepsy monitoring unit at krembil to identify the area of her brain responsible for her seizures. this is where innovative technology comes into play. she had stereoelectroencephalography, also called stereo-eeg or seeg, a minimally invasive procedure where 15 tiny holes were drilled in her head to insert electrodes directly into her brain to determine the starting point for her seizures. she spent five weeks of her summer “plugged into a wall unit” and later underwent brain surgery that changed her life.
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andrew robichaud
5 ways virtual reality is improving patient experiences and health outcomes
virtual reality is often associated with video games, but it’s application in healthcare is in need of much more attention. this list is one of my favourite tech stories of the year because it showcases how versatile vr can be across a wide array of experiences and health conditions—including areas like chronic pain management and rehabilitation. it’s the first step in modernizing treatment options and continuing to explore new ways to improve our health outcomes.
how ai is helping detect types of endometrial cancer
it would be difficult to showcase a list of our favourite technology stories in 2024 and not include artificial intelligence. ai continues to change every industry and healthcare is no different—showcased by its ability to detect types of endometrial cancer. this fascinating story highlights a team of researchers out of the university of british colombia using ai image analysis and pattern recognition technology to detect various types of endometrial cancer. it makes me feel like anything is possible and patients are better for it.
