Inspiring Stories of Real People Who Turned Pain into Purpose
Los Angeles, CA, April 28, 2021 — In the aftermath of hardship or trauma, it’s perfectly natural to enter what Dr. Randall Bell terms the “Dive Stage.” After all, the rug has just been pulled out from under you. But with the right strategies, it’s possible to not only get back up and find your footing, but to also use the experience to grow in entirely new directions.
“How do you take that energy from the trauma and tap into it to do something really remarkable that you wouldn’t have done otherwise?” asks Dr. Bell.
Stories of real people (many of them familiar) who have done exactly that unfold in his latest book, Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience.
Among the inspirational journeys Dr. Bell shares are:
• A deaf man with a glass eye invented the electric guitar and became a household name, remarkably wealthy and most importantly, happy.
• A convicted murderer took responsibility for the damage he caused, graduated with honors from college, became a minister and turned around the hearts of the most hardened criminals.
• A girl born with cerebral palsy landed the world’s first starring role on national television and spoke at the White House three times.
• A woman hid in a basement for years and lost her entire family in the Holocaust. She eventually found true love and paints stunning artwork.
• The sister of a murder victim helped millions of women in toxic domestic relationships.
• A woman’s car crash resulted in an addiction to prescription drugs, a divorce, a loss of her children and a cot in a homeless shelter. She has rebuilt it all back and more.
• A man set to go to the Olympics had his hopes dashed by Jimmy Carter and went on to build a worldwide business empire.
Dr. Bell juxtaposes outcomes of scientific studies with these stories to reveal common denominators among “thrivers.” He divides his insights into three sections: The Dive Stage, The Survive Stage and The Thrive Stage, and outlines a step-by-step process toward authentic healing.
Post-Traumatic Thriving documents the science of happiness, as well as the individual styles and common thread that all post-traumatic thrivers have to emerge with a fulfilling life. When trauma hits, your most significant decision will be to dive, survive or thrive. If you choose to thrive, this book is for you.
As a socio-economist, Dr. Randall Bell has consulted on more disasters on earth than anyone in history and is widely considered the world’s top authority in the field of post-traumatic thriving. His clients include the Federal Government, State Governments, International Tribunals, major corporations and homeowners. Dr. Bell believes that “the problem is not the problem — the problem is how we react to the problem.”
Often called the “Master of Disaster,” Dr. Bell is squarely focused on authentic recovery and resilience. His research has been profiled on major television shows and featured in numerous magazines and the international media. More information can be found at www.posttraumaticthriving.com.
Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience
Merck Canada and MaRS Announce Winners of the Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge
Challenge participants presented solutions aimed at improving patient outcomes and reducing time between diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer patients
Challenge winners includethe Kingston Health Sciences Centre and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, with solutions to help improve timely access to specialized care in rural South Eastern Ontario and accelerate lung cancer diagnosis and treatment through liquid biopsy
KIRKLAND, QC, April 28, 2021 /CNW/ - Merck Canada and MaRS Discovery District (MaRS) are proud to announce the winners of the Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge: the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), competition winner and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, runner up winner. The competition, which launched in January 2021, challenged Ontario-based innovators to identify, implement and scale solutions that could help enhance the lung cancer patient journey by seeking to reduce the length of time between diagnosis and treatment, and enable improved treatment outcomes, especially for priority patient groups such as rural and lower socioeconomic populations.
In 2020, approximately 30,000 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in Canada and more than 21,000 people died of the disease.1 Alarmingly, the survival rate for lung cancer is among the lowest of all types of cancer and approximately half of all cases are diagnosed at stage 4, further worsening chances of survival.1,2
"From diagnosis to treatment, lung cancer patients face a huge number of access barriers, which may ultimately impact their health outcomes. Today this has been even further exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said AnnA Van Acker, President and Managing Director at Merck Canada. "As a patient-centric biotech company with a passion for and a focus on saving and improving lives, we know we need to play our part in finding solutions for patients, and that is why we partnered with MaRS on the Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge. We are very grateful and feel inspired by all participants who brought forth unique and innovative solutions. Together, we have the power to transform lung cancer care for the better!"
"We have been incredibly inspired by all of the solutions presented during the challenge," said Alex Ryan, SVP, Partner Solutions at MaRS. "As North America's largest innovation hub, our focus at MaRS is on empowering new ideas that drive change, and this challenge has really showcased the best of local talent and of ingenuity. We hope that these winning solutions will grow and act as a blueprint to help improve outcomes for Ontario lung cancer patients."
Lung cancer's impact is particularly acute in Ontario, where an estimated 35 per cent of Canada's new lung cancer cases in 2020 were diagnosed.3 However, on a positive note, Ontario is also a hub for best-in-class life sciences talent, with incubators, research organizations, private enterprises and academic institutions. More than half of Canada's Research and Development spending in the life sciences sector happens in Ontario and the province has been a driver for major breakthroughs in healthcare.4
"Ontario is a world-class centre for talent and innovative ideas," said Vic Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. "The challenge has been a great opportunity for Ontario-based innovators to showcase their skills and demonstrate the power of collaboration across different perspectives with the common goal of supporting lung cancer patients."
"Now more than ever, we need innovation and new ideas to better our healthcare system," said Nina Tangri, Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade. "On behalf of the Ontario Government, I would like to thank Merck Canada, MaRS and all of the participants for joining forces to launch this competition and to help improve outcomes for lung cancer patients."
Competition winner – The Kingston Health Sciences Centre
$100,000 prize
KHSC runs the Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program, a rapid assessment clinic for patients with suspected lung cancer in South Eastern Ontario. The team won the competition with their solution to launch an outreach clinic in the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital, a community hospital located in a rural region of South Eastern Ontario.
Through the outreach clinic, patients referred to the program for evaluation of a suspected diagnosis of lung cancer and who live in Napanee or further west in Ontario will have the opportunity to select the community hospital as the site at which their first consultation with a respirologist can take place, versus needing to travel to the KHSC. Patients will undergo initial diagnostic and staging investigations locally where possible with more complex and sophisticated procedures being coordinated centrally through KHSC where required.
"Our team is composed of a multidisciplinary group of individuals with expertise in quality improvement and epidemiology, and we're constantly looking for opportunities to collaborate and improve through innovation," said Dr. Geneviève C. Digby, Respirologist, Clinical Lead for the Diagnostic Assessment Programs at KHSC and team representative. "Together, we've launched several innovative system solutions to address local delays in lung cancer care during the diagnostic phase. We would like to thank this challenge for giving us a platform to present our proposal for this new outreach program, which will help more Ontarians diagnosed with lung cancer get timely access to specialized care."
Competition runner-up - The Lung Cancer Site Group at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
$50,000 prize
The Lung Cancer Site Group at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre - one of the top five cancer research centres in the world - came in second place with their proposal to help significantly reduce the time between diagnosis and treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Their solution proposes the use of a liquid biopsy versus the conventional diagnostic pathway of molecular testing of tumour tissue after imaging and biopsy.
The team proposes that this "blood-first" approach could enable faster turnaround time for molecular results, as blood samples can be processed while patients await their diagnostic tissue biopsy. Molecular information from liquid biopsies can help diagnose and discover molecular targets faster than with standard tissue biopsy and tissue testing, which could allow patients to start treatment faster than through the conventional diagnostic pathway.
"Our team at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is passionate about getting the right treatment to the right person as soon as possible," said Dr. Natasha B. Leighl, Thoracic Medical Oncology Site Lead, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and team representative. "We are testing whether our solution to incorporate liquid biopsy into our Lung Cancer Rapid Assessment and Management Program will help get patients to treatment faster, with fewer delays and avoiding extra tests. This could change the way we diagnose lung cancer in Ontario, and have a positive impact for patients."
Please go here for more information and to learn more about the winning solutions.
About Merck For more than 125 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.
About MaRS MaRS is North America's largest urban innovation hub. A registered non-profit, MaRS supports high-growth startups and scale-ups tackling key issues in health, cleantech, fintech and other sectors. In addition, MaRS convenes all members of the tech ecosystem to drive breakthrough discoveries, grow the economy and make an impact by solving real problems for real people — in Canada and around the world.
Fully vaccinated? How to Keep Yourself COVID-Safe After Vaccination
CurexLab, a provider of approved COVID-19 PPE and lab supplies, offers tips on how to stay safe after vaccination
NEW YORK, New York – (April 28, 2021) – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been over 212 million COVID vaccinations administered around the country. As millions of people get the vaccine, they may still be wondering how they can continue to minimize their risks of contracting the virus. The good news is that there are ways to help reduce risks and keep healthy.
“It’s a great idea to get the vaccine, but getting it doesn’t mean you can completely let your guard down,” explains Shan S. Haider, chief executive officer of CurexLab, one of the largest suppliers of COVID-19 PPE and lab supplies. “The vaccine is the first step in protecting yourself, but there are other things you can do to keep you and your family healthy.”
First, it’s important for people to know what being “fully vaccinated” means. Getting the vaccine doesn’t mean that one has reached full vaccination. According to the CDC, people are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after they have received their final vaccine. For those who have received the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, that would mean two weeks after their second dose. For those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, that would be two weeks after their one shot.
Additional things that you can do to stay COVID-safe after being fully vaccinated include:
Continuing to make hand washing a priority.
Wearing a mask in public places where there will be others nearby.
Avoiding large crowds and especially those that are indoors or are in poorly ventilated areas.
Avoid those who may be at an increased risk for COVID or other illnesses.
Adopt healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating healthy, getting plenty of physical activity, and losing weight if you have extra pounds.
When traveling, be sure to take sanitizing wipes along to clean your immediate area, such as on an airplane, and take hand sanitizer with you for when you can’t find a sink right away.
“The more we can make these things a regular part of our lives, the safer we will be,” added Haider. “Once fully vaccinated, we can start getting back to our normal lives, but it’s also wise to take some precautions, especially if you are in a higher risk category.”
Beginning June 2021, CurexLab will be offering a travel kit, which has been designed for travelers who are exposed to crowds and would like to clean and sanitize their immediate area. The travel kit includes two disposable 3-ply masks, two pair of gloves, 10 wet wipe sachets, and 10 sanitizer gel sachets.
CurexLab Inc., pioneers in clinical diagnostic kits, offers a range of COVID-19 PPE supplies and lab supplies at affordable costs. Its product line includes antibody rapid testing kits, RNA COVID-19 extraction kits, inferred thermometers, ventilators, face shields, hand sanitizer, nitrile gloves, KN95 masks, three and four-ply masks, isolation and surgical gowns, and coveralls. To get more information or see the line of COVID-19 PPE and lab supplies, visit the site at: https://www.curexlab.com.
About CurexLab Inc.
Based in New York City, CurexLab Inc. offers a range of COVID-19 lab and PPE supplies. It is one of the largest suppliers of COVID-19 medical supplies, including nitrile gloves and four-ply masks. CurexLab masks were designed in compliance with FDA and CDC guidelines. It is a vendor at the state and federal government level. Its products are manufactured in labs in the U.S., Canada, Turkey, Estonia, Vietnam, and China. All vendors are carefully selected to meet CureXLab’s high standards. To get more information or see the line of COVID-19 PPE and lab supplies, visit the site at: https://www.curexlab.com.
Nursing shortage in South Florida has healthcare facilities scrambling to counter the talent drain
LifeWings Peak Performance is hosting a quickly arranged webinar in response to a critical situation aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (April 28, 2021) – There is a nursing shortage in South Florida that is undeniably of crisis proportions. Health care providers, who are on the front lines of this life-endangering problem, said today that they are determined to reverse the staffing shortage.
The South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association are teaming up with LifeWings Peak Performance and holding an urgently needed two-day virtual discussion on May 12-13. Florida's leaders in the profession will, in a quick-hit format, address why nursing vacancies in this region of the state are quickly rising and putting the quality of care in jeopardy.
“To begin with, the stress of working in healthcare for the past 15 or 20 years has become quite untenable," said presenter; Dr. Andrew Grose, Orthopedic Surgeon/Hospital for Special Surgery. “The pandemic is just the spark on an already dry haystack.”
The combination of on-the-job stress and the added burden of the COVID-19 pandemic at times overwhelming critical care providers are pushing nurses either out of Florida and a better work environment, more lucrative opportunities or out of the profession entirely.
“Some healthcare systems have lost 300 to 500 nurses, longtime trained staff to other states,” said Senior Vice President Richard Doss of LifeWings, which is putting on the two 30-minute sessions aimed at reviewing what can be done in the short-term and more systemically to reverse the talent drain.
“There are massive incentives for these healthcare professionals to leave,” Doss said. “Other states are preying on South Florida and getting nurses, lab workers, and respiratory therapists to relocate for three months to work for triple pay and take the rest of the year off.”
Doss said the crisis is significantly affecting what he calls "the casual and part-time nursing workforce who is in their 50s and 60s."
Unlike their younger colleagues, who are more willing to relocate, the more veteran nurses who have scaled back late in their careers, "they are finding that their mom or dad has COVID and don't want to work anymore. Or they contracted COVID and don't want to work anymore. It's a hassle and stressful."
Doss said the intensive care and critical care units are being impacted more than other medical services.
“These are high-intensity areas where you are admitting many COVID patients,” he said. “It's not easy to replace these kinds of nurses with a brand new one out of school.
Dr. Grose acknowledges that the stress of the job and non-competitive pay only explain a few reasons why markets across the country are losing nurses.
“Anytime people are leaving to go somewhere else, they are feeling they will be more appreciated in any sense of that word, financially or in terms of support at work or serving a community that they feel cares about them,” Grose said.
“Most hospitals acknowledge theirs a communication disconnect, especially during a crisis,” he said. “The frontline workers know a lot about the work and need to be listened to. And the leaders know about the organizational stuff and budgeting, but they have to listen to their workers.”
A Nurse Grid survey reports the percentage of nurses reporting burnout exploding to 61 percent from April to December 2020. 40 percent are concerned about their mental health and 22 percent stated they plan to leave bedside care or the nursing field entirely in 2021.
SFHHA Webinars At-A-Glance
What: Florida’s Healthcare Workers Crisis Who: The South Florida Hospital Association & Life Wings Peak Performance Team When: May 12 & 13th, 2021 / Times both Days: 930am to 1030am ET Why: Top, Florida Healthcare Leaders, address Staffing Stress and Burnout Issues
The two-day webinar is built around an open-ended conversation to share what's been working where nurses are retained and not working at particular hospitals and healthcare systems. Several experts, one a former healthcare chief operating officer and another a top human factors expert, will participate.
There will also be a question-and-answer period, including a Chief Nursing Officer from South Florida on hand to share her insight.
We have a crisis throughout American healthcare,” Dr. Grose said. “Add in the pandemic, and it’s like turning on the light and seeing all the cockroaches. They were always there.”
Attention reporters & editors – All newsmakers involved in this educational initiative are available to be scheduled for interviews. To make coordinating easy and hassle-free – contact Robb Leer publicist Robbl@leercommunication.com or call 612.701.0608
About LifeWings Peak Performance:
LifeWings Peak Performance LLC, based in Minneapolis with additional offices in Miami, comprises an exceptional team of physicians, nurses, pilots, engineers, and healthcare executives. It relies on methodologies used in commercial and military aviation, nuclear power, and cutting-edge manufacturing to assist healthcare organizations in creating safe, efficient, and high-performing hospitals and clinics. Our team has more than 400 years of combined experience designing and implementing high-reliability communication, operations, and payer systems for hospitals, clinics, and insurance carriers. For more information, visit https://www.LifeWingsPP.com/.
About South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association:
South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association membership accurately reflects the diversity in South Florida and focuses on issues unique to our community. As a not-for-profit organization, its mission is to improve the efficient delivery of quality healthcare services to our communities by championing collaboration and communication among leaders across the healthcare continuum. For more information, visit https://www.sfhha.com/about-us/
MS Society of Canada Awards $1 Million to Research Study on Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to Support Treatment Decisions in Multiple Sclerosis
Dr. Douglas Arnold from The Neuro at McGill University receives AI & MS Discovery Grant supported by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment
TORONTO, April 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is pleased to announce that Dr. Douglas Arnold is the recipient of the $1 million Artificial Intelligence (AI) & MS Discovery Grant supported by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment. Dr. Arnold and his research team at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) at McGill University aim to develop a clinical decision support tool using AI to help multiple sclerosis (MS) physicians and people living with MS make better, more personalized treatment decisions by providing reliable predictions of the individual’s disease course, and how they are likely to respond to different types of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).
“We are entering a new era in which 'Big Data' and increasing computer power are making it possible to develop artificial intelligence methods capable of predicting how individual MS patients will do in the future and how they will respond to specific treatments. Clinicians cannot make such predictions at present. Integrating AI into the clinic will allow clinicians to adapt treatments to each individual patient’s unique circumstances, to help ensure a better outcome. We are very grateful to the MS Society and the TD Bank Group for their commitment to support this effort,” says Dr. Arnold, researcher at The Neuro.
The AI & MS Discovery Grant program was launched in 2019 with the generous contribution of TD, to help seek transformative ideas that leverage existing clinical and patient data and potential of AI to optimize treatment and prognosis for people living with MS.
"Through the TD Ready Commitment, our global corporate citizenship platform, TD is proud to support the MS Society and this grant to leverage technology in research and help improve health outcomes and quality of life for thousands of Canadians living with MS. Congratulations to Dr. Arnold on being awarded the AI & MS Discovery Grant. We look forward to the development of the clinical decision tool that will support more personalized care and open up new treatments to tackle this disease," says Andrea Barrack, global head, sustainability and corporate citizenship, TD Bank Group.
The research project will use an AI approach called ‘deep learning’ and clinical and imaging data collected from over 10,000 people with MS who participated in clinical trials over the last 20 years to develop an evidence-based clinical decision support tool. The tool aims to provide predictions on future lesion formation as viewed by MRI, future relapses, and future increases in disability, along with a measure of how certain one can be about these predictions. By understanding the likelihood of response to various DMTs, patients and clinicians can make more informed decisions early in the disease about the most effective treatments, which has the potential to change the trajectory of their disease.
“This is an exciting project that focuses on harnessing state of the art technology in AI to support evidence-based decisions for both the clinician and the person living with MS,” says Dr. Pamela Valentine, president and CEO, MS Society of Canada. “This technology has the potential to empower both MS physicians and people with MS in shared decision making about the best treatment choices earlier in the course of the disease in the hopes of achieving better health outcomes for the person living with MS.”
To learn more about this research project, please click here.
About multiple sclerosis and the MS Society of Canada
Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world. On average, 12 Canadians are diagnosed every day. MS is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). It is considered an episodic disability meaning that the severity and duration of illness and disability can vary and are often followed by periods of wellness. It can also be progressive. Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 49 and the unpredictable effects of the disease will last for the rest of their lives. The MS Society provides information, support and advocacy to people affected by MS, and funds research to find the cause and cure for the disease, bringing us closer to a world free of MS. Please visit mssociety.ca or call 1-800-268-7582 for more information, to get involved, or to support Canadians affected by MS by making a donation.
Join the conversation and connect with the MS community online. Find the MS Society on Twitter, Instagram or like our page on Facebook.
HONG KONG, Apr 26, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Scivita Medical Technology Co., Ltd. ("Scivita Medical") today announced that it has raised nearly RMB0.4 Billion in Series A funding round, which has become one of the highest financing projects in the field of endoscope in China in recent years. The investment was jointly led by GL Ventures and Lilly Asia Ventures, with contribution from Matrix Partners China, Medtronic, Chengwei Capital and Shanghai Innochip Investment. The successful completion of the Series A funding round reflects the recognition of Scivita Medical in the field of endoscope and the expectation of its future development from the capital market and industrial strategic partners. Scivita Medical will strive to build the world's leading platform for innovative products in endoscope and related fields.
Founded by Dr. ZHANG Yi and Dr. CHEN Dong, Scivita Medical is headquartered in Suzhou Industrial Park with R&D centers in Suzhou, China, and Tokyo, Japan, focusing on the image processing R&D and technology innovation of endoscope. Scivita Medical is a high-tech enterprise engaged in the field of optical diagnosis and treatment, multidimensional images development, high-performance materials research and precision manufacturing with minimally invasive medical treatment. Scivita Medical's product covers both flexible endoscopy and rigid endoscopy, and has unique advantages in the research and commercialization of all cutting-edge technologies in the field of medical endoscopes. It has ultra-high-definition visualization technology (such as 4K UHD visualization), 3D visualization technology, special light visualization technology (such as fluorescence visualization), ultra-fine endoscopic visualization technology, single-use technology, etc.
According to Frost & Sullivan, it is estimated that by 2024, the overall scale of the global endoscope devices market will grow to USD26.98 billion, and the Chinese endoscope market size will reach RMB42.3 billion, becoming one of the fastest growing medical device sub-industries in the world. With the popularization of minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment technology worldwide, the endoscope industry has also entered a stage of rapid development.
The endoscope industry has higher technical barriers, involving multi-disciplinary and multi-fields, which integrates medicine, optics, materials, precision machinery, electronic engineering, software development and other disciplines, and has more technical content as compared to traditional mechanical manufacturing. At present, the endoscope equipment market presents an oligopolistic situation, with international brands occupying a large market share by relying on first-mover advantages and mature technological advantages. Scivita Medical has successfully achieved breakthroughs in key areas such as optical imaging and image processing of endoscopes, breaking down the technological monopoly of international brand products.
Scivita Medical accurately grasps the clinical needs, and combines innovative technologies in multi-disciplinary fields to develop excellent Chinese products that are recognized by clinical experts worldwide.World's first 2D to 3D " 3D Visualization System" developed by Scivita Medical obtained NMPA certification and CE certification in July 2018, and became the first domestic 3D Visualization System approved by the U.S. FDA launched in the United States in September 2019. The "4K UHD Camera System" independently developed by Scivita Medical obtained NMPA certification in June 2019. It was launched in China as the first domestic 4K UHD camera system and obtained CE certification in July 2019. In August 2020, the "4K UHD Camera System" became the first Chinese 4K product that was certified by the U.S. FDA.
In addition, Scivita Medical has various single-use endoscopy devices with international competitiveness, many of which have entered the clinical, registration, or sales stages in China, the United States, Europe and other countries and regions, respectively. Given that endoscope industry has entered into the era of consumables, Scivita Medical will compete with international brands in the global market with its disruptive single-use technology and leading technological advantages.
Dr. ZHANG Yi, Co-founder of Scivita Medical, said: "The company's founding management team expresses sincere gratitude to the industry's top investment institutions and industry strategic partners for their recognition and support. In the next few years, endoscope products will fully realize the iteration from 'HD' to 'Ultra HD', and from 'reuse' to 'single-use'. Relying on the world's leading technology and strong sustainable R&D strength, and with the support from investment institutions and the continuous attention from our peers, Scivita Medical will form a platform with a comprehensive layout of innovative products in endoscope and related fields. It is committed to using domestic high-quality innovative products to replace and compete with international brand products, and striving to build a world-leading endoscope R&D brand that are rooted in China. The original intention of Scivita Medical is to solve the clinical pain points, making diagnosis and treatment safer and more effective, and help every patient and their family. Scivita Medical will make unremitting efforts for it. "
Michael Nuoqing YI, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Hillhouse and Head of Biomedicine and Medical Devices of GL ventures, said: "With the advancement of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, the development of minimally invasive surgery and the aging population, the clinical demand for endoscope is rising rapidly and there is a huge room for domestic substitute. Scivita Medical takes a leading position at home and abroad. Its products are independently developed, which covers electronic and optical endoscopes. It has ultra-high-definition visualization technology, 3D visualization technology, special light visualization technology, ultra-fine endoscopic visualization technology and single-use technology. Hillhouse would like to have a long-term companionship with outstanding entrepreneurs like Dr. ZHANG Yi and Dr. CHEN Dong, who are innovative and with excellent management experience. Hillhouse also aims to help Scivita Medical continue to make efforts on R&D and innovation, so as to using domestic high-quality innovative products to replace international brand products, and actively participate in international competition and to benefit more patients."
Dr. CHEN Fei, Managing partner of Lilly Asia Ventures, said: "The technical barrier of endoscope industry is very high. We are very optimistic about the strong technical experience and innovative R&D capabilities of Scivita Medical team in terms of rigid and flexible endoscopes. The 4K UHD Camera System independently developed by Scivita Medical was the first one approved by China National Medical Products Administration and FDA, and it is highly recognized by clinical experts. Leverage on its distinctive product solutions and forward-looking industrial layout, we believe Scivita Medical can become the leader in technological innovation in the field of endoscopy in China and even in the world.
Dr. Eric YU, Partner of Matrix Partners China, said: "Endoscope has a high technical barrier, and the domestic market has long been monopolized by foreign giants. Scivita Medical has strong technical strength in the next generation of 3D, ultra HD and single-use endoscopes, which have all reached or surpassed foreign giants. We look forward to the company's further performance and clinical promotion of the products, which will bring clinical benefits to Chinese doctors and patients.
Dr. SHI Yonghui, Managing Director of the Corporate Development and Venture Capital Department (Greater China) of Medtronic, said: "It is Medtronic's global mission to relieve pain, restore health, and extend life for patients around the world. Medtronic China has always been committed to supporting the application of innovative medical technology in the local market. Since the establishment of the Venture Capital Fund and Innovation Accelerator after 2016, it has invested in and incubated more than 10 medical technology companies. By strategically investing in Scivita Medical, we hope that both parties could carry out multi-level strategic cooperation in the field of endoscope, and finally bring prime medical solutions to thousands of Chinese patients."
YAN Di, Vice president of Chengwei Capital, said: "The current localization rate in the endoscopy industry is less than 10%, and the demand for domestic substitution is strong. We are very pleased to see that Scivita Medical's endoscope products can break through the monopoly of foreign technology and solve the current handicap that local products cannot enter the high-end market. It fills the gap in the high-end endoscope market. It is a domestic brand with rigid and flexible endoscopy technology. We believe that Scivita Medical will become a leader in the field of endoscope and help further development of clinical medicine."
WANG Zhi, Partner of Shanghai Innochip Investment Management Co., Ltd., said: "We are very optimistic about the trend of ultra HD and single-use evolution of medical endoscope systems under the background of the miniaturization of CMOS image sensor chips. This trend is expected to break the monopoly situation occupied by European, American and Japanese companies, and provides Chinese companies with international vision and innovative technology capabilities, represented by Scivita Medical, with opportunities to surpass competitors within the same filed. I believe that Chinese companies will make innovative and high-quality endoscopes, which will benefit to more patients."
India needs to step up vaccination rate, secure oxygen supplies to curb COVID-19 pandemic, says GlobalData
A novel ‘double mutant’ variant of SARS-CoV-2, along with other factors, has accelerated the COVID-19 pandemic in India, setting a global record of new daily cases. Against this backdrop, increasing vaccination rates, mandating social distancing and mask wearing, and importing enough oxygen are the most crucial factors for India right now to free up hospital beds and contain this pandemic quickly, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Nancy Jaser, PharmD/MBA, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Despite the alarming spike in new cases with India’s second wave, there is simply not enough evidence to place blame on variants. The ‘double mutant’ strain, B.1.617, has been circulating through the country since last year but it is unclear why cases are surging now.
“The term ‘double mutant’ refers to the two mutations (L452R and E484Q) in the spike protein but is inaccurate as B.1.617 carries 13 mutations that alter amino acids. Other established variants also carry two or more mutations in the spike protein. Therefore, the term ‘double mutant’ is misleading and should be avoided.”
Several other aspects could have heavily contributed to the severity of India’s recent outbreak, including the low percentage of vaccinated persons, large religious and political gatherings, and limited hospital capacity. Recently, faulty oxygen valves in hospitals caused at least 22 known deaths and led to the current shortage of oxygen across the country.
Ms Jaser explains: “The new strain targets younger age groups, who are less likely to be vaccinated. However, more research is required to understand the true impact of this variant and how effective current vaccines are against it.”
The variant, B.1.617, contains two mutations in the spike protein that have been previously observed separately, but never together. Experts are still studying this novel variant combination and do not have data on its virulence or its impact on the current outbreak.
Ms Jaser concludes: “The ‘double mutant’ variant dates back to October of 2020, according to the GISAID genome database, and it is unclear if it even originated in India. Further, India’s limited genomic sequencing in areas with high cases make it difficult to say if this recent surge was caused by the variant; especially since this strain has spread to at least 20 other countries.”
Don’t Let Your Vet Pay the Ultimate Price: Happy Vet Happy Pet Delivers Life-Saving Insights
Atlanta, GA, April 26, 2021 — If you have a pet, then you have a vet. And if you know a vet, you know someone statistically at a higher risk of anxiety, depression and even suicide. But you have the power to positively impact — and even save — that veterinarian’s life, asserts Sandy Weaver, author and Program Director of the Center for Workplace Happiness.
Her groundbreaking new book, Happy Vet Happy Pet: Caring for Your Pet’s Caregiver, outlines three simple rules that all pet owners should follow when interacting with their pet’s veterinarian.
“I’ve known for years, as have those in the veterinary field, that there was an issue with suicide and veterinarians,” Sandy says. “Then in early 2019, the CDC report on veterinary suicide was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and what had been anecdotal became data: male veterinarians are 2.1 times more likely, and female veterinarians are 3.5 times more likely, to complete suicide than their non-veterinarian peers.”
Happy Vet Happy Pet is a distillation of Sandy’s research into neuroscience, neuroplasticity and positive psychology mixed with data from the CDC report. The result is an impactful approach that weaves easy-to-understand science with stories that touch the minds and the hearts of pet owners — empowering them to be part of the solution.
Chapters dive deep into topics all pet owners should understand, including:
1. The heart, mind and life of a person who decides to become a veterinarian; 2. The very human, very vulnerable person behind the scrubs; 3. The ways clients unknowingly mistreat their pets’ caregivers; 4. Three simple rules to follow to help your veterinary team; and 5. What to do if you feel that someone near you is facing suicidal desperation.
Happy Vet Happy Pet will change your relationship with your veterinarian and their team forever. And what you learn in this book could save your veterinarian's life.
Author Sandy Weaver is an expert speaker, trainer, mastermind facilitator and lover of all things dog.
As the Program Director of the Center for Workplace Happiness, Sandy creates the training programs, workshops, mastermind groups and keynotes that help people lead happier, more successful lives. She is also a citizen-scientist in the fields of neuroscience, neuroplasticity and positive psychology. In 2019, she took the resilience tools and strategies she’d been teaching to general audiences and crafted programs specifically for veterinary teams. Her goal is to touch the life of every veterinarian and technician in a way that helps them avoid the pain and despair that comes with an inability to manage stress.
Now in her 40th year of Siberian Husky ownership, Sandy is a passionate advocate for veterinarians and their teams and an ongoing donor to Not One More Vet.
Panda Express, Whole Foods, Best Buy Top Ipsos Ranking on COVID-19 Safety Measures
Ipsos Mystery Shoppers provides an exclusive guide to companies that are successfully implementing health precautions for employees and customers)
New York, NY, April 22, 2021 — Ipsos, a leading global research firm, today announced the winners of Ipsos’ Health and Safety Best Brand Awards based on the results of the latest Consumer Health & Safety Index, an in-store benchmarking study that evaluates how retailers are operating more than a year into the pandemic.
This is the third time Ipsos has conducted its landmark study. In spring 2021, Ipsos surveyed 2,000 Americans to understand which health and safety attributes are most important to consumers in the current COVID-19 retail environment. Ipsos then conducted mystery shops to measure brand compliance on health and safety attributes across more than 25 brands in four key industries.
Ipsos Mystery Shoppers visited nearly 3500 individual locations and assessed each brand’s compliance with key Health and Safety measures. These included areas such as social distancing, mask compliance, Cleaning, and the availability of hand sanitizer. Top performing brands were awarded Ipsos Health & Safety Awards for their overall performance. Awards were also given by category to highlight the individual nature of the marketplace in which these brands compete.
"The brands receiving Ipsos' Health & Safety Awards are being recognized for their responsiveness, diligence and excellence in creating safe in-store experiences for both customers and employees," said Shohini Banerjee, Senior Vice President, US Channel Performance, Ipsos. "They have each made monumental strides over the past year to adhere to and consistently implement the health & safety policies that build consumer trust - something that will last long after the pandemic subsides."
Among the brands consumers, and therefore Ipsos, recognized for strong performances:
Quick Serve Restaurants Awards:
• Panda Express emerged as the strongest performer in the QSR industry, winning the Best in Industry award. Panda Express’s strong performance was due to high marks for social-distancing measures, store cleanliness and employee mask-wearing where they were the top scoring brand within QSR.
• Krispy Kreme ranked second in the QSR industry with strong performance across the board, winning the Best in Category award for the presence of sanitizers at various touch points within the store.
• McDonald’s ranked third in the QSR industry, demonstrating strong performance in all areas. The fast-food giant outperformed competition in ensuring restrooms are safe to use, winning the Best in Category award for restroom cleanliness.
Grocery Awards:
• Whole Foods and Food Lion led the grocery industry, with Whole Foods retaining its No. 1 spot from previous Ipsos studies and winning the Best in Industry award. Food Lion ranked No. 3 in the grocery industry but emerged as a Best in Category winner for the presence of sanitizers at various points in stores, including at entrances, checkouts and in restrooms.
Big Box Retail Awards:
• Best Buy retained its spot as the top performer in the big-box industry, winning the Best in Industry award. Best Buy also led the big-box cohort across several categories, including social distancing measures, sanitizer offerings and employees wearing masks and gloves.
• Target showed improvement in its focus on health & safety, ranking second in the big-box industry and winning the Best in Category award for cleanliness.
• Costco has consistently demonstrated strong performance across several waves of the Index and came in at No. 3 in the industry. Costco went on to win the Best in Category award for restrooms and barriers to enforce distancing.
Consumer Banking Awards:
• Citibank won the Best in Industry award for financial services, along with winning the Best in Category award in the signage, sanitizers, and wearables (employees wearing masks and gloves) categories.
• Wells Fargo and Bank of America tied for No. 2 in the financial services industry, and tied for the Best in Category award for maintaining safety protocols in the exteriors of their locations. In addition, Bank of America won the Best in Category award for implementing distancing protocols.
• Chase Bank won the Best in Category award in the industry for cleanliness, jointly with Citibank. Both banks ensured high-touch surfaces are visibly cleaned by employees on a regular basis.
• US Bank won the Best in Category award in the restroom category. In addition, US Bank won the Best in Category award for barriers, jointly with Citibank.
Best Overall Brand Award Winners:
In addition to winning Industry and Category awards, Whole Foods, Best Buy, Target, and Costco emerged as the Best Overall Brand award winners. These brands demonstrated strong performance through the end-to-end customer journey, setting them apart from the rest of the 24 participating brands in the Index.
More than half of all American adults have now received at least one vaccine dose as of April 18, 2021, according to the CDC. As vaccination efforts proceed and more stores reopen, brands must continue to ensure consumers feel safe when shopping at their locations. For more information on Ipsos’ Consumer Health & Safety index, contact Stephanie.Thayer@ipsos.com.
About the Study
Ipsos conducted mystery shops to measure brand compliance to these health and safety attributes across 25+ brands in 4 key industries to report on their performance. A random sample of 75-125 locations per brand were audited during this study, while ensuring geographical representation and a margin of error of 5-7%.
While the results presented in the study have a 90% confidence level, observations contrary to the findings reported in the study may be found at individual locations and should be used as an opportunity to further improve the customer experience at these locations.
About the Ipsos Consumer Health & Safety Best Brand Awards
Each brand included in Wave 3 of Ipsos’ Consumer Health & Safety Index received scores for their compliance to each of the health and safety policies observed by mystery shoppers. These policies were determined – and weighted – in accordance with Ipsos Bayes Nets (IBN) drivers analysis, which determined the COVID-19 in-store safeguards that drive consumer confidence and increase return visits.
Each brand received an overall score derived from the weighted average of each policy compliance score.
Best Overall Brand Award: Ipsos calculated each brand’s overall score as well as the mean and standard deviation for the set of scores across all participating brands. Any brand with an overall score greater than the mean + one standard deviation qualified for the Best Overall Brand Award.
Best in Industry Award: Ipsos calculated each brand’s overall score as well as the mean and standard deviation for the set of scores across participating brands in the industry. Any brand with an overall score greater than the mean + one standard deviation qualified for the Best in Industry Award.
Best in Category Award: Within each industry, Ipsos calculated each brand’s overall score for 9 categories: Exterior, Interior, Restroom, Signage, Distancing, Cleanliness, Wearables, Barriers and Sanitizer. The brand with the highest overall score in a category within an industry qualified for the Best In Category Award.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Elen Alexov Marketing Operations Director, North America +1 778 373-5136 elen.alexov@ipsos.com
About Ipsos
Ipsos is now the third largest market research company in the world, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.
Our research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data coming from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques.
“Game Changers” – our tagline – summarizes our ambition to help our 5,000 clients to navigate more easily our deeply changing world.
Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).
Char’s Gift: A Remarkable Story of Hope Through the Storms of Life
Grand Rapids, MI, April 26, 2021 — When Steve Harryman talks about his late wife, Char, he compares her to a 100-watt bulb, lighting up the world for others facing challenges in life, even as she faced the end of hers.
Steve honors Char’s legacy and generous spirit in his inspirational new book,Char’s Gift: A Remarkable Story of Hope Through the Storms of Life.
It was Easter Sunday, 1995, when Char suffered a grand mal seizure. And then another. And another. An MRI revealed a malignant tumor the size of a golf ball — a life-defining moment that marked the beginning of an unforgettable journey of unwavering love, faith and perseverance.
As Char was wheeled into surgery, she told her husband, “Keep trusting.” It was a mantra that would guide them during their darkest moments and propel them forward in faith. Doctors gave Char two years to live. God had other plans. And so did Char. She lived for 24 more years and touched the lives of thousands before her passing in May 2019.
“With all her struggles, with all her many battles against cancer, with all her perseverance and hope in Christ — Char was one of the most inspiring women I’ve ever met,” says Joni Eareckson Tada, author, Christian stateswoman and respected global leader in disability advocacy.
Early on in her cancer journey, Char struggled with the reality of her diagnosis, just as anyone would. Everything changed when she channeled her energy into deepening her relationship with God and serving Him by focusing on the needs of others.
For Char, making other people feel loved was her greatest joy. It is Steve’s hope that by sharing her inspirational story, others navigating a difficult time will find strength in her grace and faith — and just keep trusting.
Steve Harryman is the founder and president of Hope Through the Storm Ministries, a Christian faith-based organization devoted to bringing hope and encouragement to people facing serious illness and disability. Steve is also an award-winning writer, videographer, photographer and successful magazine writer. Char’s Gift is his first book. He lives in West Michigan and was married to Char for nearly 33 years before she went to heaven in May 2019.
For more information, please visit https://charsgift.com, or follow the author on Twitter (@steveharryman); Instagram (@steve_harryman); or Facebook (@steveharrymanauthor).
Char’s Gift: A Remarkable Story of Hope Through the Storms of Life
Publisher:Elm Hill, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing
