Held in the Past, Pushed to the Future: A Young Woman’s Journey
Detroit, MI, March 10, 2021— Niran, a Muslim woman coming of age in Detroit after emigrating from Iraq, walks a fine line between ancestral norms and the freedoms of a new generation as the protagonist of award-winning author Weam Namou’s new book, Pomegranate.
Inspired by her idol Enheduanna of ancient Mesopotamia, Niran navigates societal challenges, fights against cultural stereotypes and most of all aims to make her voice heard by all around her.
Enheduanna, the first known poet in world history, was a woman who lived more than 4,300 years ago. The High Priestess was a genuine historical figure, whereas Niran’s story is a mixture of real and imagined stories. They focus on Muslim women who cope with many issues as they transition from old traditions to a modern, western society. Author Namou admits that some of the tales involving the fictional Niran mirror her own.
Moving from war-torn Iraq to the U.S. was not easy for Niran, especially since it meant living as a liberal Muslim immigrant in a neighborhood of well-to-do, conservative Christians during the 2016 presidential election. As a young adult, Niran chafes under the tight rein of her headstrong mother who, enforcing tradition and obedience, stifles her children's individuality.
About the Author
Weam Namou was born in Baghdad to an ancient lineage called the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians who still speak Aramaic). She’s an award-winning author of 14 books, an international award-winning filmmaker, journalist, poet and Ambassador for the Authors Guild of America (Detroit Chapter). She hosts a half-hour weekly TV show and founded The Path of Consciousness, a spiritual and writing community. She created Unique Voices in Films, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, and Namou’s work has been published in many national and international publications. One of her best-known books, The Great American Family, won the Eric Hoffer Award, and she wrote, produced and directed an award-winning documentary based on the same book. Additionally, she has written and directed Pomegranate the movie, which you can learn more about at www.PomegranateMovie.com.
For over a decade, Namou has been giving talks, presentations and workshops at libraries, colleges and universities, and for special groups. She is currently available both nationally and internationally via virtual platforms.
Pomegranate Publisher: Hermiz Publishing, Inc. Release Date: February 14, 2021 ISBN-13: 978-1945371004 Available at Amazon.com
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Resilience Without Regrets: Acclaimed Physician on Finding Miracles and Facing Adversity
Denver, CO, March 10, 2021 — Many people reach the end of their lives wishing they could change the past. Turning back the clock is impossible, but Dr. Harley Rotbart’s new book, No Regrets Living, offers sage guidance to help us better appreciate what we have in our lives, and take greater pride in what we’ve done with our lives — without spending precious time and energy wishing things had turned out differently.
In No Regrets Living, Dr. Rotbart describes the seven keys to a life of wonder and contentment: Belief, Discovery, Healing, Appreciation, Acceptance, Seeking and Growth, and how to cultivate each in your life. Woven into the timeless message of the book are especially timely observations on the COVID-19 pandemic from Dr. Rotbart’s expert perspective as an infectious diseases physician, including coping mechanisms and paths for going forward as individuals and as a society.
Dr. Rotbart is a man of science who also believes in, and “collects,” miracles. No Regrets Living is the much-awaited follow-up to his previous book, Miracles We Have Seen – America’s Leading Physicians Share Stories They Can’t Forget. In this new work, Dr. Rotbart reconciles science and faith from his unique perspective as physician, scientist, heart surgery patient and child of a Holocaust survivor.
“I have a simple definition of a miracle,” Dr. Rotbart says. “Miracles are objects and events in nature and in our lives that cannot be fully explained or re-created. Yes, like the unimaginable true stories written by physicians in the Miracles We Have Seen book, but I believe the inside of the living human beings I have seen in the operating room and the tiniest of human cells I have seen under a microscope in my laboratory are equally miraculous and unexplainable. And you needn’t go to medical school or use a microscope to appreciate the ubiquity of miracles. They are all around us — we only need to open our eyes and hearts to recognize them.”
A nationally renowned infectious disease specialist, Dr. Rotbart is also a pediatrician, parenting expert, speaker and educator. He is Professor and Vice Chair Emeritus of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and author of more than 175 medical and scientific publications, and five previous books for general audiences: Miracles We Have Seen; 940 Saturdays; No Regrets Parenting; Germ Proof Your Kids; and The On Deck Circle of Life.
To learn more, please visit www.harleyrotbart.com, or connect with the author on Facebook (HarleyRotbartMd) or Twitter (@HarleyRotbart).
No Regrets Living: 7 Keys to a Life of Wonder and Contentment
Improve Your Life and Career by Making the Most of Happy Accidents
San Diego, CA, March 10, 2021— Perhaps you were meant to read this article and it was meant to change your life. Serendipity is all around us, and it’s up to us to be aware of it, to explore its potential impact on our lives and to follow its gentle nudge toward positive outcomes whenever possible.
“Most people go through life believing that unexpected, fortuitous events that often bring fame and fortune happen to only a lucky few individuals,” says Neil J. Farber, MD. “The truth is that unexpected events frequently happen to all of us. They may not bring tremendous fame or fortune, but they can be recognized and utilized to significantly improve one’s professional and personal life.”
Dr. Farber’s new book, Serendipity: Utilizing Common Unexpected Events to Improve Your Life and Career, thoroughly explores the role that serendipity could play in our lives and explains that recognizing serendipitous events is better achieved with a certain set of skills.
“You have to have a mind-set that allows you to think that such events canhappen,” he explains, adding that by practicing self-awareness and cultivating keen visual and auditory observational skills, we are more likely to spot even the most subtle of serendipitous happenings.
Serendipity describes how to understand the different types of serendipitous events and how they are common to all of us; how to recognize these events when they do occur; how to acquire the skills necessary to become more aware of serendipity; how to “connect the dots” to bring the serendipitous event to a fortuitous conclusion (that is, what skills, assistance and resources may be necessary); and what to do with the end product or idea if it is profitable, or as sometimes happens, when it is not.
Dr. Farber uses events recorded in literature and the history books, as well as events that have occurred in his own personal and professional life to create a helpful guide for recognizing and turning common events into meaningful moments.
Author Neil J. Farber is a Professor Emeritus of Clinical Medicine at University of California, San Diego, and a docent at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. He has been an academic internal medicine physician for 40 years, teaching, researching and providing patient care in medical schools initially on the East Coast. For the past 12 years, he was Professor of Clinical Medicine at University of California, San Diego, retiring at the end of April 2019. He has received numerous awards, including Top Doctor of San Diego five times, and is a member of the FDA Non-Prescription Drug Advisory Committee. He has published over 60 research papers and has had a multitude of serendipitous events occur, which have significantly (and positively) influenced his career and his personal life.
Serendipity: Utilizing Common Unexpected Events to Improve Your Life and Career
AbbVie pips Gilead to dominate Japan’s hepatitis C virus digital marketing space, says GlobalData
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapeutics market in Japan is highly competitive with stiff competition between Gilead and AbbVie. However, AbbVie has taken an edge over Gilead in terms of HCV-related digital initiatives, finds GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
According to GlobalData’s ‘Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center’, the number of diagnosed prevalent cases of HCV in Japan is estimated to decrease from 1,152,875 in 2021 to 1,149,314 in 2025.
Leading direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) launched for HCV treatment in Japan include Gilead’s Sovaldi (March 2015), Harvoni (July 2015), and Epclusa (January 2019), and AbbVie’s Viekirax (September 2015) and Maviret (September 2017).
Venkat Kartheek Vale, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Japan had a high prevalence of HCV, which led to the increased uptake of marketed DAAs by AbbVie and Gilead due to high cure rates. While high cure rates are going to reduce the diagnosed prevalent cases and subsequently decrease the market size, AbbVie and Gilead are still trying to leave no stone unturned to sustain their presence and dominate the market by offering branded and unbranded digital support for patients.”
An analysis of the traffic over the last 18 months (June 2020 to February 2021 vs. September 2019 to May 2020) revealed highest traffic to the unbranded websites of BMS’ ‘Kanen-net.info’ and Mitsubishi Tanabe’s ‘Kankinou.net’ that support multiple liver diseases, followed by AbbVie’s dedicated unbranded site for HCV, ‘Cgatakanen-support.net’. Among the branded websites, AbbVie’s ‘Maviret.jp’ received higher traffic than Gilead’s branded websites.
Mr. Vale concludes: “The HCV treatment landscape witnessed a major transformation with the launch of novel DAAs by Gilead and AbbVie in the recent years with their drugs showing high cure rates thus making the companies the current market leaders. AbbVie’s digital initiatives to support Maviret have helped the company to position itself above Gilead, which has three marketed products including the recently approved Epclusa. Hence, an increased focus on strengthening digital presence is required from Gilead to compete with AbbVie.”
Comments provided by Venkat Kartheek Vale, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData
This press release was written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData’s team of industry experts
About GlobalData
4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make timelier and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.
District Ventures Invests in Wellness Brand from Dragons' Den
Innovators behind the world's first mountable massager secure investment to grow product line and fuel expansion plans
TORONTO, March 9, 2021 /CNW/ -District Ventures Capital ("District Ventures") today announced the closing of an equity investment in Vertiball, the Fredericton-based company behind the world's first 360˚ movement, innovative personal muscular care device that treats muscle tension and back pain. The deal originated from a pitch on Season 15 of CBC's hit show Dragons' Den.
Founded by entrepreneur Curtis Kennedy, Vertiball uses trigger point therapy to treat muscle tension and back pain through its patented, industrial-strength suction cup technology and the 360˚ movement of a rotating precision ball. Kennedy, who's background is in mechanical engineering, made over 220 design iterations before going to market with the current version of the product. Alongside Vertiball's Chief Operating Officer, Aaron Turner, the two shared the 'back' story of the innovative start-up and pitched the concept to the Dragons – leaving with an investment from Dragon and General Partner of District Ventures Capital, Arlene Dickinson.
"At one point in our lives, we've all felt the unfortunate effects of muscle and back pain – and Vertiball brings to market an effective, portable tool to treat this common ailment," said Arlene Dickinson, General Partner of District Ventures Capital. "We are impressed not only with the innovative product that Vertiball has created, but with the sheer passion behind the concept and its development. We look forward to working with the Vertiball team as they continue to build the brand."
A proven method to naturally relieve muscle pain, Vertiball provides a variety of health benefits including improved circulation and flexibility, promotion of faster injury recovery, an enhanced sleep cycle and relief from tension-related headaches. The company is endorsed by professional athletes including CeeDee Lamb, Minkah Fitzpatrick Jr., and several other players from the National Football League.
"At Vertiball, we're committed to developing products and tools that improve overall health and help individuals reach their maximum potential," said Curtis Kennedy, Founder and CEO of Vertiball. "We're thrilled to partner with District Ventures – who not only share this vision but can provide us with the resources and tools we need to scale the business and succeed in the growing industry."
With an estimated annual revenue of over $29.5 billion, the physical therapy and rehabilitation industry continues to expand and address the growing demands of individuals suffering from muscle tension and back pain. On a mission to provide a portable, cost-efficient solution to this, Vertiball is available for purchase online, in physical therapy clinics across North America, and through a variety of e-commerce retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and Target.
About District Ventures Capital
District Ventures Capital is a venture capital fund investing in innovative companies in the food & beverage and health & wellness sectors. The fund is led by General Partner, Arlene Dickinson. District Ventures is the leading ecosystem in Canada that focuses on the CPG space and brings capital, marketing support, programming, and commercialization as support to the companies it invests in.
Cancer Patients Support Premiers' Call for Long Overdue Increase to Canada Health Transfer
Canadians can no longer afford to wait for the healthcare and services they desperately need and deserve
TORONTO, March 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Cancer patients and their representatives from across Canada today applauded their provincial Premiers for calling on the Federal Government to increase Canada Health Transfer payments from the present 22% to 35% of health spending.
For the past several years, Federal health transfers have not kept pace with the growth in health spending. Since 2017-2018, health transfers have only increased 3% annually, while growth in spending is estimated at 4.2% per year by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
What this signifies is a profound decrease in health services for all people living in Canada. As has been revealed by the current pandemic, the Canadian healthcare system is already under severe fiscal strain. Unless there is an increase in funding, the situation stands to worsen quickly.
"There is no doubt that we must continue to focus on the pandemic. However, we must, at the same time, increase funding for already underfunded health conditions, including cancer," stated Martine Elias, Executive Director at Myeloma Canada. "We must increase our investments in healthcare services, and in building sustainable, responsive health systems for the future, for all Canadians," Elias added.
One out of 2 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and one of 4 will die from it. Moreover, a 40% increase in cancer incidence is expected between 2015 and 20301. The Canadian Cancer Society estimated, before the pandemic, that 225,000 Canadians would be diagnosed with cancer in 2020.1 And, oncologists estimate a 16 per cent decline in overall cancer detection rates in 2020 as compared to 2019..
Dr Hira Mian, hematologist at the Juravinski Cancer Centre and assistant professor within the department of oncology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario added the following: "Delayed cancer diagnoses, treatments, access to clinical trials, and surgeries will negatively impact patient outcomes. Elective surgeries, treatments and therapies have also been severely delayed, and there is a considerable rise in mental health issues amongst all Canadians. All of these factors will further tax an already strained healthcare system once the pandemic comes under control. Unless there is an infusion of funds, this strain jeopardizes the health and well-being of people living in Canada."
Cancer patients call on the Federal government to not only increase Canada Health Transfer payments to 35% but to also ensure that a portion of those funds be allocated to catch up on the dangerous backlog in cancer care, and to ensure the planning of progressive future cancer strategies and systems.
"All people living in Canada have the right to first-rate primary, diagnostic and health services, care and technology. As such, we agree with the Premiers that an immediate and sustained funding increase is necessary to meet and support the needs of our growing and aging population," stated Kathy Barnard, Founder and President of Save Your Skin Foundation.
"We also call on the provinces/territories to commit to using these funds effectively to improve access to diagnostic and healthcare services, as well as innovative cancer treatments and therapies for all people in Canada. We call on both levels of government to be transparent and accountable for this spending, and take into account our aging population, our cultural diversity, the social determinants of health; and consider the distinct needs of all our population" added Eva Villalba, Executive Director, Coalition priorité cancer au Québec.
This press release has been issued on behalf of the following patient organizations:
Martine Elias, Executive Director, Myeloma Canada and Chair of CONECTed (Collective Oncology Network for Exchange, Cancer Care Innovation, Treatment Access and Education)
New York Times Bestselling Author Steven Kotler to Share Secrets to Overcoming the Impossible in Online Fireside Chat
PEO Leadership, a firm offering executive leadership support, is hosting an interactive online event with Steven Kotler, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning human performance expert
TORONTO, Canada – (March 9, 2021) – We are all capable of so much more than we know. Everyone has dreams and aspirations that they deem as ‘impossible’ – whether it’s a more fulfilling life; enhanced productivity; or an invention that changes the world – the methodology is always the same and Steven Kotler has written a practical playbook on how to make it happen. PEO Leadership is inviting the public to attend their online webcast on March 23, 2021, starting at 11:00 am EST. The event is limited to 1,000 people, and registration closes at 10:15 am EST on the event date.
“I challenge everyone to think of your wildest, most audacious goals, and realize that they aren’t as difficult to achieve as you may think.” explains Leon Goren, president and chief executive officer of PEO Leadership. “After our fireside chat with Steven about his new book, The Art Of Impossible, that is already a New York Times bestseller, you will walk away with a high level understanding of how to get your biology to work for you rather than against you in turning your dreams into your most recent accomplishments.”
Attendees will hear eye-opening insights where peak performance expert, Steven Kotler, decodes the secrets of elite performers who have achieved what was previously thought of as “impossible.” He explains how we can stretch far beyond our capabilities, making impossible dreams much more attainable for all of us.
Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance and the author of ten bestsellers. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 40 languages, and appeared in over 100 publications. He will be discussing his latest New York Times bestselling book “The Art of Impossible” (Harper Wave, 2021), that focuses on cutting-edge neuroscience and decades of research that Kotler has conducted on human performance studying how certain individuals are able to pull off extraordinary feats. Building on his findings, Kotler has systematized an easy-to-follow how-to format that anyone can use to significantly improve their lives and their performance.
In his conversation with Leon Goren, PEO Leadership’s CEO, Kotler, will share the secrets of elite performers, such as athletes, artists, scientists, and CEOs. His mission is to empower people to turn their biggest dreams into their achievements. Through Kotler’s extensive neurobiological research, he will demonstrate how to reach new levels of performance.
The fireside chat will cover the following insights:
We are all capable of so much more than we know. Human potential is invisible, especially to ourselves. There is a formula to achieve what you may believe is impossible;
Learn how to get to a ‘state of flow’ – an optimal state of consciousness in which we feel our best and perform our best;
Explore a quartet of cognitive abilities: motivation, learning, creativity and flow; and why these skills are so crucial to peak performance;
Why not going big is so detrimental to us as leaders and individuals;
It all begins with curiosity.
“We are all capable of so much more than we know,” explains Steven Kotler. “History is littered with those moments in time when the impossible became possible. Over the past three decades, these moments have been the focus of my work. I’ve spent thirty years studying how people pull off the impossible in every domain imaginable. Everything that I have learned over this period has been documented in The Art Of Impossible, and I am happy to share these finding during the fireside chat with Leon.”
PEO Leadership offers an executive leadership community that represents over 100 business leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and top executives. Its services include peer advisory boards, executive advisors/coaches, community connections, strategic business advice, an annual world-class leadership conference, and thought leadership events including PEO Leadership’s “The Way Forward” live webcast and podcast. The company is owned by Leon Goren, who has over 25 years of leadership experience.
PEO Leadership offers leadership advisory services in six categories, for presidents/C-suite executives of large national and multinational organizations, entrepreneurs of large national and multinational companies, global executives, small business entrepreneurs, senior executives, and businesses in transition. There is a 60-day free trial Leadership Bootcamp available. To get more information or obtain a free trial, visit the site at: https://peo-leadership.com.
About PEO Leadership
PEO Leadership is a Canadian peer-to-peer leadership advisory firm that has been the destination for business leaders to regularly meet and discuss important issues, solve problems and explore new opportunities since 1991. The organization provides a safe and highly confidential environment, with PEO Executive Advisors, who facilitate stimulating and astute dialogue to leverage the collective experience, creativity, intellect and wisdom of the Peer Advisory Board and the PEO Leadership Community at large. They support, cultivate and accelerate business leaders’ leadership excellence to achieve great impact through the organizations they lead, the communities they serve and the lives they live. Current members include Umbra, Miele, Crayola, ThinkOn and Nestle. For more information about the company and services, visit the site at: https://peo-leadership.com.
About Steven Kotler
Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance and the author of nine bestsellers (out of thirteen books total), including The Art of Impossible, The Future Is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abundance. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 40 languages, and appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, TIME and the Harvard Business Review. Steven is also the cohost of Flow Research Collective Radio, a top-ten iTunes science podcast. Along with his wife, author Joy Nicholson, he is the cofounder of the Rancho de Chihuahua, a hospice and special-needs dog sanctuary.
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Greenlight Consulting and UiPath Host Virtual Hackathon to Solve a Canadian Healthcare Issue During COVID-19
Post-secondary students leveraged RPA technology to create innovative solutions for the in-person check-in process – improving social distancing measures at clinics
TORONTO, March 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Greenlight Consulting, a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and IT services firm in Toronto concluded its first virtual Canadian hackathon with the support and sponsorship of UiPath, a leading enterprise automation software company.
RPA is a technology that enables the rapid design and deployment of software robots, otherwise known as digital workers. The digital workers perfectly emulate and execute repetitive processes, boosting organizational productivity, ensuring compliance, and freeing up valuable time for staff so that they can focus on higher-value activities instead of mundane, time-consuming, repetitive processing tasks. At a time where every minute of staff capacity within our Healthcare system matters, RPA can be a powerful tool that enables medical and support staff to focus on critical tasks and front-line services.
"The goal of the hackathon was to bring together Healthcare institutions, industry-leading RPA technology and Canadian students to solve a real meaningful problem with speed, then to provide that solution at no cost to help ease the burden on the healthcare system. As society looks at how automation technology can fuel efficiency, productivity, and bolster capacity across the workforce, we continue to look for ways we can work together to utilize the technology for the public good," said Shameiz Hemani, CEO of Greenlight Consulting.
In light of the ongoing strain on the Healthcare system, Greenlight partnered with the University Health Network to develop a problem statement that focused on solving the real-world problem of social distancing and flow in clinics. "Designing efficient ways to provide care is more critical than it's ever been. We have so many opportunities in healthcare to automate and eliminate non-value-add steps and get administrative processes out of the way enabling the care providers to focus on what's most important – the patient," said Michael Caesar, Executive Director of Data & Implementation Science at the University Health Network.
Notwithstanding the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, innovation and its ability to transform today's challenges will prevail and continue to thrive among our developers. Last year, it was reported by the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report that the landscape of work will continue to morph.
According to a UiPath study of more than 500 C-level executives and senior managers at large organizations, it found – of those surveyed – they are increasingly requiring employees to have, and seeking new candidates who have, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) skills. When choosing between two similarly qualified job candidates, 73% of surveyed executives said they would pick the candidate with more experience with automation and AI tools, even if the role does not require those abilities.
Post-secondary institutions like George Brown College have specifically designed an RPA program to assist post-graduate students in honing their RPA skills while leveraging the UiPath RPA platform.
"We are excited to introduce Robotic Process Automation to our learners and the wider community," said Tyler Krimmel, Professor in the Computer Science Department at George Brown College. "As an academic institution focused on applied, hands-on learning, George Brown College partnered with UiPath to allow learners to pursue this critically in-demand skill-set that bridges process automation and analysis and RPA development. In a very short period of time, we have seen that these skills have given our graduates a distinctive advantage when competing in the job market. We initially introduced RPA into existing programs, such as our Information System Business Analysis post-graduate certificate. Over the past two years, however, we have seen the industry demand for these skills grow exponentially, and have since launched an RPA Micro-Certificate program available through our college's Continuing Education Department."
There is a consensus between education and private organizations that the demand is there for technological skills.
"We're hearing loud and clear that executives want all employees to have automation and AI skills, and that employees, in turn, demand training to be successful with these emerging technologies. As we continue to work in automation-led work environments, it's absolutely crucial for all employees to have access to automation and AI education," said Sean Hinton, Vice President and General Manager of UiPath Canada. "We're proud to partner with Greenlight on this initiative and congratulate the winning teams on their innovative submissions."
The winning teams are as follows:
Top UHN Solution and Top Overall Solution
Team "6ix Health"
Maha Zeb
Morgan Kaneshakumar
Chanpreet Litt
Sharanya Kanakaratnam
Most Innovative Solution
Team "JARS"
Sagar Varia
Amandeep Thakur
Rebecca Crawford
Jesvin Johnson
Honourable Mention to Parth Girishkumar Dave
About Greenlight Consulting
Greenlight Consulting is a Robotic Process Automation and IT Services company based in Toronto, with a national footprint. Being a boutique IT Consulting and Staffing firm for over 13 years and working with some of North America's largest organizations, we have a proven track record for helping clients solve their Human and Digital resourcing needs.
Dr. Speranza Dolgetta's move to new role as Bellwood's Medical Director inspired by the loss of a friend
TORONTO, March 9, 2021 /CNW/ - "What would Shamek do?" Dr. Speranza Dolgetta had to ask herself, when she was offered the position of Medical Director at Bellwood Health Services.
As the Director of Medical Care at EHN Canada's Sandstone facility in Calgary at the time, she had been instrumental in its opening, development, and day-to-day operations.
Of her tenure there, Dr. Dolgetta says, "I had been at Sandstone since we opened. I have such a profound attachment to Sandstone. It's the little rehab centre that could. We faced challenge after challenge. We built this amazing thing in Calgary. I really love building and fixing. I am an Italian peasant girl at heart. My dad was a contractor. That's what we did: we built and we fixed."
Prior to Sandstone, she worked in her private medical practice, specializing in complex care, minor surgery, mental health, and addictions. Dr. Dolgetta had completed her medical degree and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Calgary. She was also a Philosophy professor at Mount Royal University teaching healthcare ethics.
But Shamek was not a philosopher, at least not one she lectured about in her classroom. He was, in fact, Dr. Dolgetta's best friend. Przemyslaw Shamek Pietucha, a doctor himself at Toronto's CAMH facility, a Canadian Olympic swim team member, and accomplished poet, tragically passed away in 2015 at the age of 39.
Shamek had long been an inspiration for the kind of compassionate care Dr. Dolgetta was offering to her patients, often challenging cases that no other doctor wanted to treat.
She says, "For me, it all starts from a place of compassion and lack of judgement. This is inspired by Shamek. He was the sort of person who knew you, or made an effort to know you, from the inside out. And I think we translate that into care. And, as a result, we get much better outcomes."
Across EHN Canada's treatment centres, this holistic, whole-body approach to care, and a collaborative team of caregivers, has been a big part of their success with recovery. It's an aspect that drew Dr. Dolgetta in the first place.
"It has to be a whole person approach," she emphasizes. "Towards that end, I'm very collaborative, I'm very humble in my approach. Everybody on the team—from the support workers, to the nurses, to the clinicians, to the security—they all have something to contribute to understanding an illness and helping a person heal."
Which brings us back to her offer from Bellwood and the question: What would Shamek do?
"My best friend, my kindred spirit, my platonic soulmate begged me for years to move to Toronto," Dr. Dolgetta remembers. "He was all about the moment, and all about experience. So when this opportunity presented itself, I knew he would've said: 'Speranza, it's time.' "
Last week, Dr. Dolgetta arrived in Toronto and began her new role as Bellwood Health Services' Medical Director, a position she is approaching with her signature enthusiasm, spirit, and energy.
What does she hope to bring to Bellwood in this new capacity? "I have some exciting new ideas, new treatment modalities, ways that we can keep up with what's happening in the world of addiction. And I want to create a team, to foster an environment where everybody feels professionally fulfilled, and we're offering world-class medical care to people who so desperately need it."
She breaks from her solemn tone, before letting out a smile, and laughs: "I am so excited!"
ABOUT EHN CANADA EHN Canada is the nation's largest network of industry-leading mental health, trauma, and addiction treatment facilities, each with a passion for providing quality treatment for Canadians. We are committed to both caring for our patients and supporting their loved ones. With over 75 years of collective experience, our inpatient, outpatient, and online programs are offered across the country, providing essential compassionate care to patients wherever they are.
Feeling Forwards: Learn How to Harness the Infinite Energy of Your Emotions
"Feeling Forwards helps you find the power within to overcome unbelievable challenges and take a quantum leap forwards." — TONY ROBBINS
New York, NY, March 9, 2021 — Everything you need to transform your life is already within you, asserts bestselling author and personal reinvention coach Elizabeth Gould. Her empowering new book, Feeling Forwards: How to Become the Person Who Has the Life You Want, can help you say farewell to negative habits, release painful beliefs and tap into your full potential by harnessing the infinite energy generated by your emotions.
“Feeling Forwards is a thinking and feeling revolution. It’s not about writing to-do lists or visualizing every step toward a goal,” Elizabeth says. “Feeling Forwards is about living life as the complete person you’ve forgotten you already are and not as the person who’s just waiting to shine.”
The first half of Feeling Forwards is a fascinating deep-dive into the science proving the true power of our emotions, enabling them to travel forward and backward in time, influence pre-programmed computer outcomes, reverse aging, impact crime rates, fast-track personal reinvention and much more. After understanding the effects that our emotions can truly have on our lives, Elizabeth offers practical applications of the strategies in Feeling Forwardsusing real-life examples of those who’ve successfully integrated the principles into their lives.
Woven throughout are Elizabeth’s candid, personal stories of embracing these principles to thrive through several life-threatening events and dramatic personal upheavals.
The result is a refreshingly relatable, actionable guide to help you create the life you genuinely want to live. Feeling Forwards teaches you how to become the person who has the life you want … today. As Elizabeth reveals, “Today is the past of your future.”
About the Author
A bestselling author and founding member of Randi Zuckerberg’s global leadership school at the Zuckerberg Institute, Elizabeth Gould experiences the joy of working with people around the world to unlock their potential. She has spent decades interviewing thousands of successful professionals to understand how they behave to achieve what they want. Her work is endorsed by world-renowned life and business strategist, Tony Robbins. Feeling Forwards is her third book.
