CoBank Quarterly: Probable Boost in Fiscal Spending Lifts Outlook
Vaccines bring optimism for economic recovery, but significant risks remain
DENVER (January 14, 2021)—The coronavirus still dominates the economy and continues to impact rural industries, but with vaccines rolling out, the virus will slowly loosen its grip in 2021. Shifts in the political landscape bring new legislative possibilities, including an increased probability of more COVID-19 financial aid and other fiscal spending, which are pushing up expectations for 2021 GDP growth.
According to the new Quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, it will likely be summer before the economy really begins to gain steam, but the second half of the year should power the economy to annual growth of roughly 4.5%–5.5%.
“While the economic outlook has improved, significant risks still remain,” said Dan Kowalski, vice president of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division. “Key among those risks are the potential for more geopolitical crises, business solvency, a slower than expected receding of the pandemic and persistence in high rates of long-term unemployment.”
The steady climb in corn, soybean, and wheat prices during the fourth quarter of 2020 afforded growers and grain cooperatives the opportunity to capture significant margins. Since August, corn and soybean prices have risen more than 60% while wheat prices have gained more than 30%. The rally is a result of smaller-than-expected U.S. production; strong domestic demand for food, feed, and fuel; and continued large purchases by China, including its follow-through on actual grain shipments.
Farm supply retailers benefitted from the grain price rally and are poised for a favorable spring agronomy season, weather permitting. Armed with liquidity, growers took advantage of generally favorable weather to conduct post-harvest fall fertilizer applications and other field activities. It is likely that as farmers sought to mitigate tax liabilities by year-end, they increased prepayments to cooperatives, providing ag retailers with additional working capital.
The U.S. ethanol sector continued to recover during Q4, with average daily production reaching 14.7 billion gallons, equaling 90% of pre-COVID supply and demand levels. Operating margins retreated however to $0.11 per gallon, principally due to a dramatic 26% increase in corn input costs. Fuel ethanol’s production outlook could improve somewhat in 2021 if COVID-19 vaccine deployment fosters a return to workplaces. Although, a continued rise in corn prices will compress operating margins.
Profit margins for chicken producers during Q4 were generally below break-even, but average industry margins ended the quarter in a far better position than where they started, due to a 2% pullback in supply. What makes this margin improvement noteworthy is it occurred amid rising feed costs, but contraction in chicken supply helped prices for leg quarters, wings, and whole birds to climb through year-end.
The U.S. pork sector worked through the backlog of hogs over the summer and started the fourth quarter relatively current in most parts of the country. That along with the boost in trade expectations following the discovery of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Germany delivered the best spot producer margins of the year in October. These margins eroded through the quarter though as fears of capacity issues and higher feed costs began to take their toll, as did margins for pork packers.
U.S. beef demand performed well during the fourth quarter, despite the challenging foodservice environment. The beef cutout made a strong rally in November as many consumers switched to beef for their holiday meals in light of smaller gatherings. With limited available industry capacity and a challenging labor environment, beef packers continue to benefit from strong margins and producers and feeders are increasingly focused on the feed market.
Milk and dairy products ended 2020 in ample supply despite the seasonal spike in holiday demand, which was down significantly compared to prior years. That could lead to even greater surplus supply issues for dairy producers and processors leading into the 2021 spring flush. USDA’s fifth round of food purchases under the Farmers to Families Food Box Program will be a needed short-term release valve for dairy products in the opening months of 2021.
Extreme tightness in South American rice supplies continues to support global rice prices heading into 2021, with the U.S. benefiting as the nearby rice exporter into the region. China remains the central figure behind the rally in U.S. cotton prices that ended the year up nearly 9%, while recoveries in crude oil and other commodities have helped cotton return to the highest level in two years.
U.S. tree nut growers are heading into 2021 with record inventories of almonds, pistachios, and walnuts following last fall’s record tree nut harvest. The hefty nut crop increases the importance on the export market in the marketing year ahead. While exporters are aided by weakness in the dollar and a recovery in the Chinese economy, the global container shortage is impeding shipments.
The year-end collapse in natural gas prices is closing the door on a comeback for U.S. coal plants. To date, the COVID-19 fallout has not altered plans to retire coal-fired plants, with the next five years likely to witness a quickening pace of decommissioning. While the past decade saw 97 GWs of coal plant retirements, it’s quite possible that same capacity could be shuttered by mid-decade.Read The Quarterly. Each CoBank Quarterly provides updates and an outlook for the Macro Economy and U.S. Agricultural Markets; Grains, Biofuels and Farm Supply; Animal Protein; Dairy; Specialty Crops; Other Crops and Rural Infrastructure Industries.
About CoBank
CoBank is a $148 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.
CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.
adMare Launches Abdera with AbCellera as a Founding Partner
Abdera to accelerate the development of targeted radiotherapies to fight hard-to-treat cancer
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 14, 2021 /CNW/ - adMare BioInnovations, Canada's global life sciences venture, is pleased to announce the launch of Abdera Therapeutics Inc. (Abdera) with founding partner, AbCellera (Nasdaq: ABCL). Abdera is a precision oncology company developing novel next-generation targeted alpha therapies (TATs) for patients with relapsed, refractory and metastatic cancers. The seed financing of Abdera includes a total commitment of CAD $8 million. Abdera will leverage AbCellera's antibody discovery platform to develop antibody-based TATs against nine (9) clinically-validated oncology targets. Under the agreement, AbCellera will receive equity and research payments and is eligible to receive downstream clinical and commercial milestone payments and royalties on net sales of products.
"The adMare team is proud to launch our third new well-funded company this fiscal year. Canada has already demonstrated its global leadership in radioisotope-based healthcare technologies, and we have unique infrastructure that provides a competitive advantage," said Gordon C. McCauley, adMare President and CEO. "Our team has been working on the substance of Abdera for three years, and now we are ready to show why Canada and Abdera will become a world leader in developing related novel therapeutics."
TATs are a potentially transformative new class of drugs based on therapeutic antibodies armed with high-energy radioisotopes that emit alpha particles to selectively destroy cancer tumor cells. Abdera's core technology comprises a proprietary and modular radioimmunoconjugate platform that is optimized to selectively deliver radioisotopes, including Actinium-225. Abdera will use its platform to enable the rapid development of a broad range of safe and efficacious therapies that will serve patients with limited treatment options.
"Our antibody discovery operating system provides a powerful vehicle for quick and efficient venture creation," said Carl Hansen, Ph.D., CEO and President of AbCellera. "By partnering with AbCellera, the Abdera team can focus on developing their proprietary technology and creating new therapies for patients with cancer."
Abdera's founding management team is comprised of leading biopharmaceutical industry executives, including adMare Venture Partner Dr. Lana Janes, who will act as the company's Interim Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Janes brings over 20 years of global pharmaceutical development expertise that spans the full life cycle of therapeutic product development. She is joined by Dr. Michael Abrams, one of Canada's most successful scientist entrepreneurs, as Chief Scientific Officer, and Dr. Adam Judge as Senior Vice President, Biology; and will be supported by adMare's deep research and development and business teams.
"In building Abdera, we identified the most promising early-stage technologies for this high-potential area of drug development together with a proven executive team," said Dr. Lana Janes. "With Abdera's deep biologics and radiotherapeutics commercial experience, our founding partner AbCellera's leading antibody discovery platform, and the full force of the adMare enterprise behind us, we look forward to identifying therapies for patients without treatment options today."
About adMare BioInnovations adMare BioInnovations is Canada's global life sciences venture, building the Canadian life sciences industry from sea to sea. We do this by sourcing therapeutically and commercially promising research from leading academic and biotech partners to create new companies of scale, providing specialized expertise, infrastructure, and capital to help existing companies scale up, and driving the growth of those companies into Canadian anchors by training the next generation of highly qualified personnel. adMare's ~20 portfolio companies have attracted more than $1.15B of investment, and have a combined worth of over $2.3B. admarebio.com
About AbCellera Biologics Inc. AbCellera is a technology company that searches, decodes, and analyzes natural immune systems to find antibodies that its partners can develop into drugs to prevent and treat disease. AbCellera partners with drug developers of all sizes, from large pharmaceutical to small biotechnology companies, empowering them to move quickly, reduce cost, and tackle the toughest problems in drug development. www.abcellera.com
AbCellera Forward-looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. All statements contained in this release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our ability to develop, commercialize and achieve market acceptance of our current and planned products and services, our research and development efforts, and other matters regarding our business strategies, use of capital, results of operations and financial position, and plans and objectives for future operations.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "ongoing" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are described under "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. We caution you that forward-looking statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. As a result, the forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.
SOURCE adMare BioInnovations
Chirp Wheel - Product Review
I recently was send the Chirp Wheel to review! And let me tell you guys I love it! Although they only sent me the 6" I find its perfect for what this Pro Athlete Needs.
Not only is it ergonomically sound, its the perfect size for travel and I find that it has helped my mobility tremendously. This is because it helps with back flexion that is necessary for my posing.
The wheel comes in three sizes. 12", 10" and 6" to suit your needs, mobility and needs. Most wheels only come in on size. And to top it off the product was even on Shark Tank! Each size wheel provides a different pressure. The 10" & 12" wheels help to ease into back pain relief without over stretching tight muscles. The 6” Deep Tissue can be a huge help with the stubborn muscles that need extra pressure to release. We always recommend the 3 wheel pack to cover all your bases and get complete back pain relief. Here's a video to see the difference.
"The Chirp Wheel puts pressure on the muscles surrounding the spine. In doing so, the muscles are stretched and strengthened. The technical term for this is Myofascial Release. Myofascial is a fancy word for muscle, and release is referring to the tension within the muscle."
If your body isn’t 100% satisfied with the product within 60 days, send it back. No questions asked.
I definitely give this product a 10/10 ranking. Unfortunately I do not have a discount code for you but in my opinion it is worth the money if you are serious about your health, mobility and fitness goals! And if you are competitor this is on my must have list!
Post-Traumatic Thriving
Los Angeles, CA, January 14, 2021 — Is there a science to survival, or are some people simply born with elastic emotional exoskeletons that bounce back readily following even the most traumatic of experiences?
To uncover the answer, world-renown expert on disasters and trauma Dr. Randall Bell undertook unprecedented research, juxtaposing outcomes of scientific studies with stories of real people who have not just survived, but have used their trauma as their fuel to thrive to uncover common denominators. He shares his remarkable insights in his new book, Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience.
Dr. Bell sits down with survivors of the Holocaust; murder-victim’s families; crime victims; suicide survivors; and those who’ve experienced homelessness, disasters, addictions, depression, death, divorce, disabilities, defeats and disease to explore the rare mindset of the post-traumatic thriver.
He shares with readers stories of remarkable resilience, including the following:
• 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.
Ultimately, Dr. Bell 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 an 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
FORMER PEDIATRIC NURSE LAUNCHES CHILDHOOD TRAUMA EDUCATION PROGRAM
Healing Connection offers specialized services associated with Complex Developmental Trauma
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Jan. 14, 2021 – Bethany Hall, a licensed family nurse practitioner in Grand Rapids, Michigan, specializing in Complex Developmental Trauma (CDT), has launched Healing Connection, a trauma-informed resource for training, and advocacy for childhood trauma-related education.
Hall, a nationally-recognized expert in the area of CDT, is a certified affiliate trainer in trauma competent caregiving by Trauma Free World, a nonprofit organization that provides training all around the world to those dedicated to ending childhood trauma. Hall utilizes in-person and virtual platforms to teach the neuroscience of trauma, as well as, conduct screenings, assessments and interventions, which can be utilized to increase therapeutic and healing interactions for those working with, or caring for children who have experienced CDT.
“As a veteran healthcare worker specialized in childhood trauma and a former pediatric nurse, I’ve learned so much about the underlying factors of childhood trauma, and how delicate these circumstances are in a child’s life,” said Hall. “I created Healing Connection as a way to train and educate those involved in a child’s life about CDT and how they, themselves, can become instrumental in helping children overcome trauma.”
Healing Connection supports children and adolescents who have experienced childhood trauma by raising community awareness and seeks to create community partners through centers of worship, schools and families that are trauma-informed. Healing Connection offers services to those who have an influential role in a child’s life, including parents and guardians, foster care providers, adoptive families, educators, social workers, and daycare providers, among others.
Industry experts at Healing Connection provide online or in-person support, parent coaching, and focused training with audience specific curriculum. Additionally, Healing Connection offers community networking opportunities through consultations, conference presentations, speaking engagements and panel discussions.
“We are able to identify the needs of children suffering from trauma, including CDT, the most severe and detrimental form of trauma, caused during a child’s first three years of life,” Hall said. “Our extensive training and work experience are valuable resources for those who closely work with children suffering from CDT and may even have a mitigating effect on the long-term outcomes associated with chronic and acute trauma.”
About Hall:
Hall, a West Michigan native, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Cedarville University in Ohio and a Master of Science degree in nursing from the University of Kentucky. She served as a clinical instructor at Spaulding University in Louisville, Kentucky, and spent five years working as a specialized pediatric nurse practitioner at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In addition to her work in medicine, Hall spent three years as a missionary with Back2Back Ministries in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, providing medical services and trauma competent trainings to at-risk children and youth, and short- and- long term caregivers.
About Healing Connection
Healing Connection supports children and adolescents who have experienced childhood trauma by raising community awareness and seeks to create community partners through centers of
ELNA Medical Forms Largest Network of Primary and Specialty Care Clinics in Canada
MONTREAL, Jan. 14, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Montreal-based ELNA Medical, a leading Quebec provider of healthcare services, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Medicentres Canada, the largest chain of corporately owned medical clinics in the country.
As part of the transaction, the 38 Medicentres clinics will be integrated into the ELNA Medical network.
This deal positions ELNA Medical as the largest network of medical clinics across Canada with over 800 medical professionals working in 54 primary and specialty care and occupational health clinics throughout Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. ELNA provides both in-person and virtual care to over 1 million Canadians and 1500 corporations annually.
"Since its inception five years ago, ELNA Medical has remained true to its mission to provide service excellence for each and every patient. Our objective is to persist in providing convenient and quick access to primary and specialty care services including personalized and preventive medicine by leveraging advanced technologies. As we face the challenging and painful reality of the ongoing pandemic, our mission resonates more than ever. We are proud to expand and continue to make every effort to keep our patients and communities safe." ELNA Medical president and founder, Laurent Amram explained.
Under the new agreement and building on a long history of working together, Medicentres and Rexall Drugstores will continue to serve patients and customers looking for convenient access to healthcare services.
Wayne Samuels, General Managerof Medicentres Canada said, "We look forward to continuing our 42-year tradition of excellence and building upon the strength of our new cross-Canada network to innovate and improve every level of patient care."
This acquisition marks the first expansion beyond Quebec's borders for ELNA Medical and is one of many in the company's vision to build the most impactful primary and specialty care network of clinics, enabled by cutting-edge technology.
ELNA Medical is a privately-owned, Montreal-based company. Operating since 2016, ELNA has been delivering RAMQ-covered primary and specialty healthcare in its state-of-the-art clinics across Quebec. ELNA Medical is associated with CDL Laboratory, a diagnostic laboratory with a longstanding reputation as an industry leader in the Canadian healthcare space. True to its mission and its spirit of innovation, ELNA is committed to making a distinctive contribution to the health and well-being of every patient by providing easily accessible medical services of exceptional quality.
Medicentres Canada offers primary care (walk-in and family practice), specialist care, and occupational health services to patients and corporate clients across Canada. Founded in Edmonton as a walk-in clinic in 1979, Medicentres Canada has grown to be one of the largest chains of fully managed medical clinics in the country.
With a heritage dating back over a century, Rexall is a leading drugstore operator with a dynamic history of innovation and growth, dedicated to caring for Canadians' health…one person at a time. Operating over 400 pharmacies across Canada, Rexall's 8,500 employees provide exceptional patient care and customer service. Rexall is part of the Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd. and a proud member of the global McKesson Corporation family. For more information, visit rexall.ca.
Second year of the Montreal Heart Institute's Diabetes Prevention Clinic sponsored by Sun Life
Supporting people with type 2 diabetes throughout the pandemic
MONTREAL, Jan. 14, 2021 /CNW/ - When the pandemic forced gyms to close, it caused some disruption to the plans that had been developed for patients by the team at the Montreal Heart Institute's Diabetes Prevention Clinic sponsored by Sun Life. As people with type 2 diabetes are more vulnerable when it comes to COVID-19, it was important they remained safe at home. Fortunately, when public health restrictions were implemented, telehealth was there to make remote monitoring possible. And even though part of the team at the EPIC Center had to be moved to the Montreal Heart Institute to support efforts there, the Clinic's 223 participants made significant progress over the course of the year.
60% reduced their waist circumference by an average of 5 cm
66% lost weight, with patients losing an average of 4 kg (8.8 lb)
48% reduced their circulating insulin levels, with an average absolute reduction of 23.95 mmol/L – a relative reduction of 7%
58% reduced their glycated hemoglobin (average blood sugar over 3 months), with an average absolute reduction of 0.005 pmol/L – a relative reduction of 6.8%
52% improved their fasting glucose levels, with an average absolute reduction of 0.72 mmol/L – a relative reduction of 7%
48% reduced their triglycerides, with an average absolute reduction of 0.24 mmol/L – a relative reduction of 8%
24% increased their good cholesterol (HDL), with an average absolute increase of 0.07 mmol/L – a relative increase of 6.6%
54.9% of patients completely normalized their fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin.
Impressive results Since its creation in December 2018, the Clinic has seen 223 patients and has conducted more than 17,000 fitness sessions and 1,950 individual meetings. This initiative is one of the many ways Sun Life helps people live healthier lives, which is a central component of the company's purpose. "I'm impressed at how close these participants have come to recovery despite the challenges posed by the pandemic," said Jacques Goulet, President of Sun Life Canada. "The pandemic has highlighted the consequences of diabetes, which can cause severe complications in people with the disease who contract COVID-19. This has underscored the importance of continuing to give people the tools they need to take charge of their health."
"We're pleased that we were able to maintain the Clinic's services even though the EPIC Center's activities had to be suspended. The results we've seen in our patients confirm the positive impact of regular exercise in controlling blood sugar and insulin sensitivity and show that, when combined with a high-quality diet, it can contribute to preventing and mitigating the effects of type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Martin Juneau, Director of Prevention at the Montreal Heart Institute and Supervisor of the Diabetes Prevention Clinic sponsored by Sun Life.
Remote workouts and limited resources due to the pandemic The majority of the staff at the Montreal Heart Institute had to be redeployed to the hospital to perform various functions relating to the pandemic. As a result, the team at the Clinic was without some of its key players. But this did not stop them from achieving their ambitious objectives, through group seminars and one-on-one meetings. Patients had the chance to meet with a nurse, a nutritionist, a kinesiologist, a physician, and an endocrinologist when needed, along with fitness sessions. With a lockdown in place, technology allowed these important meetings to take place virtually.
When it was no longer possible for patients to use its gym, the EPIC Center made a series of videos available to the public. From the comfort of their own homes, participants can watch and follow along for at home workouts. The short videos provide health tips and feature exercises to do at home or outdoors as a way to improve physical conditioning. This has helped participants stay on track toward meeting their goals.
A tailored program to meet growing demand It has been proven that with exercise and good nutrition, it's possible to reverse the course of type 2 diabetes. That is the core premise presented to patients of the Montreal Heart Institute's Diabetes Prevention Clinic sponsored by Sun Life. The only one of its kind in Canada, this multidisciplinary program is offered at the Montreal Heart Institute's EPIC Center and is made possible by a donation of $450,000 from Sun Life. A team of health practitioners meets periodically with participants and gives them the tools they need to make healthy lifestyle changes and improve their health.
The Diabetes Prevention Clinic's mission is to turn the tide on diabetes through early detection and healthy lifestyle strategies. The program meets a growing demand for preventive services for patients with diabetes, prediabetes, and chronic conditions that currently affect 1 in 3 Canadians. Cardiovascular disease is the most common complication and leading cause of death in patients with type 2 diabetes.1 Studies show that type 2 diabetics who make lifestyle changes, including a high-quality diet, regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, no tobacco use and moderate alcohol consumption, can reduce their risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes is the 5th-leading cause of premature death in the world. Hyperglycemia from the onset of diabetes has multiple adverse effects on cardiovascular risk factors, including atherosclerosis, hypertension and dyslipidemia. These issues, together with the damage hyperglycemia causes to small blood vessels, mean that type 2 diabetes increases the incidence of coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times.2
Sun Life in the community At Sun Life, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life. Community wellness is an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients, employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support focuses on health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, and care initiatives through our Team Up Against DiabetesTM platform; and mental health, supporting programs and organizations with a focus on building resilience and coping skills.
We also partner with sports properties in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and active living. Our employees and advisors take great pride in volunteering close to 12,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada. Learn more about Sun Life in the community.
About the Montreal Heart Institute Founded in 1954, the Montreal Heart Institute constantly strives for the highest standards of excellence in the cardiovascular field through its leadership in clinical and fundamental research, ultra-specialized care, professional training and prevention. It is home to Canada's largest cardiology research centre, cardiovascular prevention centre, and cardiovascular genetics centre. The Institute is affiliated with the Université de Montréal and has more than 2,000 employees, including 245 physicians and more than 85 researchers. www.icm-mhi.org/en
About the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation Created in 1977, the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation raises and manages funds to support the realization of the Institute's innovative and priority projects and to fight cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the world. Its philanthropic events and its donors' contributions have enabled this leader in cardiovascular health to become the largest cardiac research centre in the country. Over the years, the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation has raised more than $309 million in donations. Its 26,032 donors have made it possible to make important discoveries and to support the Institute's specialists, professionals and researchers to provide state-of-the-art care to tens of thousands of patients in Quebec. fondationicm.org/en
About the EPIC Center The MHI's EPIC Center is the largest centre for cardiovascular disease prevention in Canada, with more than 4,500 registered members. The Center has just over 100 employees and is part of the Prevention Branch of the Montreal Heart Institute. The centre is for healthy people who wish to stay that way (primary prevention) as well as for patients who have had a cardiac event (rehabilitation and secondary prevention). The staff includes physicians, cardiologists, an internist, emergency physicians, a physiologist, visiting professors, nurses, nutritionists, kinesiologists and rescuers. www.centreepic.org
Expert Speaker and Brain Health Doctor Addresses Worsening Pandemic-Related Mental Challenges
Chattanooga, TN, January 12, 2021 ― Forced social isolation and shuttered businesses have led to an alarming rise in anxiety, depression, suicide and other mental health challenges. As we search for a clear path toward physical and mental recovery, one world-renowned doctor is uniquely poised to address the very serious subject of brain health from both scientific and spiritual perspectives — a much needed and welcomed approach during these extremely distressing times.
Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist, master psychopharmacologist, lecturer and renowned international speaker. He is also the founder of Come and Reason Ministries and uses his understanding of the Bible and how it relates to our modern world to inform his approach to brain health and overall wellbeing.
Dr. Jennings expertly weaves spirituality with brain science to address fear, depression, anxiety and relationship issues. He recently explored at length the damaging effects of social isolation (https://comeandreason.com/index.php/en/blogs-main/903-social-isolation-during-covid-19) and its profound impact on physical and mental health, particularly for those already suffering from chronic conditions.
He is a much sought-after speaker who regularly addresses non-medical professionals on the subjects of Spirituality in Medicine, Depression and its Spiritual and Physical Connections, and Alzheimer’s Dementia. He also speaks to medical professionals on the topics of Psychotherapy in Clinical Practice, Major Depression in the Primary Care Setting, and the Neurobiology of Depression — among many others.
Dr. Jennings operates a private practice in Chattanooga and has successfully treated thousands of patients. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Life-Fellow of the Southern Psychiatric Association.
He is also a prolific author whose books include The God-Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life; Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind; The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind; and The God-Shaped Heart: How Correctly Understanding God’s Love Transforms Us.
To hear his presentations and to learn more about Dr. Timothy R. Jennings and his approach to brain and body health, please visit: www.comeandreason.com.
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Ontario's doctors make five recommendations to improve long-term care
TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Ontario's doctors call on Premier Doug Ford to act quickly to combat forecasts there will be more deaths in long-term care homes in the current pandemic surge than in the first wave.
Long-term care residents account for 60 per cent of COVID deaths in Ontario. Since Jan. 1 alone, 198 long-term care residents and two staff have died of COVID-19.
Ontario's doctors have five recommendations for Premier Doug Ford.
1. Increase efforts to vaccinate all long-term care residents and caregivers, including health workers, personal support workers, other staff and relatives who provide physical and mental health support.
At the same time, continue to provide COVD-19 testing for long-term care homes – including rapid-care tests – so that they and public health officials have real-time data to prevent and-or manage outbreaks.
2. Cut the red tape preventing physicians from moving rapidly into long-term care homes with outbreaks or other significant needs.
At the same time, value all LTC employees and caregivers and provide support such as paid sick days. Personal support workers and others should not have to choose whether to go to work to earn money for food and rent or stay home to prevent the spread of the virus.
In the short term, speed up training of new PSWs including retraining people who lost jobs in the service industry because of COVID.
3. Continue the use of virtual care in long-term homes to prevent the spread of the virus and improve access to specialists, in conjunction with in-person care where appropriate, especially in homes with outbreaks and where patients are in declining health.
Virtual care also helps LTC residents receive more timely care and limit unnecessary trips to the hospital or community medical clinics.
Financial investments may be needed to ensure that all physicians and long-term care homes, especially in northern and rural areas, have reliable internet service and devices on which to receive care virtually, and that homes have sufficient staff who are comfortable with and fluent in technology to assist residents receive care by phone, tablet or video device.
4. Appoint a chief medical officer for long-term care for each Ontario Health region to ensure the best quality care is being provided, by, for example, co-ordinating efforts between the acute and long-term care sectors, liaising with Public Health and co-ordinating physician coverage over multiple sites.
5. Shift social attitudes so that caring for frail older adults is considered to be one of the most important jobs in the world.
"The situation in our long-term care homes is dire and heartbreaking," said Dr. Samantha Hill, president of the Ontario Medical Association. "We appreciate the steps the government has taken and continues to take. But we all know more needs to be done and done quickly."
CEO Allan O'Dette said the OMA looks forward to the final report of Ontario's Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission. "We can't wait to take more steps now. We urge Premier Doug Ford to act on some of these much-needed recommendations right away. We all have a collective responsibility to ensure the safety and care for the most vulnerable in our society."
About the OMA
The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.
SOURCE Ontario Medical Association
Now, More Than Ever, Fighting for Our Children’s Needs Must Come First
New York, NY, January 13, 2021— Children dream without boundaries; they aspire to become paleontologists, astronauts, doctors and teachers without considering socioeconomic barriers, discrimination, disease outbreaks, violence or any one of a host of other challenges impacting their likelihood of success. It’s up to us, as a society, to help each and every child fulfill his or her potential. In fact, the future of our nation depends on it.
NBC/MSNBC public health analyst, pediatrician and activist Dr. Irwin Redlener delivers a potent wake-up call that compellingly underscores the urgency with which we must work toward fulfilling the potential of all children in his inspirational call to action, The Future of Us: What the Dreams of Children Mean for Twenty-First-Century America, which contains a new preface and afterword addressing COVID-19 and its impact on kids.
Inadequate education, barriers to health care and crushing poverty make it overwhelmingly difficult for many children to realize their dreams — and these issues have been dramatically compounded by the pandemic. Finding ways to alter these trajectories is serious, grown-up business, Dr. Redlener emphasizes, and it’s time for us to act.
“We need heartstrings to be tugged by the folks who work on the front lines … But we also need the hard-core, take-no-prisoners types who demand that those empowered to determine priorities and allocate resources understand and respond to the needs of children,” he writes.
In The Future of Us, Dr. Redlener draws upon his four decades of professional experiences to examine our nation’s health care safety nets and special programs that are designed to protect and nurture our most vulnerable kids, but that too often fail to do so.
The book follows Dr. Redlener’s long, colorful career, from his work as a pediatrician in the Arkansas delta, to treating child abuse in a Miami hospital, to helping children in the aftermaths of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. He has served on the board of USA for Africa, cofounded the Children’s Health Fund with Paul Simon (and persuaded Joan Baez to play a benefit concert) and dined with Fidel Castro. He once sat across the table from Michael Jackson, and he has traveled with presidential candidates. But his most powerful source of motivation remains the children who face terrible adversities yet dream of becoming paleontologists, artists and marine biologists. Their stories are his springboard for discussing larger policy issues that hinder us from effectively eradicating childhood poverty and overcoming barriers to accessible health care. Persistent deprivation and the avoidable problems that accompany poverty ensnare millions of children and impact the health, prosperity and creativity of the adults they become. Dr. Redlener argues that we must drastically change our approach to meeting the needs of children ― for their sake and to ensure America’s resiliency and influence in an increasingly complex world.
It is Dr. Redlener’s hope that readers will emerge optimistic about our future, with a deeper understanding of how investing in children today will increase our chances of a successful tomorrow. Fighting for our nation’s children is far from a lost cause, and nothing could be more important.
Author Irwin Redlener, M.D., is a pediatrician and founding director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, which works to understand and improve the nation's capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. In 2020, Dr. Redlener created the Pandemic Resource and Response Initiative at Columbia. He is a public health analyst for NBC and MSNBC, and recently partnered with Cher in CherCares, a new program that assists communities struggling with COVID-19.
Dr. Redlener is also President Emeritus and Co-Founder of the Children’s Health Fund, a philanthropic initiative that he created with singer/songwriter Paul Simon and Karen Redlener to develop health care programs in 25 of the nation’s most medically underserved urban and rural communities. He currently serves as a special advisor on emergency preparedness to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, and regularly communicates with leadership in U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, as well as Homeland Security.
He is also the author of Americans at Risk: Why We Are Not Prepared for Megadisasters and What We Can Do Now. For more information, please visit www.irwinredlener.org.
The Future of Us: What the Dreams of Children Mean for Twenty-First-Century America
