With $3 Million NIH Grant Renewal, Mariana Figueiro Pushes the Frontiers of Light Therapy

Lighting Research Center drills down on how light affects Alzheimer’s and dementia patients

TROY, N.Y. —  With the support of a recent $3 million grant renewal from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Mariana Figueiro is perfecting a treatment she developed for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias that helps to regulate sleep and reduce symptoms of depression — and requires no drugs, only light.

With over 20 years of study and success in real-world settings, Figueiro, the director of the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has demonstrated that providing light exposure of certain amounts and qualities throughout the day improves sleep patterns, sociability, and agitation, while decreasing symptoms of depression. 

“What we have proven is that light therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention that makes a significant difference in the overall health of older adults living with Alzheimer’s and dementia,” she said. “People we talk to are hoping to be able to reduce the number of pills these individuals must take every day. And we tend to forget how hard this disease is on caregivers. In addition to helping the patient, finding ways to help caregivers is very important.”

The NIA, which is a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), awarded Figueiro $3 million in 2010 to begin her research with elderly Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, followed by a first grant renewal in 2015 to continue her work. With this latest grant renewal, Figueiro and her team will fine-tune their approach to dosage of light, working in long-term health care facilities to find the optimum brightness and duration that makes a quantifiable difference in a patient’s day-to-day life.

“It validates the research we’ve done in the past,” Figueiro said of the renewal, “and it’s a step forward on being able to embark on large clinical trials.” 

Figueiro’s work has shown that exposure to bright, blue-hued light throughout the day signals to the body’s internal clock that it is daytime, promoting wakefulness. Then as evening approaches, dim, warmer orange-hued light tells the body that it’s time to rest. The flat, constant light found in most nursing homes just isn’t strong enough to properly regulate the body’s circadian rhythms.  

“What’s happening with Alzheimer’s patients is that they are in constant biological darkness when it comes to their circadian systems,” she said. “They have enough light to see, but lighting in nursing homes is typically too weak to contribute to good health. There are two ways to increase the amount of light. One is to increase the intensity, and the other is to tune it to a more bluish color, because we are more sensitive to that. We could do a combination or either one — that’s what we’ll be studying with this grant renewal.”

Figueiro envisions a future in which all rooms in assisted-living facilities and nursing homes have bright lights automatically providing patients with the light therapy she is perfecting.  But the concepts being developed through her work are not solely applicable to populations in those settings. Whether a patient has a traumatic brain injury, cancer, or some other malady, or is simply a child or teenager still in the process of developing, her findings are consistent: Light is a key factor in establishing and maintaining the body’s circadian rhythms, which are critical to overall health. 

“The science is solid,” she said. “The work with the Alzheimer’s patients is where we’re learning everything about how we can implement these solutions, but I think the future is to expand the range of applications by utilizing our research in a wide spectrum of populations.”

Her team at the LRC is already investigating other uses. For example, they are testing personal sensors and apps that can be used to prescribe optimum lighting schemes to maintain an internal routine. Beyond that, she sees the science behind light therapy applied to the general population as a kind of “light fitness.”

“It could be very similar to your personal trainer,” she said. “I think that’s where we’re going in the future. The key is understanding how light affects different individuals and different populations, and using our engineering and our technical background in order to develop solutions for people.”

This most recent grant renewal is just one source of support for Figueiro’s ongoing work. She will combine it with a five-year $1.5 million training grant she received from the NIA in 2017 that allows eight pre-doctoral engineering students to work at Rensselaer in collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City each year in data translation and clinical applications as the university continues to push forward in the field of Alzheimer’s research. 

For more information about Figueiro’s work, watch this video.

About the Lighting Research Center
The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the world's leading center for lighting research and education. Established in 1988 by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the LRC conducts research in light and human health, transportation lighting and safety, solid-state lighting, energy efficiency, and plant health. LRC lighting scientists with multidisciplinary expertise in research, technology, design, and human factors, collaborate with a global network of leading manufacturers and government agencies, developing innovative lighting solutions for projects that range from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to U.S. Navy submarines to hospital neonatal intensive-care units. In 1990, the LRC became the first university research center to offer graduate degrees in lighting and today, offers a M.S. in lighting and a Ph.D. to educate future leaders in lighting. Learn more at https://www.lrc.rpi.edu/.

Ford Government Taking Hard-Earned Wages Away From Frontline Long-Term Care Workers

RICHMOND HILL, ON, Feb. 13, 2020 /CNW/ - Doug Ford's government at Queen's Park is taking away modest, fairly negotiated wage increases, from nearly 100 frontline healthcare workers at Mariann Home, a not-for-profit long-term care facility in Richmond Hill, despite the employer's willingness to provide them.

On average, personal support workers (PSWs) will lose 32 cents per hour, while RPNs will lose 19 cents per hour, as a result of Minister Bethlenfalvy's draconian enforcement of Bill 124.

Despite the mutually negotiated and agreed upon contract, Ford's ministers are refusing to allow it, pointing to Bill 124, which was forced through the legislature by PC MPPs in November 2019 and limits all non-profit public sector employees to a 1 per cent compensation cap per year.

Mariann Home's willingness to provide a greater than 1 per cent total compensation increase per year is rooted in the acute challenge of recruiting and retaining frontline healthcare workers who earn less than $40,000 per year in most cases. Bill 124 excludes for-profit nursing homes, which gives them a recruitment and retention advantage over not-for-profit facilities like Mariann Home, who can't because they are being forced by the Ontario Government to provide lower wages.

"Shame on the Ford government for literally taking money right out of the pockets of frontline healthcare workers in need for a raise," said Sharleen Stewart, President of SEIU Healthcare. "It's simple, when healthcare workers cannot support their own families, they leave in search of more secure employment. While we applaud the employer's willingness to take steps to remedy the causes that contribute to the ongoing retention crisis, Doug Ford's actions mean there will be fewer workers on the frontline to deliver quality care for seniors. With fewer healthcare workers on the job, he's literally putting everyone's safety at risk. Doug Ford has shown us once again that he doesn't care about working-class people."

SEIU Healthcare represents more than 60,000 healthcare and community service workers across Ontario. The union's members work in hospitals, homecare, nursing and retirement homes, and community services throughout the province. SEIU Healthcare has a strong track record of improving wages, benefits and working conditions for healthcare workers, supporting the training and development needs of its members, and strengthening standards in the management and delivery of patient and client care. www.seiuhealthcare.ca

SOURCE SEIU Healthcare

Ohio University study intends to improve rehabilitation techniques of ACL injuries in the military and beyond

ATHENS, Ohio (Feb. 13, 2020) – While ACL injury rehabilitation programs often focus on the physical recovery of the knee and the muscle groups around it, research from Ohio University’s College of Health Sciences and Professions indicates the brain also plays a major role in successful returns after an ACL injury.

Dustin Grooms, PhD, associate professor in OHIO’s School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness, and his team recently completed the first phase of a $750,000 research grant from the United States Department of Defense with the goal of improving the orthopedic healthcare for the war fighter and civilian populations.

Phase II of Grooms’ research project is underway; upon completion of the study, Grooms believes rehabilitation techniques will “drastically” change and its results will benefit many population types.

As a military member, athlete or even weekend warrior, suffering an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can be devastating physically and also mentally. Medical studies have reported that as many as an estimated 200,000 ACL injuries occur annually in the United States; Grooms said about 70 percent of those are non-contact injuries and approximately one-third of them experience reinjury.

“Most of these people had the physical strength to keep their knee in a good position as they ran, cut or jumped — it was their brain that was responsible for the error that led to the rupture,” said Grooms. “When it’s non-contact, your nervous system has likely let you down.”

In the case of military personnel, the modern soldier is often required to carry large amounts of equipment that can affect their center of mass and impact the load on the knees. Grooms said a common knee injury predictor tends to be related to control of upper body center of mass because of the effect it has on the ability to control the torque or rotational movements of the lower extremities.

Phase I of Grooms’ research focused on analyzing established techniques and lessons from orthopedic and sports medicine to develop a tactical performance assessment. Members of OHIO’s ROTC program — mostly from the elite ranger team — performed various movements, including box landings, walking and 180-degree turns with a simulated AR-15 rifle and interactive targeting simulation while being electronically marked and recorded.

The subjects fired simulated shots at a digital screen during cognitive tests while being asked to target certain numbers or colors; they also responded to various auditory cues. Virtual reality tests were also conducted in an effort to introduce disconnects between what an individual’s brain sees and their body feels.

Results from the first phase have been developed into manuscripts that can provide athletic trainers or injury risk screeners who work with the military insight into which soldiers could experience a higher level of injury risk or who simply might need more training or therapy.

“It is very exciting to be a part of this research study as this is one of the first studies to quantify biomechanics, strength, proprioception, and brain imaging during ACL rehabilitation,” said Janet Simon, PhD, assistant professor with AHSW, and co-investigator for the study. “Many studies to date have collected these measures after individuals have returned to their activity so we do not fully understand what is happening during the rehabilitation process. This study will inform future ACL rehabilitation as healthcare professionals will know what to specifically target throughout the rehabilitation process.”

Phase II of the study, which is anticipated to occur over a three-year period, involves the testing of 36 physically active subjects who have suffered an ACL injury and had it surgically repaired.

The study partners with Dr. Sergio Ulloa of OhioHealth to screen and recruit subjects. Grooms said patients who agree to participate in the study will visit Ohio University at various points during their rehabilitation phase to undergo both biomechanical and behavioral testing that includes imaging of the brain.

“We see a shift in the brain imaging data of people with this injury. Their brain unconsciously shifts to use vision more during their rehabilitation and they’re not as efficient with motor performance, especially under high stress,” said Grooms.

Grooms explained that an ACL injury can result in the loss of proprioception, which is the perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body in space.

“The brain then starts using cognitive or thinking resources to control the knee and that can impair your reaction time or ability to interact with the world,” he said. “That can also lead to a greater risk of reinjury.”

Phase II’s behavioral testing ultimately hopes to explain to see how the brain changes over the course of therapy.

“The hope is that if we can identify something that’s changing in the brain over time, we would know when to do an intervention,” Grooms said.

Grooms also noted that data from this study could be used to create clinical trials to help increase a patient’s reliance on proprioception rather than vision during rehabilitation.

“I think four or five years from now, how we train physical therapists, athletic trainers and other professionals and how we implement musculoskeletal therapy will all change,” said Grooms. “It needs drastically improved and, by the conclusion of this project, I believe it will be.”

“Drs. Grooms, Simon, Ulloa and their team are conducting ground-breaking research. This work, which is through a partnership with Holzer’s Department of Radiology, is a great example of the high impact work being done by a large number of the scientists working in our research institute,” said Brian Clark, director of the Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, and co-investigator for the study. “This is clinically significant research as it will have a direct and durable impact on both the treatment and prevention of a common, debilitating musculoskeletal injury.”

This work also benefits from collaborations with Dr. Jae Yom, now at the University of Illinois Springfield, Dr. David Russ, now at the University of South Florida, Dr. Matt Tenan, formally at the Army Research Laboratory, now at Optimum Performance Analytics, and Dr. James Onate of Ohio State University.

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i. “The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering acquisition office” and; ii. “This work was supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs endorsed through the Department of Defense through the FY17 Peer Reviewed Orthopedic Research Program, Applied Research Award under Award No. W81XWH1810707. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense. iii. “In conducting research using animals, the investigator(s) adheres to the laws of the United States and regulations of the Department of Agriculture.” iv. “In the conduct of research utilizing recombinant DNA, the investigator adhered to NIH Guidelines for research involving recombinant DNA molecules.” v. “In the conduct of research involving hazardous organisms or toxins, the investigator adhered to the CDC-NIH Guide for Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories.”

Media Contact: Dan Pittman, associate director of communications at pittmand@ohio.edu or 740.566.0212, or Jim Sabin, media relations manager, at 740-593-0858 or sabin@ohio.edu. Visit OHIO's official media page for the latest University news and updates, or follow us on Twitter @ohioumedia. 

About the College of Health Sciences and Professions
Ohio University’s College of Health Sciences and Professions (CHSP) is a place where innovative education and research happen every day. Each year, more than 3,600 students graduate from our Athens and Dublin-based campuses prepared to serve as passionate professionals who are ready to change the world. As one of the largest health-focused colleges in the country, CHSP has a growing portfolio of degree and certificate programs housed in six academic units: the School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness; the School of Nursing; the School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences; the Department of Social and Public Health; the Department of Social Work and the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Studies. All six connect faculty and students across multiple disciplines to explore the best approaches to addressing health and wellness in various settings. Find out more at: www.ohio.edu/chsp.

About Ohio University                 
Ohio University strives to be the best student-centered, transformative learning community in America, where students realize their promise, faculty advance knowledge, staff achieve excellence, and alumni become global leaders. OHIO is committed to fostering, embracing, and celebrating diversity in all its forms. Our Athens Campus offers students a residential learning experience in one of the nation’s most picturesque academic settings. Additional campuses and centers serve students across the state, and online programs further advance the University’s commitment to providing educational access and opportunity. Visit www.ohio.edu for more information.

“Prejuvenation” 6 Things Millennials Can Do to Maintain Their Youth

www.drmanishshah.com

Many people in their 20’s are stressed out about high post college student loan debt requiring side hustles to pay it off. They’re noticing tired eyes and premature wrinkles as they turn to filters to optimize their social media photos. There is pressure to keep up with celebrities their age not to mention the countless millennial “social media influencers” who are setting the new standard for beauty and youth. Bottomline, millennials are stressed, and they don’t want to look it. Dr. Manish Shah, a Denver, Colorado Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in facial plastic surgery urges the under 30 crowd not to overdo it with expensive treatments and procedures that can actually make them look older and put them further into debt.

Here is Dr. Shah’s of 6 things millennials can do to maintain their youth.

1. Use sunblock every day.

“The best way to make sure your face is protected from the sun is to use a daily moisturizer with SPF of no less than 30,” explains Dr. Shah. He also suggests applying creams to your neck and chest to postpone wrinkling and sagging in these areas. “The sun protection done daily in your 20’s will pay off greatly in your 40’s,” he says.

2. Get your Vitamin C.

“Vitamin C is a huge collagen booster and it also reduces pores and brightens skin, and these are the exact things women in their late 30’s and 40’s complain about most,” he reveals. Foods such as cantaloupe, mango, pineapples, oranges, grapefruits, and berries are all packed with this antioxidant which, when eaten regularly does wonders to sustain a youthful glow.

3. Ditch the fast food and eat more fish.

Those late night post partying fries and pizza are to be expected and at 25 are difficult to avoid. Perhaps your metabolism can handle it, for now. Offset these weekend indulgences by eating fish during the week. “Fish oil has fatty acids can erase early wrinkles you may notice. It prevents inflammation which can only make wrinkles more noticeable and deeper over time. Many millennials who are picky eaters and avoid seafood can get Omega-3’s via supplements but getting it directly from eating fish is best,” Dr. Shah suggests.

4. Quit smoking.

Nothing will age you quicker than smoking. “It is possible for a 25-year-old to look 8-5 years younger, within just 3 months after quitting smoking. This number increases after age 30. Women over age 40 who don’t smoke typically look up to a decade younger than their counterparts who still smoke,” says Dr. Shah. There are a gazillion reasons to quit smoking. Linking it to vanity is a pretty powerful motivator.

5. Decrease your sugar intake.

You really want to start getting mindful about your sugar intake in your 20’s for many different reasons. “Sugars and carbohydrates are a beauty killer because they are pro-inflammatory. Pasta, ketchup, candy, ice cream, and fruit juices are often dietary staples for those under 30. Any inflammation in the body will show up on the face in the form of adult acne, sagging and wrinkling not to mention sallow skin tone,” warns Dr. Shah.

6. Maintain your glow with facials and peels.

While many millennials are starting off with “Baby Botox” which can postpone wrinkling, Botox isn’t cheap. It also can be a “gateway” treatment which leads to lip injections and fillers that often have a reverse effect making younger women appear older, cautions Dr. Shah. “Lasers and peels have come very far, offer an excellent solution for sun damage, skin texture, pores, acne scarring and cell turnover to stimulate collagen growth.

Dr. Shah concludes that millennials who get into a good solid habit of taking care of themselves both inside and out, will create a lifestyle of longevity. “Millennials raised by mothers who may have had breast implants, Botox and lip injections may feel that getting things “done” is normal. This is exactly why I am always very honest when advising patients under 25 on procedures they’re considering.”

About Dr. Manish Shah

Plastic Surgeon Colorado | Dr. Manish Shah, M.D. | Denver https://drmanishshah.com/ 

Manish Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S. is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. After completing his formal plastic surgery training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Univ. of Tennessee College of Medicine, he moved to New York City and was selected for the prestigious Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. He underwent extensive, advanced training in aesthetic surgery of the face, breasts, and body at the hands of some of the most renowned cosmetic surgeons in the world. Dr. Shah is one of only a select few plastic surgeons in the country who have undergone formal post-graduate training in aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Shah’s specialties include revision facial aesthetic surgery, rhinoplasty (“nose reshaping”), and aesthetic surgery of the breast (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction). He is, however, well-trained in all areas of aesthetic surgery. Dr. Shah’s aim is to obtain a natural appearing transformation that complements the real you!

Expert Advisory Group Releases Report on Assisted Dying and Mental Disorders

Report includes recommendations and cautions

TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2020 /CNW/ - Following comprehensive review of the available evidence, the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) released a report today cautioning that evolving assisted dying policies must not put the lives of Canadians who live with mental illness at risk.  MAiD in Canada is for medical conditions with irreversible decline, yet unlike other medical conditions mental illnesses can never be predicted to be irremediable.

"The evidence shows it's impossible to predict irremediability of mental illnesses," said Dr. K. Sonu Gaind, the Toronto psychiatrist who coordinates the EAG.  "Society would think people were being helped to die with MAiD to relieve suffering from an irremediable illness, but in reality we would be ending their lives because of loneliness, poverty, and all sorts of other life suffering... lives of people who could get better.  I don't think Canadians would support that sort of discrimination."

Mark Henick, one of the EAG members with lived experience of mental illness and depression for over 20 years, lets people know he "absolutely" would have taken the option of assisted dying in the past, if it had been available.  He points out that while mental illnesses are remediable, receiving MAiD for mental illness is not.  "My suicidal-self wouldn't believe my well-self now," Henick said, "but that's exactly why I'm so glad that I didn't have access to an irremediable solution to my suffering.  I would have lost out on so much that I then never imagined could someday be possible, but now am very, very grateful for life.  Everybody deserves that opportunity."

The EAG report highlights the need to set evidence-based policies and not discriminatorily ignore the realities of mental illness.  Canada's MAiD laws should acknowledge the worldwide evidence that mental illnesses cannot be identified as being irremediable, and should also contain proper safeguards against ambivalent wishes to die to ensure society doesn't take the lives of non-dying people who would have enjoyed continued life.

Read the report and recommendations at www.eagmaid.org 

The Expert Advisory Group (EAG) on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) consists of individuals with extensive Canadian and international experience with MAiD policy and practices, and mental health and illness issues.  The EAG includes members of the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) expert panels on MAiD, and additionally those with lived experience/expertise of mental illness.Our purpose: To provide expert, evidence-based advice to guide MAiD policy

SOURCE Expert Advisory Group on Medical Assistance in Dying

Ontario Medical Association Statement on Dr. Jennifer Kagan and Daughter Kiera Kagan

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 /CNW/ - This is a sad week for doctors across Ontario. One of our own has lost a young child, four-year old Keira, under dramatic and public circumstances. Dr. Jennifer Kagan, mother to Keira and nine-month old Joseph, is a palliative care physician in Brampton. Keira's body was recovered yesterday. The cause of death is currently under investigation.   

I hope we can all take a moment to hold our fellow physician, Dr. Kagan, in our hearts, thoughts and prayers during this tragic time. She describes Keira as a spunky, resilient little girl who wanted to change the world. 

While there remain many questions to be answered, we are aware that Dr. Kagan and her husband, Phil Viater were actively pursuing legal means to protect Keira from what they perceived as threats to Keira's safety. 

Despite following appropriate legal channels and using resources many women don't have in challenging custody battles, the legal system forced Dr. Kagan to leave Keira in the care of her biological father. The weekend of February 7-9, 2020 was the last weekend he was to have Keira in his care before potentially losing unsupervised access. 

"I did not end up like Elana, but I couldn't save my precious daughter," Dr. Kagan is quoted as saying, a reference to Dr. Elana Fric – a physician victim of intimate partner violence.  Keira's mother is hoping Keira's memory and story can bring about system change.

Today, let us come together and embrace our own who are suffering: Dr. Kagan and her family, and other physician colleagues who may be struggling to protect themselves and their families. For those who wish to contribute, a gofundme account is online here.  

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

Honda Canada Foundation Launches New Partnership to Support Canadians with Cancer

Ten Honda Odyssey minivans donated to the Canadian Cancer Society Wheels of Hope transportation program

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, the Honda Canada Foundation (HCF) announced a donation of 10 Honda Odyssey minivans that will be used as part of the Canadian Cancer Society Wheels of Hope transportation program. Over the next two years, the special fleet of vehicles will alleviate some of the challenges people with cancer face every day in the GTA, Cornwall, Winnipeg, Prince Albert and Calgary, by getting them to and from their life-saving treatment both safely and comfortably.

More than 1,800 volunteers in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba devote their time to driving people with cancer to and from their treatments. Without the Wheels of Hope program, these passengers would need to find costly transportation to their appointments or even miss their treatments entirely due to unreliable transit. An estimated 8,300 Canadians rely on the service however, prior to today's donation, those without access to a vehicle were unable to become Wheels of Hope drivers. With Honda's contribution of 10 Odyssey minivans, prospective volunteers with a valid driver's license can get involved in a cause they are passionate about.  

"The Canadian Cancer Society is an organization making a real difference in communities across the country, which is something the Honda Canada Foundation wholeheartedly supports," said Dave Jamieson, Chair of the Honda Canada Foundation. "Knowing that these vehicles will be used in such a kind and compassionate way is as inspiring as it is rewarding."         

Honda will also cover the cost of insurance and maintenance for the 10 minivans for the duration of the partnership. 

"Getting to treatment can be difficult for anyone who isn't physically well enough to drive themselves, use public transportation or able to afford the cost of travel so this partnership with the Honda Canada Foundation goes a long way in solving these challenges," Interim Director of Corporate Partnerships, Susanna Tyson. "Adding these vehicles to our program will unlock new volunteer opportunities allowing us to serve even more of the people who count on us throughout the year."

Facts about the Canadian Cancer Society Wheels of Hope program:

• Wheels of Hope is active in four provinces - Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan 
• In these regions, the Odyssey minivans will transport an estimated 2,500 passengers with cancer to and from their medical appointments 
• During the two-year partnership, the 10 Odyssey minivans will make approximately 50,000 trips combined 
• In total, all Honda Odyssey Wheels of Hope edition minivans will clock an estimated 250,000 km over the next two years 
• In 2019, over 200,000 trips were offered to people with cancer by volunteer drivers

Anyone interested in volunteering with the Wheels of Hope program can fill out an online registration form here.

About the Honda Canada Foundation
Established in 2005, the Honda Canada Foundation (HCF) aims to enable the realization of dreams through various annual philanthropic activities and funding to non-profit registered charities across Canada where Honda customers and associates live, work and play. The HCF focuses on four key pillars – family, environment, engineering and education – and each year more than $2 million is disbursed to groups in need. More than six million Canadians have benefited from Honda Canada and Honda Canada Foundation funded charitable programs. For more information, please visit www.hondacanadafoundation.ca.

About Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is the only national charity that supports Canadians with all cancers in communities across the country. No other organization does what we do; we are the voice for Canadians who care about cancer. We fund groundbreaking research, provide a support system for all those affected by cancer and advocate to governments for important social change. 

Help us make a difference. Call 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca today. 

SOURCE Honda Canada Inc.

Four Ways to Keep Your Resolutions 

CHICAGO —Award-winning Career and Lifestyle Coach, Neha O’Rourke, has prepared four tips to help keep your New Year’s resolutions:

Tip #1 STAY REALISTIC

Take away the heavy-ness of your new year's resolution by changing the goals that may take a little more time or discipline to nail down. If you fall off the wagon — whatever wagon we’re talking about here, you can get right back on by changing the timeline, data, or habits. 

For example: 

• If you’ve barely hit the gym in the last year, then saying you’re going to go 5 times a week isn’t realistic. 
• Take the time to really assess what’s going to be realistic and attainable for you. Remember – any action, no matter how big or small means you’re going in the right direction and are closer to your goal than you were before. 

Tip #2 CELEBRATE THE WINS

New Year's resolutions focus on what needs to change, but we don’t reflect on the progress we’ve made in the last year! 

There’s always something that we could be doing and sometimes that feeling can be overwhelming, which is why we need to acknowledge and celebrate our wins throughout the year. Similarly to making resolutions, you should be celebrating those accomplishments on a more frequent basis. 

There’s actual science behind how your thoughts are creating your reality and gratitude can manifest incredible things. 

Tip #3 EVALUATING YOUR HAPPINESS AND GOALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

If you think about it, it is inefficient to go an entire year without reflecting on how things are going and what needs to change. Assessing our lives at the end of each year is just not conducive to living our best lives. 

Rather than only looking at it once a year, figure out a more frequent cadence that works for you. For me, that’s monthly. I like to reflect on what’s making me happy, what’s bringing me down and what I want to achieve. 

Tip #4 DIG A LITTLE DEEPER 

I’d like to add to your new year's resolutions by asking you to consider the fact that the average American spends 90,000 hours working – ahem: over 10 years of your life simply working! 

Chances are, there’s a reason you haven’t made your desired change already. Maybe you haven’t made it to the gym because you’re working late every night. In that case, your goal might actually be to set boundaries at work so you get some time to make it to the gym. 

By thinking about the root of the issue, you’re positioning yourself to be successful at achieving your resolution. 

—————

Neha O’Rourke is the Founder and Career Coach at Somewhere In Between Coaching, a coaching company that empowers women around the country and across industries in designing a career and life they love. Since founding Somewhere In Between, Neha has served hundreds of women in avoiding career burnout through her signature 1:1 career coaching programs, research-based blog series, and public appearances. She was recently named “20 on the Rise” in the coaching category by Honeybook and Rising Tide Society. 

At the Starting Line: 4 Tips for First-Time Runners

Running is an amazing pastime that can help you burn calories, strengthen your cardiovascular system, and even boost your cognitive health. If you have decided to start running for the first time, then you will need to come up with a solid training plan and invest in a few key products.

Start Slow

One of the most common mistakes that new runners make is pushing themselves to the limit every single day. Unfortunately, putting out max exertion every training session is probably going to result in chronic injuries. Even if it doesn’t result in injuries, you’ll likely find that your motivation and excitement to keep going quickly burns out. 

That is why many experts suggest that you establish a baseline and then come up with a long-term training plan. That plan should slowly increase your strength and endurance without putting your health at risk.

Don’t Forget to Cross-Train

While running is going to be excellent for your health, propelling yourself forward only strengthens a few specific muscle groups. Over time, those who only exercise by running could begin to develop muscle imbalances, which is going to increase their risk of injury. At least one or two days a week, you should do exercises that are going to strengthen your lower back, hamstrings, arms, and shoulders.

Fix Your Diet

Becoming a better running will be nearly impossible if you don’t properly fuel yourself. The occasional cheat meal is perfectly fine for most people, but the vast majority of your diet should be comprised of nutrient-dense foods that are going to provide you with protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Sticking to a relatively strict diet will give you more energy during your runs and help you recover much faster between your training sessions.

Invest in the Right Gear

Wearing the proper gear will make your runs much more enjoyable and will greatly reduce your risk of becoming injured. Luckily, it doesn’t require a lot of specific gear, and much of it is up to personal preference. The most important thing is good running shoes. 

In addition to having an excellent pair of shoes, you might also want to invest in a comfortable pair of men’s running shorts with pockets. High-quality shorts will prevent chafing and give you a place to store your phone, energy gels, and any other items that you will be taking with you, which will make your runs a little more convenient. For running in the summer, you are also going to need sunglasses, a hat, and some sunscreen.

Throughout your running career, you are sure to deal with at least a few injuries, and those issues should never be ignored. Many of the injuries that runners are prone to can easily be taken care of as long as they are diagnosed and treated in their earliest stages.

Ontario Sets New Record Highs for Organ Donation and Transplantation in 2019

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2020 /CNW/ - In 2019, Ontario set new records for the most organs donated and transplanted in a single year: there were 1,386 organ transplants and 684 deceased and living organ donors, a 13% increase over the previous year. Trillium Gift of Life Network achieved record-breaking results across its internationally-renowned organ and tissue donation and transplant system due to a combination of expanded protocols, innovative treatments and effective leading practices.

"More Ontarians than ever before gave and received the gift of life last year thanks to the collaboration among our forward-thinking hospital partners, dedicated stakeholder groups and hard-working staff," said Ronnie Gavsie, CEO and President of Trillium Gift of Life Network. "These achievements inspire us to do more. We will continue to work with fervor toward a day when no Ontarian dies on the wait list due to a lack of an organ or tissue."

Higher transplant numbers are partly attributable to technological and medical advancements that allow for the transplantation of organs from donors who historically would have been excluded due to prior medical conditions – these donors accounted for 21% of all organ transplants in 2019. Transplants of healthy and suitable organs from donors with hepatitis C, for example, can now safely occur, expanding the pool of potential donors and decreasing wait times for recipients on the list. There was a 41% increase of donors with hepatitis C in 2019 as compared to 2018, and a 39% increase in transplants from these donors.

In recent years, Trillium Gift of Life Network streamlined the province's tissue recovery system and established new initiatives. This included the consolidation of ocular and multi-tissue recovery and the launch of a tissue referral program with emergency medical service responders, both of which have contributed to the record numbers in tissue donation. In 2019, there was a new milestone of 281 multi-tissue donations, with a remarkable 81% increase of skin donors from the previous year. 

"Organ and tissue donations and transplants play an important role in saving and enhancing the lives of many Ontarians," said Christine Elliott, Ontario's Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "This is an incredible achievement led by Trillium Gift of Life Network. Through their collaborative work with our health system partners, Ontario has made significant strides in organ and tissue donations and transplants that will help more patients and families access the life-saving procedures."

Ontario's established leading-practices, such as routine notification, which requires hospitals and referring partners to report all potential organ and tissue donation cases to Trillium Gift of Life Network, led to a record 7,901 organ referrals and 33,585 tissue referrals in 2019. Additionally, Trillium Gift of Life Network's trained Organ and Tissue Donation Coordinators and referring partners approached 1,341 families to discuss the option of organ and tissue donation after their loved one died and a remarkable 816 families agreed to the gift of life through organ donation. 

Registration has a strong connection to donation.  When a potential donor has formally registered to be an organ and tissue donor, families almost always proceed with donation. In the absence of registration, families only consent half the time. There has been a steady increase in the percentage of organ donors who were formally registered, and 2019 had the highest percentage at 51%. Trillium Gift of Life Network's robust public awareness and education campaign emphasizes the importance of registering to be an organ and tissue donor and encourages all Ontarians to do so. Currently, more than 4.2 million Ontarians, or 34% of the eligible population, have registered for organ and tissue donation.

Trillium Gift of Life Network consistently explores new ways to expand donation opportunities. In 2016, organ donation was integrated as part of quality end-of-life care for individuals receiving the provision of medical assistance in dying (MAID). 

"We congratulate Trillium Gift of Life Network on their record-breaking year. Their continued commitment to advancing leading practices to increase donations and transplants is remarkable," said Dr. Beatriz Domínguez-Gil, Director General of Spain´s Organización Nacional de Trasplantes (ONT), the world's leader in organ donation.

There are more than 1,600 people across Ontario waiting to receive a life-saving organ transplant. Every three days, someone dies while waiting. Learn more about how organ donation can help to save a life by visiting www.beadonor.ca. 

Trillium Gift of Life Network
Trillium Gift of Life Network is the Government of Ontario agency responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating and supporting organ and tissue donation and transplantation across the province and for continually improving the system so that more lives can be saved. 

SOURCE Trillium Gift of Life Network