Pulse: The Ottawa Hospital Foundation Podcast

Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng is Head of Critical Care at The Ottawa Hospital. He's also a researcher and advocate for patients, through media interviews and his own podcast — Prevention Over Prescription. On top of all that, he's a co-chair of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation's $500 million Campaign to Create Tomorrow. In this conversation, Dr. K, as he's known, takes us into the day in the life of his role at the hospital. He discusses his research and the focus on making the most out of our healthcare dollars. We also dive into this historic fundraising campaign — why it's vital to our community and his message to others to join the movement. (22:05)

Dr. Dawn Stacey has dedicated her career to improving patient decision-making processes and helping implement better systems for healthcare providers to guide patients and their families through their options. She is a Senior Scientist and Co-Scientific Director of the Patient Decision Aids Research Group at The Ottawa Hospital, and the 2025 recipient of the Grimes Career Achievement Award. In this conversation, you'll hear more about her career and how important her work is not only for our patients but also for patients worldwide. (15:53)

Annie Grenon has strong ties to The Ottawa Hospital. She was a patient for kidney care years ago and, more recently, for a pulmonary embolism. She's also seen both of her grandchildren born at the Civic Campus, and her late husband received cancer care. It was when her husband was diagnosed with a rare cancer that their family came together to discuss leaving a gift in their will to The Ottawa Hospital. It was about helping other families in the future — forward-thinking to create a healthier tomorrow. (25:31)

Dr. Safraz Mohammed is a neurosurgeon at The Ottawa Hospital specializing in the brain and spine. In this engaging conversation, you'll hear what led him to neurosurgery and how he's helping educate the next generation of medical talent. Dr. Mohammed also takes us behind the scenes of the highly skilled neurosurgical team at our hospital and shares an important message about the impact of philanthropy. (33:43)

The Ottawa Hospital is creating a comprehensive epilepsy program — a one-stop shop that will be a changemaker for patients. As a key part of bringing specialized, state-of-the-art care to the region, The Ottawa Hospital completed its first-ever stereo EEG procedure in January 2025. Dr. Tad Fantaneanu, the Medical Director of the Epilepsy Program, shares the exciting developments in the program and why this is important for patients. (18:24)