Jewish General Hospital
Department of Medicine
Monday Medical Grand Rounds
*** Noon to 1 p.m. ***
Join the virtual Medical Grand Rounds on Microsoft Teams.
Hybrid Medical Grand Rounds are additionally in person at the Block amphitheatre, room B-106
The Medical Grand Rounds are an accredited group learning activity as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Some Rounds were video recorded.
Medical Grand Rounds 2025-2026
March 24
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: From Diagnosis to Advanced Therapies
Bruno Benzaquen, MD, FRCP
Division of cardiology JGH
Assistant Professor McGill University
Educational Objectives:
- Describe HCM, its pathophysiology and genetic etiologies
- Delineate the steps to make an initial diagnosis and institute medical therapies and clinical follow up
- Describe Advanced therapies
March 16
To be announced
March 13
Schwartz Rounds
The Doctor is Out: The Domino Effect
This session will explore the emotional experience of physicians stepping away from practice due to illness or changes in capacity, and the ripple effects on identity, recovery, invisible illness, and colleagues who take on added responsibilities. We’ll reflect on the complex mix of guilt, strain, gratitude, protectiveness, and unspoken tension within a culture that often encourages “pushing through.”
March 9
Hybrid MGR - DVT Awareness Month
Cutting Edge PE - What’s New in Acute Management?
Kerstin de Wit, MD
Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Emergency Venous Thromboembolism
Professor in Emergency Medicine
Clinician Investigator Program Director
Research Director for the Department of Emergency Medicine
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
Educational Objectives:
- To review new evidence on pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis.
- To be familiar with risk stratification of acute PE.
- To learn about new evidence on treatment of intermediate and low risk PE.
March 2
Advances in Lung Cancer from Early Stage to Metastatic Disease
Jason Agulnik MD, FRCPC
Chief, Division of Pulmonary Diseases
Department of Medicine
Co-Director, Pulmonary Oncology
Peter Brojde Lung Cancer Centre
Jewish General Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine
McGill University
Carmela Pepe, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
Associate Physician-in-Chief, Department of Medicine
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases
Jewish General Hospital
Educational Objectives:
- Role of Immunotherapy in NSCLC
- Role of targeted agents in NSCLC
- New advances in early stage NSCLC
February 23
Causes of Early Onset Colorectal Cancer
Andrew Shuen, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FACMG
Medical Geneticist / Longevity Specialist
Educational Objectives:
- Describe the epidemiology and distinctive clinical features of early-onset colorectal cancer.
- Recognize when to pursue tumour and germline genetic testing in patients with early-onset colorectal cancer.
- Apply genetic findings to guide patient management, surveillance, and family risk assessment.
February 16
BioPortal – Bringing Multi-omics to our Clinics
Brent Richards, MD
Department of Endocrinology, Human Genetics, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, JGH
Professor of Medicine, McGill University
Educational Objectives:
- To understand how large-scale genomics can help to improve common disease care.
- To understand how proteomics can help us identify patients at risk of disease.
- To understand the JGH BioPortal program and how you can help with recruitment for research and quality of care improvement projects.
February 9
A Practical Approach to Drug Allergy
Jesse Schwartz, MD, MSc, MPH, FRCPC
Director, Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, JGH
Educational Objectives:
- Review drug allergy diagnostic testing.
- Develop a practical approach to drug allergy
February 2
Contemporary Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers: What Has Changed & How It Affects Our Practice
Elie Kassouf, MD
Hematologist / Oncologist, JGH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Université de Montreal
Educational Objectives:
- Review current standards of care and emerging evidence in the management of major gastrointestinal cancers.
- Discuss practical approaches to integrating novel therapies and molecular profiling into routine clinical practice.
- Identify opportunities to improve multidisciplinary coordination and patient outcomes within a tertiary academic center.
January 26
Creamy Controversies: Corals, Cosmos, Computers, Condos - A Live Testing Even
Philippe Lefrançois MD PhD FRCPC DABD
Dermatologist - Jewish General Hospital
Assistant Professor - McGill University
Investigator - Lady Davis Institute
Educational Objectives:
- Debunk current myths about sunscreens and photoprotection
- Practice safe sun and identify potential photosensitive compounds
- Experience different types and brands of sunscreens (live in-person only)
January 19
Residents Case Presentation
Sneddon’s Syndrome: A Rare Cerebrovascular and Dermatologic Vasculopathy
Matin Kerachian, MDCM
Internal Medicine Resident (R3)
Educational objectives:
- Recognize the clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria of Sneddon’s syndrome
- Differentiate Sneddon’s syndrome from other vasculopathies
- Outline current management strategies, including anticoagulation
II. Road Closure: A Case of Unexpected Circulation
Hajare Iraqi, MD
Internal Medicine Resident (PGY3)
Educational Objectives:
- Recognize potential structural causes in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism.
- Incorporate vascular etiologies into the differential diagnosis of unexplained symptoms, including back pain.
- Recognize complications associated with IVC atresia, including chronic venous insufficiency and post-thrombotic syndrome.
January 12
Building Obstetric Medicine at the JGH: From Emerging Subspecialty to Essential Care
Camille Simard, MD
Assistant Professor, McGill University
Division of General Internal Medicine, JGH
Educational Objectives:
- To examine contemporary trends in maternal morbidity and complexity and the resulting need for specialized Obstetric Medicine care.
- To highlight the evolution and impact of Obstetric Medicine services at the Jewish General Hospital.
- To present a strategic vision for the expansion of Obstetric Medicine at the JGH, including new clinical and research initiatives.
December 22, December 29, January 5
No Rounds
December 15
Hybrid Annual Humanization of Care Awareness Program Rounds
WHY TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE BELONGS AT THE HEART OF HEALTHCARE
Zoë Thomas, MD FRCPC
Psychiatrist, Adult Psychiatry Day Treatment Program
Trauma-Focused Therapy Program, Jewish General Hospital
Assistant Professor, McGill University
Jackson Hagner, MSW, CFT
Educational Objectives:
- Summarize the prevalence of child abuse, as well as its medical, psychological and neurobiological impacts.
- Explore clinical trauma presentations, as well as pitfalls in care provision with traumatized patients.
- Introduce the fundamental tenets of a trauma-informed care framework, as well as their clinical applications.
December 8
AUTONOMIC TESTING (HUH!) - WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? (ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING)
Sandra Reiter-Campeau, MD, FRCPC
Neurologist, Jewish General Hospital
Associate Professor, McGill University
Educational Objectives:
- Review the basic organization of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
- Understand its effect on target organs and the localizing value of autonomic abnormalities.
- Identify core manifestations of autonomic "dysfunction".
- Illustrate indications and utility of autonomic testing through clinical cases.
December 1
AI FLUENCY IN THE ERA OF DIGITAL & AI PATHOLOGY: MATCHING MACHINE LEARNING METHODS TO CLINICAL AND PRECISION MEDICINE APPLICATIONS
Eric Walk, MD, FCAP
Chief Medical Officer, PathAI & Member,
CAP Digital & Computational Pathology Committee
Boston, MA
Educational Objectives:
- Describe current AI/ML methods as they pertain to histopathology, including level of supervision, training and data requirements, pros & cons.
- Apply AI/ML methods to specific application use cases in pathology practice and precision medicine, with specific examples from the latest published literature.
- Recognize future trends in pathology AI/ML including the development and potential use of large language models (LLMs) and visual language models.
- Recognize the emerging ethical and medicolegal issues related to the use of AI in pathology, oncology and the practice of medicine.
November 24
CMV, the Silent Pandemic: Updates on Pathogenesis and Management
Soren Gantt, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Professor of Microbiology, Infectiology, Immunology & Pediatrics
Université de Montréal
Azrieli Research Centre and CHU Sainte-Justine
Educational Objectives:
- Review the disease burden of CMV in different populations
- Convey insights into the mechanisms of transmission and immune control
- Provide an overview of current strategies for diagnosis, treatment and prevention
November 17
*** The November 17 conference is cancelled. ***
BioPortal – Bringing Multi-Omics to our Clinics
Brent Richards, MDProfessor of Medicine, McGill University
Educational Objectives:
To understand how large-scale genomics can help to improve common disease careTo understand how proteomics can help us identify patients at risk of diseaseTo understand the JGH BioPortal program and how you can help with recruitment
November 10
Cardio-Oncology: Cardiotoxic Agents – A Contemporary Review
Sabin Filimon, MD, MSc
Cardiologist, Jewish General Hospital
Assistant Professor, McGill University
Educational Objectives:
- Review the spectrum of cardiovascular toxicities associated with contemporary cancer therapies, including anthracyclines, HER2-targeted agents, and immune checkpoint inhibitors
- Discuss current strategies for early detection and risk stratification using multimodality imaging and biomarkers
- Explore emerging approaches in prevention, monitoring, and management of treatment-related cardiotoxicity in oncology patients
November 3
CARs in the Fast Lane: The Promises of Cellular Immunotherapy and Synthetic Biology
Jean-Sébastien Delisle, MD, PhD, FRCPC, DRCPSC
Interim Scientific Director, Research Centre, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont
Hematologist and Principal Investigator
Medical Director, Center of Excellence in Cellular Therapy, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont
Professor (full), Université de Montréal
Director, ThéCell Network
Educational Objectives:
- Recognize the current indications and limitations of CAR T-cell therapy
- Examine the various strategies to improve cellular immunotherapies
October 27
Fates Worse than Death: Empowering Teams to Tackle End-of-Life Needs
Jean Zigby, MD
MDCM, CCFP, FCFP, CCA(PC)
Director, Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, CCOMTL
Associate Director, Cancer Prevention Centre, JGH
Founding President, Synergie Santé Environnement
Educational Objectives:
- Refresh the common trajectories of our dying patients that all clinicians can predict
- Describe the narrative and quantitative approaches to prognostication proven to help patients and families MOST
- Learn how to integrate Supportive and Palliative Care as part of the care team earlier in serious illness to optimize outcomes.
October 20
Virtual Schwartz Rounds: Echoes in the Hallway: The Conversations We’ve Lost to Technology
*** This conference is virtual only ***
Panelists:
Carmela Pepe, MD, FRCPC
Associate Physician-in-Chief, Department of Medicine, JGH
Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary Diseases, JGH
David Hornstein, MD, CM, FRCPC
Director, Internal Medicine & Critical Care, MGH
Physician, MGH & SMBD-JGH
Assistant Professor, McGill University
Polymnia Galiatsatos, MD
Gastroenterologist, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, JGH
Facilitators:
Patricia Dobkin, MD, PhD, OPQ
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, McGill University
Faculty Member, McGill Program in Whole Person Care
Psychologist, Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher
Mark Smilovitch, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, McGill University
Cardiology Division, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University Health Centre
Faculty member, McGill Programs in Whole Person Care
Educational Objectives:
- Provide a sense of community
- Give voice to healthcare professionals
- Normalize compassion for the self and others
October 13
No rounds - Thanksgiving
October 6
The Potential Role of Technology in the Provision of Health Care to Older Patients
Leocadio Rodriguez Manas, MD
Head of the Geriatrics Service of the Getafe University Hospital (Madrid, Spain)
Past Scientific Director of the Spanish Center for Biomedical Research on
Frailty & Healthy Aging (CIBERFES)
(Ministry of Science & Innovation & Ministry of Health)
Educational Objectives:
- To review the existing challenges for the provision of care to older people
- To review how different options offered by the existing technology can cope with those changes, with pros, cons and possible solutions
- How our platform (FRAILSTOP) meets those requirements and has proved to be effective in managing older people who are frail/prefrail
September 29
Treating Tobacco Dependence from Guidelines to Practice
Sean Gilman, MD, FRCPC
Division of pulmonary medicine
Verdun Hospital / McGill University Health Center
Director, MUHC tobacco treatment program
Educational Objectives:
- Understand current clinical guidelines for tobacco dependence treatment, including vaping cessation
- Evaluate treatment options in complex cases
- Navigate Quebec-specific prescribing constraints and access issues
September 22
Rosh Hashana - No Rounds
September 15
Real Talk in Medical Education: Introducing a New McGill DOM Grand Rounds Series for Clinician-Teachers
Michelle Elizov, MD, FRCPC, MHPE
Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, JGH/CIUSSS Centre Ouest
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Annabel Chen-Tournoux, MD
Associate Chair - Education, Department of Medicine
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Max Frija-Gruman, MD
PGY-3, Internal Medicine
Gowtham Thangathurai, MD
PGY-2, Internal Medicine
Educational Objectives:
- Describe the purpose of the “Real Talk in Med Ed” series
- Summarize key aspects of teaching and learning experiences in the clinical setting
- Describe role modeling and its uses in clinical teaching
September 8
No Rounds
September 1
Labor Day - No Rounds