Jewish General Hospital Virtual Medical Grand Rounds

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

June 29

Mycosis Fungoides/Sezary Syndrome - the Great Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema Mimicker in Children & Adults

Professor Emmilia Hodak
Immediate Past President, International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas
Director, Cutaneous Lymphoma, Davidoff cancer Center
Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital,
Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv
The David and Inez Myers Chair for Cancer Genetics, Israel

Educational Objectives:

1. To highlight the clinical red flags suggestive of mycosis fungoides in pediatric patients diagnosed with “atopic dermatitis.”
2. To provide diagnostic clues for accurately differentiating between mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome and atopic dermatitis in adults.
3. To summarize the therapeutic implications in the era of “advanced therapies” for atopic dermatitis.

June 22

No Rounds

June 15

*** Rounds cancelled ***

BioPortal – Bringing Multi-Omics to our Clinics

Brent Richards, MD
Professor of Medicine, McGill University
Endocrinology, Human Genetics, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, JGH

Educational Objectives:

1. To understand how large-scale genomics can help to improve common disease care.
2. To understand how proteomics can help us identify patients at risk of disease.
3. To understand the JGH BioPortal program and how you can help with recruitment.

June 8

Annual Dept of Medicine Clinical Research Symposium

1. Pulmonary Tele-rehabilitation and Frailty in COPD

Mathew Cherian, MD
Respirologist, JGH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, McGill University

Educational Objectives:

1. Describe the clinical relevance of frailty in COPD, and its potential role as a treatable trait.
2. Discuss current evidence regarding the improvement of frailty through pulmonary rehabilitation, as well as barriers that limit participation and completion among frail individuals.
3. Examine the potential role of tele-pulmonary rehabilitation in addressing frailty in COPD

2. The Impact of COVID-19 on Small Cell Lung Cancer - Canadian Perspective

Jason Agulnik, MD, FRCP(C)
Chief, Division of Pulmonary Diseases
Department of Medicine
Co-Director, Pulmonary Oncology
Peter Brodge Lung Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine, McGill University

Educational Objectives:

1. Understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on small cell lung cancer diagnosis
2. Understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on small cell lung cancer survival

June 1

Being Known: The Impact of Serious Illness Conversations on Patients with Hematological Malignancies

Victoria Korsos, MDCM, FRCPC
Hematologist, Jewish General Hospital
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, McGill University

Chantal Cassis, MDCM, FRCPC, M.Ed,
Assistant Professor, Jewish General Hospital
McGill University

Educational Objectives:

1. Review feedback provided by patients on discussing serious illness
2. Discuss the impact of these discussions on end-of-life quality of life markers
3. Unpack important themes discussed in semi-structured interviews with patients following the discussion

May 25

EUS-Guided Alpha Radiotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer: From First-in-Human to Global Experience

Corey Miller, MD, MSc
Assistant Professor of Medicine, McGill University
Director of Therapeutic Endoscopy, Division of Gastroenterology, Jewish General Hospital
Associate Researcher, Lady Davis Institute
Member, McGill Centre for Translational Research in Cancer

Educational Objectives:

1. Review completed first-in-human trial results and updated outcomes data for EUS-guided alpha radiotherapy in pancreatic cancer
2. Summarize the current international trial landscape and emerging global experience stemming from our early data
3. Pushing the Boundaries: Discuss ongoing technological optimization and the expanding therapeutic potential of EUS-guided alpha radiotherapy,
   including a novel investigator-initiated trial combining alpha radiotherapy with immunotherapy

May 18

No Rounds – National Patriots' Day

May 11

Repurposing Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes for Kidney Protection

David Cherney, MD CM, PhD, FRCP(C)
Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto
Gabor Zellerman Chair of Nephrology Research, University of Toronto
Clinician Scientist - Division of Nephrology, University Health Network
Senior Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute
Director, Renal Physiology Laboratory, University Health Network

Educational Objectives:

1. Repurposing therapies for T1D for kidney protection
2. Review rationale for use of SGLT2 inhibition in type 1 diabetes
3. Understand the role of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism in type 1 diabetes
4. Review the rationale for GLP1 receptor agonists in type 1 diabetes for kidney protection

May 4

IgG4-Related Disease

Geneviève Gyger, MD, FRCP
Rheumatologist JGH
Assistant Profressor

Educational Objectives:

At the end of this presentation the participant will be able to:

1. Describe the pathophysiology of IgG4-related disease and its multiorgan characteristics
2. Apply the clinical, biological and histological diagnostic criteria and recognize the clinical manifestations of the disease
3. Discuss available treatments to manage the disease

April 27

CP-R we really going to do this? An expectation rather than an exception - A resuscitation situation!

Speakers:

• Kevin Hayes
  Clinical ethicist CIUSSS West-Central Montreal
   
• Paul Warshawsky, MD
  Chief ICU JGH
   
• Maitre Veronique Saad
  CIUSSS West-Central Montreal Attorney
   
• Maitre Lina El Alaoui Abdallaoui
  CIUSSS West-Central Montreal Attorney

Educational objectives:

1. To identify the ethical dilemmas related to the provision of CPR in complex cases
2. To support a better understanding of the ethical, legal and medical perspectives regarding the risks involved with this highly requested intervention
3. To support health care team members confronted with patient and family insistence on delivering this intervention despite it not being an appropriate measure (even futile) in many case scenarios

April 20

Beyond Posters and Protocols: Applying Behavioural Science to Improve Quality of Care

Leighanne O. Parkes, MD, FRCPC
Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology
Infection Prevention & Control, JGH
McGill University

Educational Objectives:

1. Explain why knowledge-based interventions alone are insufficient to change clinical practice, and how behavioural science addresses this gap.
2. Apply key behavioural frameworks (e.g., COM-B, Theory of Planned Behaviour, nudge theory) to identify modifiable determinants of healthcare worker behaviour in quality improvement initiatives.
3. Critically appraise evidence-based behavioural interventions — including co-designed nudges, audit and feedback, and multimodal strategies — using hand hygiene compliance and ER blood culture contamination reduction as an illustrative example.
4. Propose a behaviourally informed strategy to address a quality improvement challenge in their own clinical setting.

April 13

Wait, What?!​ Did I really just read that in my evaluation?!

Beth-Ann M. Cummings, MD MSc (HPE) FRCPC
Vice-Dean, Education & Community Engagement
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Associate Member, Institute of Health Sciences Education
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University

Educational Objectives:

1. Understand the link between evaluations and our professional identity​
2. Appreciate the elements that contribute to feedback being helpful or harmful ​
3. Identify strategies for reflecting on evaluation data to continue to improve as teachers and mentors

April 6

No rounds

March 30

Residents Case Presentation

1. An Unexpected Bite: Fever, Ferritin and Failing Muscles

Dean Noutsios, MD
PGY-3 Internal Medicine

Educational Objectives:

1. List and discuss uncommon etiologies of Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO).
2. Explore the interpretation of inflammatory markers and their clinical utility.
3. Discuss the differential diagnosis of myopathy.

2. Cannulating with Confusion: A Post-Operative Complication?

Jad Alkass, MD
PGY-3, Internal Medicine

Educational Objectives:

1. Discuss the approach to respiratory failure in the post-operative setting
2. Explore the differential diagnosis and management of acute RV failure

March 23

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: From Diagnosis to Advanced Therapies

Bruno Benzaquen, MD, FRCP
Division of cardiology JGH
Assistant Professor McGill University

Educational Objectives:

1. Describe HCM, its pathophysiology and genetic etiologies
2. Delineate the steps to make an initial diagnosis and institute medical therapies and clinical follow up
3. Describe Advanced therapies

March 16

To be announced

March 13

Schwartz Rounds

 Zoom link: March 13 at noon

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:

1. To review new evidence on pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis.
2. To be familiar with risk stratification of acute PE.
3. 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:  

1. Role of Immunotherapy in NSCLC
2. Role of targeted agents in NSCLC
3. 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:

1. Describe the epidemiology and distinctive clinical features of early-onset colorectal cancer.
2. Recognize when to pursue tumour and germline genetic testing in patients with early-onset colorectal cancer.
3. 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:

1. To understand how large-scale genomics can help to improve common disease care.
2. To understand how proteomics can help us identify patients at risk of disease.
3. 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:

1. Review drug allergy diagnostic testing.
2. 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:

1. Review current standards of care and emerging evidence in the management of major gastrointestinal cancers.
2. Discuss practical approaches to integrating novel therapies and molecular profiling into routine clinical practice.
3. 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:

1. Debunk current myths about sunscreens and photoprotection
2. Practice safe sun and identify potential photosensitive compounds
3. 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:

1. Recognize the clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria of Sneddon’s syndrome
2. Differentiate Sneddon’s syndrome from other vasculopathies
3. Outline current management strategies, including anticoagulation

II. Road Closure: A Case of Unexpected Circulation

Hajare Iraqi, MD
Internal Medicine Resident (PGY3)

Educational Objectives:

1. Recognize potential structural causes in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism.
2. Incorporate vascular etiologies into the differential diagnosis of unexplained symptoms, including back pain.
3. 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:

1. To examine contemporary trends in maternal morbidity and complexity and the resulting need for specialized Obstetric Medicine care.
2. To highlight the evolution and impact of Obstetric Medicine services at the Jewish General Hospital.
3. 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:

1. Summarize the prevalence of child abuse, as well as its medical, psychological and neurobiological impacts.
2. Explore clinical trauma presentations, as well as pitfalls in care provision with traumatized patients.
3. 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:

1. Review the basic organization of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
2. Understand its effect on target organs and the localizing value of autonomic abnormalities.
3. Identify core manifestations of autonomic "dysfunction".
4. 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:

1. Describe current AI/ML methods as they pertain to histopathology, including level of supervision, training and data requirements, pros & cons.
2. Apply AI/ML methods to specific application use cases in pathology practice and precision medicine, with specific examples from the latest published literature.
3. Recognize future trends in pathology AI/ML including the development and potential use of large language models (LLMs) and visual language models.
4. 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: 

1. Review the disease burden of CMV in different populations
2. Convey insights into the mechanisms of transmission and immune control
3. 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, MD
Professor of Medicine, McGill University

Educational Objectives:

1. To understand how large-scale genomics can help to improve common disease care
2. To understand how proteomics can help us identify patients at risk of disease
3. To 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:

1. Review the spectrum of cardiovascular toxicities associated with contemporary cancer therapies, including anthracyclines, HER2-targeted agents, and immune checkpoint inhibitors
2. Discuss current strategies for early detection and risk stratification using multimodality imaging and biomarkers
3. 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:

1. Recognize the current indications and limitations of CAR T-cell therapy
2. 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:

1. Refresh the common trajectories of our dying patients that all clinicians can predict
2. Describe the narrative and quantitative approaches to prognostication proven to help patients and families MOST
3. 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:

1. Provide a sense of community
2. Give voice to healthcare professionals
3. 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:

1. To review the existing challenges for the provision of care to older people
2. To review how different options offered by the existing technology can cope with those changes, with pros, cons and possible solutions
3. 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:

1. Understand current clinical guidelines for tobacco dependence treatment, including vaping cessation
2. Evaluate treatment options in complex cases
3. 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:

1. Describe the purpose of the “Real Talk in Med Ed” series
2. Summarize key aspects of teaching and learning experiences in the clinical setting
3. Describe role modeling and its uses in clinical teaching

September 8

No Rounds

September 1

Labor Day - No Rounds