MEDIA RELEASE
June 23, 2008
(LONDON, Ont. June 23, 2008) – When Dr. Jeff Nisker invited staff members and students of London Health Sciences Centre to put into words what they had been carrying in their hearts, a unique collection of stories, poems and plays was woven together, deepening our understanding of others and of ourselves.
Published by Pottersfield Press in Halifax, From the Other Side of the Fence: Stories from Health Care Professionals is a compilation of the stories that resulted and is representative of experiences in all Canadian hospitals.
“Stories can be a portal for the public to see to the person inside both patients and health professionals, fostering an understanding of what patients and health professionals feel and face,” says Dr. Nisker, a physician at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), and one of CBC’s Peter Gzowski’s 13 ‘Best Minds of Our Time.’ (Short bio attached.)
Each of the 31 stories, poems, and plays in From the Other Side of the Fence: Stories from Health Care Professionals illuminates the relationship of the caring and cared for.
“In essence, stories by engaging emotionally as well as cognitively provide us with an appreciation and understanding of situations without directly experiencing them. And, better understanding of health care issues though stories may promote more compassionate decisions by health policy-makers,” says Dr. Nisker.
LHSC President and CEO Cliff Nordal says, “We are very proud of our staff, physicians and students. Their stories of caring reflected in this book speak to the compassion for and commitment to our patients and their families. Dr. Jeff Nisker’s passion for story telling, and his commitment to sharing and developing this in others, is a gift to staff, to patients and to families.”
To celebrate the book’s publication, LHSC is hosting a book launch featuring readings by some of the authors, as well as Dr. Nisker. We invite the media to the launch:
DATE:
Wed., June 25, 2008
TIME:
12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
PLACE:
Patio 2, 3rd Floor, LHSC University Hospital
Dr. Nisker is donating all royalties from book sales to the London Health Sciences Foundation.
- 30 -
About London Health Sciences Centre
London Health Sciences Centre has been in the forefront of medicine in Canada for over 130 years and offers the broadest range of specialized clinical services in Ontario. Building on the traditions of its founding hospitals to provide compassionate care in an academic teaching setting, London Health Sciences Centre is home to Children’s Hospital, South Street Hospital, University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, two family medical centres, and Lawson Health Research Institute - a joint research initiative with St Joseph’s Health Care, London. As a leader in medical discovery and health research, London Health Sciences Centre has a history of over 30 international and national firsts and attracts top clinicians and researchers from around the world. As a regional referral centre, London Health Sciences Centre cares for the most medically complex patients including critically injured adults and children in Southwestern Ontario and beyond. The hospital’s 10,000 staff, physicians, students and volunteers provide care for more than one million patient visits a year. For more information visit www.lhsc.on.ca
For more information contact:
Bärbel Hatje
Corporate Communications and Public Relations
London Health Sciences Centre
519-685-8500, ext. 75947
Barbel.Hatje@lhsc.on.ca
After-hours assistance:
Call LHSC Switchboard at 519-685-8500 and ask to page the communication consultant on-call
