Media Opportunity: The Canadian Stroke Congress – Experts converge in Calgary to shape the future direction of stroke, from September 9 to 11, 2017
Press Release
Sep 07, 2017
Experts converge in Calgary to shape the future direction of stroke, from September 9 to 11, 2017
What: Hundreds of stroke experts from Canada and around the world converge in Calgary to brainstorm strategies to eradicate the impact of stroke, showcase the latest research breakthroughs − and hear more than 100 speakers highlight innovations in basic science, prevention, treatment and recovery. Congress delegates return home to their labs and stroke practices armed with new tools and knowledge that will help prevent stroke, reduce disability and save lives.
Why: Stroke is a medical emergency. It is the third leading cause of death in Canada and a leading cause of disability. Stroke can happen at any age.
Where: Calgary Telus Convention Centre, 120 Ninth Avenue SE (Media Room: TELUS 101)
When: Interviews available now through Sept. 11, including onsite in Calgary from Sept. 8 to 11
Interview opportunities
- Leading stroke experts: Available to talk about the impact of stroke, why it matters to all Canadians, and give highlights of the research discoveries and revolutionary ideas being presented at the 2017 Congress.
- Congress researchers and presenters: The presenters featured below are available to talk about their Congress presentations and their impactful work in the area of stroke.
- Stroke survivors: Available to share their stroke and recovery stories.
- Calgary media: Stroke experts will be available in Calgary for on-site or in-studio interviews from Sept. 8 to 11.
Conference highlights
Hot Topic in Stroke: Indigenous Health
It’s a stark reality: Indigenous people in Canada have a higher likelihood of developing stroke, yet face massive barriers. Social and economic determinants such as poverty, education and food security impact health and create real barriers to good health. Health systems are failing them. Access to the treatment and recovery is a major issue in many Indigenous communities. This has to change.
- Personal perspectives and reflections on Indigenous health in Canada: Former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and stroke survivor Senator Murray Sinclair opens the Congress by sharing his own experience with stroke and gives his personal perspectives on why health reconciliation is necessary. (Honourable Senator Murray Sinclair)
- Working together to address the Indigenous health gap: A call-to-action. Heart & Stroke national director of Indigenous health calls on health leaders to work together with Indigenous communities to help close the gap in Indigenous health. (Wendelyn Johnson, Six Nations ON)
Canada’s first stroke ambulance is on the road!
The University of Alberta Hospital’s stroke ambulance is making a stop at Congress! Media are invited to visit the ambulance and hear about it from experts on Saturday Sept. 9 and Sunday Sept. 10 in the Exhibit Hall. The first of its kind in the world to focus on rural stroke care, the stroke ambulance is dispatched when a rural site contacts a stroke neurologist for a telestroke consult within 250 km of Edmonton. Staffed by a highly trained team including a paramedic, registered nurse, CT technician and stroke physician, this mobile stroke centre can be sent directly to a patient’s location, allowing for on-board brain scans, direct audio and video connections to the hospital’s stroke neurologist, and the ability to administer clot-busting drugs. Its use is being tested in ACHIEVE, a two-year $ 3.3 million clinical research project funded by the University of Alberta Hospital Foundation, looking at impact on patients’ treatment and recovery ‒ and resulting savings to the healthcare system and the community. (Thomas Jeerakathil and Shy Amlani, Edmonton)
Key moments in advancing acute stroke care for all Canadians
The Hnatyshyn Lecture honours a top stroke researcher for significant contributions to stroke over their career. This year’s lecturer looks at milestones in stroke prevention and treatment over the last 30 years, with a special look at how telestroke increases access to stroke care for people outside of large urban areas. With Canada’s vast geography, we could reap incredible benefits by moving this model into other parts of stroke care and recovery. (Frank Silver, Toronto)
Hot Topic in Stroke: Rehabilitation
More than 400,000 Canadians live with long-term disability from stroke and this number will almost double in the next 20 years. At least 60% of stroke survivors require some rehabilitation. Recovery can take months or years, even for milder strokes − and many never fully recover. Continued advances in rehabilitation and recovery can mean real hope for a better future for thousands of Canadians.
- Computers, Robots and Drugs – Up and coming advances in stroke rehabilitation: Can drugs improve recovery after stroke? Where does technology meet stroke rehabilitation? This year’s plenary on stroke rehabilitation brings together some of Canada’s leading experts to look at the latest and greatest advances – including the use of robots, brain stimulation and other techniques to enhance stroke recovery. (Sean Dukelow, Calgary; Wes Oczkowski, Hamilton; moderated by Michelle Ploughman, St. John’s)
- You and your frontal lobes: The frontal lobes are important to stroke outcomes. Their functions ‒ planning, verifying, and even self-awareness and reflection ‒ are considered to be the highest level of human abilities, important for controlling and interacting with other brain regions. Because the frontal lobes are richly inter-connected with virtually all brain regions, dysfunction anywhere in the brain can affect these abilities. Because these are flexible abilities, the efficient functioning of the frontal lobes is impacted by many of what are often considered as non-brain problems, such as pain, sleep deprivation, dual-tasking, depression and stress. Knowing where exactly the stroke damage occurred in the frontal lobes, or in inter-connected networks, means instructions given during rehabilitation can be tailored to each specific patient. (Donald Stuss, Toronto)
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