Helena Xu

University of Waterloo – First Year Student
Waterloo, Ontario
2732 Contributions
by Lindsay Hedden Michael Green Tara Kiran

Virtual care must be integrated into public system, not driven by profit

Virtual care is here to stay. But how it should be used and who should own the services are important to patients, OurCare survey shows.

by Mary Sco.

Diet vs. drugs – Comparing the effects of diet with leading pharmaceuticals

In 440 B.C., Hippocrates famously said “Let food be thy medicine.” More than 2,000 years later, the evidence to substantiate this statement has never been more robust.
by Ronald Worton

Context matters: Canada’s guidance on alcohol and health needs a rethink

The public should be given the right information to understand the risks associated with alcohol consumption. But Canada's new drinking guidelines leave something to be desired.

by Emma Arkell

‘A new way to move people’: Fewer back injuries for health-care workers, more comfort for patients

New improvements to lifts and transfer devices could reduce the risks of work-related injury in health care staff and improve quality of care.
by Thuy-Nga (Tia) Pham Tara Kiran

More than 6.5 million adults in Canada lack access to primary care

Results from the OurCare national survey estimate that more than one in five Canadian adults do not have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. It's time we invest in primary care.

by Bhargavi Duvvuri

The dark side of the genome: ‘An untapped gold mine’ for drug discovery

Identifying the function of non-coding RNAs of the "dark genome" could create untapped opportunities for precision medicine
by Sandor J. Demeter

Newfoundland and Labrador first province to impose a sugar tax to combat obesity and diabetes. Will it work?

Newfoundland and Labrador is the first Canadian province to join the international beverage sugar-tax club. This effort aims to combat the "growing and silent epidemic" of diabetes impacting more than 11.7 million Canadians.

by Maddi Dellplain

Model that predicts MS relapse highlights AI’s expanding role in health care

AI can be taught to do a lot. But can it help doctors make better clinical decisions? One MS clinic in Ontario is trialing an AI model that could help doctors determine how to treat their patients.

by Alika Lafontaine

There is no miracle cure to the health crisis – but here’s where to start  

Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Canadian Medical Association, reflects on the problems and solutions facing a health-care system in crisis.

by Laura Syron

Odds are there is a woman in your life living with diabetes – she deserves better research

As the world celebrates another International Women’s Day, we should reflect on what gender equality really means. Science and research needs to adequately address women's health needs.
by Mary Sco.

Food and mental health: Happy gut, happy mind

The food we eat every day is the subject of an ongoing conversation between the bacteria in our gut and our immune cells. This conversation dictates whether we are taking one step closer to health or one step closer to disease.
by Jan Hajek

As individuals, we can take steps to reduce the risk for the next pandemic

We don’t just have to be anxious or fearful about the next pandemic. We can push governments for systemic changes. But we can also take small, concrete steps as individuals to make a difference.
by Ted Lo

 ​​MAiD mental-health debate should be about ‘agency’, not ‘autonomy’

I do believe that the option of MAiD may be good for a very small number of patients. However, I believe the issue is not about “autonomy” but “agency.”
by Doug McGregor

Comparing health-care systems – a personal journey

During my professional career, my family and I lived in four different countries (including Canada). Each country has significant differences in the delivery of health care and how it is paid for. This is an essay about my experiences in each of those countries.

by Abitha Suthakaran

Transitioning to inclusivity: Why OB/GYNs need trans care training

Both women and trans men may require obstetrics services. But many working in health care don't know how to appropriately treat trans patients. It is time we listen to the trans community and mandate transgender care education.

by Caroline Ewen

To ease shortage, Ontario must expand pathways to licensure for internationally trained physicians

Amidst health-care system collapse, thousands of internationally trained physicians in Ontario face barriers to becoming licensed and applying their skills. But there is a way we could reduce skills underutilization and boost the supply of health professionals.

by David Heath

Surely, the time has come for psychiatric hospitalization at home. What’s holding us back?

Canadians are ill-served by their mental-health system. We must give them safe, effective options if we are to meet their needs appropriately.
by Dennis E. Curry

Psychiatry’s cognitive dissonance problem

Ottawa has decided to delay legislation that would expand MAiD to those with mental illness. But having a mental illness should not preclude one from decision-making related to suffering and end-of-life care.

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