Latest Blogs

June 02, 2019

Zomba Urology Week 2019

Three years ago I first came to Zomba Malawi to begin to try and understand the impact that the lack of access to surgic

December 09, 2018

Embarking on a Global Surgery Initiative in Savanna La Mar Jamaica

I have written previously about my experiences in trying to understand the limitations associated with delivering surgic

May 22, 2017

Building a Urology Program in Zomba, Malawi.

I have previously described visiting Zomba Malawi in June 2016.   As a member of the board of Dignitas Interna

February 12, 2017

Visiting Kambuga Hospital in Western Uganda

Last week I visited an emerging surgical program at Baraka Hospital in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya. I described a fu

February 04, 2017

Baraka Hospital: Visiting a Nascent Surgical Program in the Massai Mara of Kenya

In 2015 the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery was convened with the goal of trying to achieve a comprehensive and thor

July 25, 2016

Weighing the merits of the Proposed 2016 Ontario Physician Services Agreement

A lot has been made about the acrimonious relationship between Ontario physicians, their negotiating arm, the Ontario Me

June 30, 2016

Ngwelero. A visit to Primary Care in Malawi

Wednesday I visited  Ngwelero, Malawi a very rural clinic run by Dignitas in a remote part of Zomba district. Over

June 29, 2016

Urology in Zomba, Malawi. reflecting on Surgical care in a Resource-limited country

                  This is a repost of a piece I wrote for British Journal

June 26, 2016

The Teen Club. Taking care of HIV +ve Adolescents

On Saturday I took a trip to the further reaches of the district to visit Thuchila a Dignitas’ Teen Club. It is on

June 25, 2016

Understanding Surgical Training Standards in Africa. Meet Dr Eric Borgstein

I took a trip to Blantyre, Malawi’s second largest city, on Friday. My aim was to meet Dr Eric Borgstein a very im

June 22, 2016

A Visit to the Tisungane Clinic

Today I spent the morning at Dignitas’ flagship Tisungane Clinic. It is from here that many of Dignitas' accomplis

June 21, 2016

A Half Cancelled surgical list leads to a Patient Safety Initiative

  I started the day at 730 on ward rounds. Generally these serve as a sort of triage and recount which patients ca

June 20, 2016

Day 1 at Dignitas...and an unfamiliar surgery clinic

Monday June 20/16 I looked at this picture that I took shortly after I arrived yesterday.  From the sky one realiz

June 19, 2016

Greetings From Malawi "The Warm Heart of Africa"

Nearly twenty four hours after getting on a plane in Toronto I am settling down in Zomba, Malawi in the southeastern par

April 07, 2016

Grand Slam 2016 in Support of Michael Garron Hospital is Around the Corner

For those that know me or have visited my office it is not a surprise that the arrival of April is most welcome. It is b

March 31, 2016

Sorting through a Urological Issue at Spring Training

At this time of the year most of us who enjoy baseball look daily to the storylines as they develop in Florida or Arizon

December 13, 2015

Drawing us together in a connected world

 The advent of various forms of social media in this rapidly changing world of technology has always fascinated me.

December 02, 2015

Introducing the Michael Garron Hospital

I cannot begin to tell you what great pleasure it gives me to write today on behalf of the physician staff as well as a

November 01, 2015

Movember 2015 has arrived

Today is November 1. In Canada, despite an usually warm fall and the sweet distraction of the Toronto Blue Jays playoff

October 25, 2015

Government must engage with physicians to ensure the future of Ontario Healthcare

When the current impasse between the OMA and Ontario Ministry of Health started in January I wrote an early respons

September 24, 2015

Some reflections on the approaching the U of T Medicine 25th year class reunion

This coming Saturday my University of Toronto medical school graduating class will celebrate its 25th reunion. It seems

July 16, 2015

On the Importance of Dignitas International

I am hosting an event at my house Thursday to shine a light on Dignitas International.  I joined the board of this

May 03, 2015

Grand Slam in Support of TEGH coming soon

As the weather warms up after a particularly long winter the privilege of being able to live in Canada always comes back

March 06, 2015

"My GP Just Doesn't Believe in PSA"

“My GP just doesn’t believe in PSA”, a new patient told me today. He was referred to me with an elevat

January 18, 2015

Ontario's Healthcare Debate faces a Critical Crossroad

News came on Thursday that the comprehensive negotiations between the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care

November 25, 2014

This Give a Day: Understanding 90-90-90, The three-pronged goal of UNAids to combat HIV

We know how far a day’s pay can go for ourselves – imagine the difference it can make for a person living wi

November 10, 2014

A night with our ex PM Paul Martin. Physicians need to lead the way in reshaping Canadian Healthcare

I was recently asked to attend a fundraiser by my colleague and friend Dr.Jane Philpott. For those who don't know, she i

November 09, 2014

Movember and Prostate Cancer Surgery at Toronto East General Hospital

We once again find ourselves in the middle of another Movember campaign. What started out over a few beer in Australia i

October 29, 2014

A Response to the Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Recommendations on PSA Testing

Monday, the Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care (CTFPHC) issued a statement on the use of the PSA test

October 05, 2014

A perfect trip to Thunder Bay during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

September is prostate cancer awareness month.  It is the month in which many advocacy groups including Prostate Can

September 17, 2014

A Father's Letter of Gratitude to His Son: The Jake Eliopoulos Story and TEGH

Last month I wrote about an upcoming event that combined two of my great passions, baseball and Toronto East Genera

August 03, 2014

Reflections on baseball in support of a great institution

With a three games to two lead in the 1993 World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays headed into the bottom of the ninth innin

July 26, 2014

The relationship between Vasectomy and Prostate Cancer: An old idea Revisited

Last week, I realized that patients coming to my office seeking vasectomies required an additional piece in their counse

May 16, 2014

The Role of Urologists in Patient Advocacy

Entering my 19th year of practice I have looked after many patients and am constantly amazed and humbled by the courage

May 12, 2014

Complacency is Biggest Threat to Canadian Health Care System

Canadians enjoy a health care system that at some levels is the envy of the world.    No one has to worry abou

June 10, 2013

Early Prostate Cancer Detection

There is much controversy about prostate cancer with respect to an optimal strategy for detection.  With the advent