Page 43 - Bringing UHN into Focus - 2015-2016 Year in Review

CALpIr/N15ICMAayL/15OPJuTn/I1M5 IJZul/A15TIOAuNg/15 Sept/15 Oct/15 Nov/15 Dec/15 Jan/16 Feb/16 Mar/16

Brain surgery at Krembil Neuroscience
CentreCAlRiINfGeSAFcELhY anging for U of T student

Ben McVicker was studying Russian year throughout his childhood in Nova Scotia.
Tonic-clonic seizures are characterized by a loss of
TinPorAaoTrneItaEodNwinThgeErnoXohPmisEsaRetiIztEhuNereUCs nrEeivtuerrsnietydof consciousness and wild muscle contractions.
As Ben entered adolescence, medication helped slow
suddenly after a 10-year absence. the frequency then stop the seizures altogether. At one
“First, my muscles twitched, then my point, he thought he might be among the 50 per cent
of those with epilepsy as children who outgrow the
hmeyarletfrtaetearj,”umBepne,dTn,EoaAwndM3f1i,EnsaNalylGys IAoffGetlhtEeaM2sh0E0aNr8pTtorinnigc-inclgoninic condition as adults.
That first seizure in 10 years was an eye-opener. It
seizure. “I showed another student my MedicAlert resulted in a short hospital stay, an abrupt change
bracelet then I collapsed and hit my head on a table.” in lifestyle and an introduction to the Krembil
“It was surreal. Afterward, I kept asking myself, ‘Did Neuroscience Centre (KNC) at Toronto Western
Hospital.
this really happenIT?’”TRANSFORMATION
Link to full story: click here.
Ben was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 6 and
experienced tonic-clonic seizures about once a

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

MICHENER INTEGRATION Also Making News

Ben McVicker, pictured here outside the Kremlin in Moscow, was Five questions to ask about your
able to travel to Russia after having brain surgery to treat his medications
epilepsy at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre. The University of Dr. Mansoor Husain named
Toronto PhD student is studying veterans of the Soviet-Afghan War Executive Director to lead first-of-
and was previously unable to travel overseas due to the possibility its kind centre
of seizures. (Photo: Ben McVicker) Sweet results: maple syrup
research gets worldwide coverage
Year in Review 2015 – 2016
43