Congratulations to the 2021 recipients of
The Myeloma Canada
Marion State Memorial Nursing Award:
Nathalie Lachapelle, Marie-Pier Lecours-Cyr, Myriam Hébert, Anne-Marie Châtelain
and Édith Cartier
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As you may or may not already know, May 10th – 16th is National Nursing Week. It’s an important opportunity to celebrate and pay tribute to all nurses in Canada, and around the world, for their incredible work. Now more than ever, we wish to express our admiration and gratitude for all they do. Their dedication, compassion and unwavering strength give all of us, wherever we are in the world, the support we need to get through these difficult times.
On May 12th, as we remember Florence Nightingale's birthday, it’s also a tradition for us at Myeloma Canada to introduce the recipient of the Myeloma Canada Marion State Memorial Nursing Award. This prestigious award recognizes Canadian nurses who demonstrate excellence in nursing through their leadership, teamwork, passion, and commitment to advancing care for myeloma patients.
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It’s our great pleasure to present the 2021 Myeloma Canada Marion State Memorial Nursing Award to the Multiple Myeloma Clinical Research Team at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont: |
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Over the years, the Clinical Research Team at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont in Quebec has built a unique reputation for itself, thanks to its many innovative research projects. The five nurses within the Clinical Research Team that we’re honouring today stand out for excelling in their practice, on both, clinical and relationship levels. Improving the quality of life and survival of myeloma patients is at the core of everything they do. Each one of our honourees has their own way of contributing to not only improving patient care, but to fostering a multidisciplinary approach and sharing knowledge that’s necessary for patient progress and the advancement of research.
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With the creation of the Université de Montréal Myeloma Canada Chair in Multiple Myeloma at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont in 2012, the Clinical Research Team and Myeloma Canada have developed a very special relationship. Through the years, the Clinical Research Team has been involved in many educational initiatives for Myeloma Canada as well as our Quebec support groups.
Through their participation at various events such as webinars, InfoSessions, and support group meetings, the Team has actively worked to inform, educate and equip myeloma patients and their loved ones with the resources they need.
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The Myeloma Canada Chair in Multiple Myeloma Research at the Université de Montréal was launched in the presence of (from left to right): Kevin Leshuk, Dr Manon Boily,
Dr Richard LeBlanc, John Lemieux (Co-founder of Myeloma Canada), Dr Guy Breton and Dr Hélène Boisjoly.
Missing: Aldo Del Col (Co-founder of Myeloma Canada)
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The extent of the Team's collaboration goes well beyond educational activities. The Clinical Research Team has not only participated in Myeloma Canada’s fundraising activities and at community events, but they’ve also increased their involvement by answering many questions asked by our patients and their loved ones on social media. |
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The reality of the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe effect on healthcare systems throughout the world. In Canada, Quebec ranks amongst the provinces that were more severely hit and whose healthcare system has, as such, been significantly impacted. The Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont is in an area considered to be one of Montreal’s "hot spots" due to the large amount of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
Even within this context, the Multiple Myeloma Clinical Research Team at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont continued with their research work that is essential for the survival of many patients with myeloma. Given the significant drop in clinical research activities, the Team has felt a direct impact on each of their ongoing clinical trials.
The extenuating circumstances brought on by the pandemic have led to complications
and situations that go against the very nature of their research efforts, such as the postponement or modification of clinical trials and even the premature ending of some.
As such, Nathalie Lachapelle, Marie-Pier Lecours-Cyr, Myriam Hébert, Anne-Marie Châtelain and Édith Cartier have all faced great human and logistical challenges.
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The five women we honour today have shown remarkable leadership in how they’ve adjusted their practices in the face of so many changes; they have had to re-organize their work, adapt new approaches for new realities, conduct follow-ups outside of the norm, regularly modify treatment plans and still make sure that patients and their families are - and feel - supported.
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In spite of the turbulence of the pandemic, these women’s passion and commitment to advancing care for myeloma patients or for getting involved in educational activities for our community have never waived. If anything, their ability to work as a team has allowed them to excel and find solutions so that patients receive the care and information they need.
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Nathalie Lachapelle, Marie-Pier Lecours-Cyr, Myriam Hébert, Anne-Marie Châtelain and Edith Cartier, we are proud to present the 2021 Myeloma Canada Marion State Memorial Nursing Award to you in recognition of the amazing work you have done, and continue to do, as part of the Clinical Research Team at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont.
Your contribution is priceless and your involvement with patients, in research and with Myeloma Canada is essential to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients.
Congratulations to the entire Team! Thank you for helping us make myeloma matter.
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The Myeloma Canada Marion State Memorial Nursing Award |
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The Myeloma Canada Marion State Memorial Nursing Award was created in 2012 in honour of Marion State and her extraordinary contributions to the Canadian myeloma community. Marion, a nurse, was diagnosed with myeloma in 1996. Two years later, she founded the Toronto & District Multiple Myeloma Support Group, the first myeloma patient group in Canada – providing invaluable support to myeloma patients across the country.
In addition to being a passionate advocate, Marion also helped establish several support groups cross Canada, laying the foundation for today’s Myeloma Canada Support Group Network which we’re proud to say has grown to 44 groups across the country.
Click here for more about the award.
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In these difficult times, you, our community, remain our number one priority.
Now more than ever, we appreciate your support. Your donation enables us to continue providing you with the best information, resources, programs and services - across as many technology platforms as possible - to stay empowered, informed and connected, while funding research to help find a cure for this disease.
Thank you for your generosity and for helping us help you.
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