From the Editor’s Desk

Dr. Ramesh Prasad

Welcome to the Fall 2022/Winter 2023 edition of Transplant Digest. As the days become shorter and the nights longer, your mood might feel lower and you may be wondering how to cope with life. Remember that our transplant program is part of your extended family, and we are only a phone call away. We can try to help connect you with the appropriate resources. Be sure to take extra care with following medical advice during stressful periods, including taking your medications on time, getting your lab tests done, and seeking medical advice if you have any health-related concerns.

In this issue of Transplant Digest, we have exciting news about our new clinic space. We also have a COVID-19 update, advice about common early post-transplant concerns, how to be a kidney donor, BK virus, a transplant quiz, potassium binders, and dietary phosphorus. Our senior RN Maureen Connelly reports on two of our most senior transplant recipients, one who has had his kidney transplant for more than 50 years and another who had two transplants more than 30 years apart! As always, please feel free to seek clarification on anything written, and contribute yourself.

...continued from page 1 ical facility with an expansive, 7,200 square-feet of space in the new centre, meaning bigger exam rooms to accommodate patients in wheelchairs, beds and stretchers, a generous sized bright waiting room, and computer facilities for our patients. In addition to our transplant program, our multidisciplinary kidney care team will also be moving to this clinic. This new clinic is the result of years of planning and supported by the generosity of many donors through the St. Michael’s Hospital foundation. When the kidney transplant program was relocated to 61 queen St E 9th floor in 1988, our transplant program was following less than 300 prevalent patients. We were doing approximately 30 to 40 transplants per year. Currently we care for almost 2000 patients who have been transplanted and have over 400 new referrals per year. We are one of Canada’s largest kidney transplant programs, performing between 130-150 transplants annually. The transplant program at St. Michael’s is actively involved in education, clinical and basic scientific research. The transplant research team will be relocated to the second floor at 61 Queen Street east, but they will have a presence in the new space to meet with patients to enable discussion and ongoing management of transplant patients involved in clinical research studies.

Contact Information

Dr. Ramesh Prasad – Editor

Meriam Jayoma-Austria, RN, BScN, C.Neph.CNewsletter Coordinator

Please send your comments or suggestions of topics for future publication to: meriam.jayoma@unityhealth.to

St. Michael’s Hospital Kidney Transplant Program

(across the hospital)

61 Queen Street East, 9th Floor Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2T2

Phone: 416-865-3665

Disclaimer Note:

Views presented in this newsletter are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of St. Michael’s Hospital or the University of Toronto. Subject matter should not be construed as specific medical advice and may not be relevant. For all questions related to your health please contact your health care provider.