Le Bal Rouge 2023 will honour the work of the Montreal Chest Institute (MCI) and Dr. Kevin Schwartzman.
Dr. Kevin Schwartzman is the Director of the Division of Respiratory Medicine and a Senior Scientist in the Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). He is a pioneer in the prevention and care of tuberculosis, a serious infectious disease that threatens millions of lives every year.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Schwartzman redeployed health care staff at the MCI and the MUHC to treat more patients suffering from COVID-19. Under his leadership, the MUHC’s staff courageously stepped out of their comfort zone and converted part of the Centre for Innovative Medicine at the Glen, a space normally reserved for research, into C4—the MUHC’s first COVID unit.
In a matter of weeks, C4 grew its capacity to house COVID-19 patients in over 100 beds across the MUHC, and increased the capacity of the COVID ICU to house more patients. Due to Dr. Schwartzman’s tireless efforts, the MUHC was able to respond quickly and meet this dire threat head-on. Many patients’ lives were saved as a result.
In the fight against tuberculosis, Dr. Schwartzman is responsible for assessing the impact and cost-effectiveness of public health programs dedicated to combatting and preventing tuberculosis. In recognition of his work, he was made a fellow of the prestigious Canadian Academy of Health Science (CAHS) in 2019.
For people living with respiratory diseases, each breath is a struggle. Outdoor air pollution causes millions of premature deaths each year. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) takes 3 million lives annually, and an estimated 235 million people live with asthma. We will not stand by while respiratory diseases claim lives. The Montreal Chest Institute is on the forefront of breathtaking research and breath-giving care that will help our world breathe easier and live longer.
A powerhouse of respiratory care, the Montreal Chest Institute treats over 30,000 patients annually for respiratory diseases in its specialized clinics. This multidisciplinary unit is dedicated to advancing new treatments and to understanding how lung diseases form. With a dedicated emergency room for respiratory patients on site, the MCI is equipped to handle even the most complicated cases.
Innovation is at the heart of the MCI. Among their many accomplishments, clinician-scientists at the MCI have pioneered new strategies for treating asthma and lung infections, and developed innovative home management strategies for COPD. The MCI also has some of the best outcomes in the world for cystic fibrosis patients and literally wrote the book—one of the top textbooks—on clinical respiratory medicine.
The MCI’s dedication to patient care is unmatched. Your support through Le Bal Rouge will continue the MCI’s longstanding tradition of world-class research and care.
MI4 and Dr. Sheppard have been prominent in the media since the COVID-19 pandemic began, providing accurate and up-to-date information to the public.
.png)