Dr. Paul Oh named GoodLife Fitness Chair in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation
and Prevention
TORONTO, October 31, 2014 – The teams at GoodLife Fitness and the Peter
Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC) have been hard at work for the last two years
building a solid foundation for their unique, first-of-its-kind public/private
collaboration to advance cardiac care and preventative programs.
Today, they are thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Paul Oh as the
inaugural GoodLife Chair in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention.
Currently Medical Director of the University Health Network (UHN)
Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program, Dr. Oh will lead a
comprehensive research program that will include investigating best practices in
cardiac rehabilitation and analyzing cardiovascular databases to better
understand long-term patient outcomes.
The collaboration brings together two leading Canadian health and wellness
organizations to further enhance the world-class care cardiac rehabilitation
patients receive at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, as well as develop an
innovative approach to the continuum of care for patients with cardiac
disease.
GoodLife Fitness has committed $5 million to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
with the goal of transforming the lives of Canadians affected by heart disease
and helping prevent this reality for many.
The collaboration supports the following resources:
- GoodLife Fitness Centre of
Excellence in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine, which is internationally
recognized for excellence in heart health and exercise and drives care and
research in post-acute cardiovascular health and secondary prevention.
- GoodLife Fitness Chair in
Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention.
- An innovative club-based program
developed by Peter Munk Cardiac Centre cardiac rehabilitation experts along with
GoodLife fitness experts, that will help patients transition into the community
and achieve life-long success in their cardiac rehabilitation and health.
Media Alert
What:
An event to recognize GoodLife Fitness for its role in establishing the
GoodLife Fitness Centre of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine at PMCC. The
event will mark the official announcement of the inaugural GoodLife Chair in
Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention.
When:
Monday, November 3, 2014; 6p.m. – 8p.m.; 6:30p.m. Remarks
Where:
DeGasperis Conservatory, Toronto General Hospital
Who:
David Patchell-Evans; Dr. Barry Rubin, Chair and Program Medical Director,
Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, UHN; Dr. Paul Oh, GoodLife Chair in Cardiovascular
Rehabilitation and Prevention; Mr. Jim Leech, C.M., Chair, Board of Directors,
Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation.
**Interview footage with Dr. Paul Oh is available for media use at: http://youtu.be/tPX3ys2-P3U
Quotes from special guests:
David Patchell-Evans, Founder & CEO, GoodLife Fitness
"At GoodLife, we are excited to see our collaboration with UHN and the
Peter Munk Cardiac Centre grow and evolve," said Founder & CEO, David
Patchell-Evans. "As a leader in the health and fitness industry in Canada and
global advocate for exercise as an important contributor to overall health, we
understand the significant benefit that innovative collaborations like ours will
have on the quality of life and health outcomes of all Canadians. We are pleased
to welcome Dr. Paul Oh to the GoodLife family, as the GoodLife Chair in
Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention. We are confident that with his
leadership and expertise the work done through the GoodLife Fitness Centre of
Excellence in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine and the research that his
team will undertake will make an incredible impact felt around the world by
heart patients and their families.”
“I am very proud to have one of the great leaders and role models at
GoodLife join us here today. Heather Evans has been a General Manager with us in
Calgary for a number of years. She, along with her seven siblings have all
experienced heart disease. Unfortunately, two of her siblings have passed away
and another just received a quadruple bypass. Heather has made a significant
impact on me and is a passionate advocate for the many benefits of
exercise.”
Heather Evans, General Manager, GoodLife Fitness
“Exercise saves lives,” said Heather Evans, GoodLife Fitness General
Manager. “It is exercise that is truly keeping me alive and well and strong. The
only time that I have issues is when I don’t exercise. I believe that GoodLife
and our teams are just like paramedics and doctors – they save lives. I will
fight heart disease every day by going to GoodLife and staying active.”
Dr. Paul Oh, GoodLife Chair in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and
Prevention
“I am most looking forward to taking on this exciting new role as Chair,
supporting our unique and important collaboration with GoodLife, while
continuing to build on the significant efforts to foster an environment where
rehabilitation is the natural next step for all cardiac patients in recovery,”
said Dr. Paul Oh, Medical Director, Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation
Program, UHN. “Statistics show only one third of heart patients who are
recommended for cardiac rehab following a serious heart event and subsequent
hospital stay actually take part in this critical form of therapy. Given the
host of well-documented, life-prolonging benefits of cardiac rehab, coupled with
the climbing rates of heart disease in Canada and worldwide, we need to
dramatically increase those numbers through greater awareness and better access
to a wider network of support including cardiac rehab-trained fitness
professionals in the community---which we are now able to provide through this
Centre of Excellence.”
Dr. Barry Rubin, Chair and Program Medical Director, Peter Munk Cardiac
Centre, UHN
“We conducted a broad and extensive search over many months for the best
candidate with the precise blend of proven medical expertise, extraordinary
vision and superior leadership skills necessary to head this uniquely-structured
Centre of Excellence. Dr. Oh is far and away the ideal choice for GoodLife
Chair,” says Dr. Barry Rubin, Medical Director, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. “His
appointment furthers a long and globally-recognized history of excellence in
care at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, which serves as the last stop for heart
patients before their journey moves to a recovery and rehabilitation phase. A
smooth and fluid transition from hospital bed to exercise environment with key
support structures in place is pivotal to a patients’ success in maximizing and
maintaining their heart health on their own, into the future.”
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About GoodLife Fitness
Proudly Canadian since 1979, GoodLife Fitness is the largest fitness
company in Canada. GoodLife is the largest privately owned fitness club chain by
a sole owner and the fourth largest overall in the world. With over 320 clubs
from coast-to-coast, including 70 Énergie Cardio and EconoFitness Clubs in
Quebec, approximately 13,000 employees and more than 1 million Members, GoodLife
is helping to transform the health and wellness of 1 in 35 Canadians every day.
Motivated by GoodLife's purpose of giving every Canadian the opportunity to live
a fit and healthy good life, David Patchell-Evans, Founder & CEO, strives to
develop innovative partnerships and collaborations in all areas of health,
fitness and wellness and continues to play a significant role in the healthcare
system in Canada. GoodLife has achieved Platinum Status Canada's Best Managed
Companies, as well as Platinum Level Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate
Cultures. Fit4Less by GoodLife is GoodLife's low cost and high value fitness
club. It makes high quality fitness affordable and provides even more Canadians
the opportunity to achieve their health and fitness goals.
About the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre is the premier cardiac centre in Canada.
Since it opened in 1997, the Centre has saved and improved the lives of cardiac
and vascular patients from around the world. Each year, approximately 55,000
patients receive innovative and compassionate care from multidisciplinary teams
in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and the Centre trains more cardiologists,
cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons than any other hospital in Canada.
The Centre is based at the Toronto General Hospital and the Toronto Western
Hospital - members of University Health Network. www.petermunkcardiaccentre.ca
About Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation
Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation raises funds for
research, education and the enhancement of patient care at Toronto General
Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital as well as their respective research arms,
Toronto General Research Institute and Toronto Western Research Institute. www.tgwhf.ca
Media Contacts:
Krista Maling
GoodLife Fitness
519-661-0190, ext. 302
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