Clinicians bring holiday cheer to LHSC with annual ‘Clinic Notes’ concert

Doctors and nurses performed a holiday concert at LHSC for cancer patients and their families. CTV’s Reta Ismail reports.

What began as a shared love of music has become a holiday tradition at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).

A seasonal concert known as Clinic Notes filled the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre with festive sound on Thursday, warming hearts of patients, families and staff.

The performance is staged by a group of musically inclined clinicians, including Dr. Scott Ernst, a medical oncologist at LHSC.

“We love to be able to share this, very positive music at this time of year, both for our patients and their families, but also for the other staff who work so hard all year,” said Ernst.

The group, made up of doctors and medical experts who have been performing the concert for 12 years, includes Dr. Kylea Potvin, Dr. Muriel Brackstone, Dr. Maria Parent, Dr. David DeVries, Dr. David D’Souza, Dr. Vivian Tan and Dr. Michael Sanatani.

DeVries, a medical physicist, said music has always been central to his holiday season.

“It’s been always a part of the holidays for me, playing music with my family. And especially getting to play here at the cancer centre, it’s great to just see all the staff and patients get to just appreciate a little bit of Christmas joy brought in,” he said.

Monday’s performance began at noon and welcomed patients, families and hospital staff.

For cancer survivor John Medema, one of the performers made a lasting impression early in his treatment journey.

“Back in 2013, when I was diagnosed, my wife researched a doctor that was going to get a chemo and radiation oncologist and Dr. Sanatani’s bio picture was about him playing cello,” said Medema. “So when I first met him, was awesome. Where is your cello? And he said… What do you mean? I said, I’m waiting to be serenaded.”

And this year, Medema finally was, as Dr. Sanatani brought out the cello and played.