The Dalglish Family Hearts & Minds Clinic for 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

We have launched our new website and will be adding even more content soon. Please check back!

22q11.2DS families across Ontario spent two wonderful days together this past Victoria Day weekend. On Saturday May 17^th, they participated in a Family Conference organized by fellow families with the support from the Hospital for Sick Children. On Sunday May 18^th, they gathered at the Toronto Zoo for the 22q at the Zoo World Wide Awareness Day event. We will be posting photos soon. Stay tuned.

The Practical Guidelines for Managing Patients with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome have been published in 2011 to help physicians take care of individuals with 22q11.2 deletions. Now, the Madrid 22q Association provides a Spanish translation of both the text and the tables for this article.

Dr. Erwin Oechslin is the director of the adult congenital heart disease program at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and one of the cardiologists at the Dalglish Clinic. He had an interview with the Toronto Star about the importance of consistent check-ups for individuals born with heart defects. The article, "Adult survivors of childhood heart defects returning to hospital", was published on June 10, 2014.

Congratulations to our Clinic Director, Dr. Anne Bassett, who received the Angelo DiGeorge Memorial Medal in June 2014 during The Ninth Biennial International 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Meeting in Mallorca, Spain. Information about the medal is available in the Our Awards section of this website.

We have recently published two new pamphlets and updated another through the Patient Education Department at the University Health Network. You can find the new pamphlets, "Could Congenital Heart Defects be Related to a Genetic Condition?" and "Could Schizophrenia be Related to a Genetic Condition?", as well as the updated clinic pamphlet on our pamphlets page.

Our Peer Support Groups will be meeting again on Thursday November 20^th. Please check our events page for further information. The registration deadline is Monday November 17^th. Hope to see you there!

Seven young adults from the 22q Clinic at the Hospital of Sick Children (HCS) "graduated" from pediatric care on Tuesday, October 14^th and entered the adult care system.

The 22q11.2DS Transition Program started at HCS in the morning. The graduating young adults and their parents enjoyed several interactive activities throughout the morning. They also had a chance to touch base with their HCS physicians. There was a pizza lunch for all, and the young adults received graduation certificates.

After lunch, everyone walked over to Toronto General Hospital to meet the staff and view the facility at The Dalglish Family Hearts and Minds Clinic. Some also took the opportunity to book appointments. We enjoyed meeting these young adults, and we look forward to working with them and their families in the future to optimize their health and well-being.

Please visit the facebook page of the 22q Awareness Month movement. The group was originally set up to raise awareness of genetic syndromes related to 22q11.2 for 22 days but is here to stay. You can find stories of individuals who are living with the syndrome as well as helpful information.

You can also support the cause by collecting the 22q Awareness Days picbadge.

The Dalglish Clinic Facebook officially launches today! The link is https://www.facebook.com/22qDalglishFamilyHeartsandMinds. Please visit us. You’ll find information on our first Q&A session on it.