As one of the top hospitals in Quebec, the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) excels at pushing the boundaries of medicine and offering exceptional patient care. None of it would be possible without donations to the JGH Foundation, which are needed to supplement public funding. Donors give the Hospital the agility to approach modern challenges from new perspectives by supporting the Foundation’s ongoing Tomorrows Are Made Here $400M philanthropic campaign. The Montrealer recently spoke with Dr. Roberta Shear, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the JGH, about how donors are supporting the work of her team.

Ultrasound images used to be grainy, blurry and black-and-white, but today’s ultrasound machines produce detailed 3-D images that are invaluable for many vital medical purposes, particularly in obstetrics. They go far beyond telling parents if it’s a boy or a girl.

“Ultrasound images are critical to being able to make important prenatal diagnoses so doctors and parents can make the best decisions for their unborn child,” said Dr. Roberta Shear, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Jewish General Hospital.

Generous donations to the JGH Foundation made possible the acquisition of a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine that is crucial to Dr. Shear and her team of 18 obstetricians. The equipment is in the process of being installed in the new Jane & Alen Brandman, Jacques Bohbot Ultrasound Suite in the hospital’s Pavilion H.

“Having the best machine to provide the best images is crucial to making important decisions and we couldn’t do our work without it.” – Dr. Roberta Shear

At the JGH,14,775 obstetrical ultrasounds were completed over a one-year period in 2023-2024. This machine will help support the 40 to 50 scans done each day, including many complex ultrasound referrals that come in from other centres due to pregnancy complications. It can detect many different problems, including issues with the brain, heart, kidneys or other organs.

“Having the best machine to provide the best images is crucial to making important decisions and we couldn’t do our work without it,” said Dr. Shear. “We are very grateful to the donors who have made this latest state-of-the-art machine possible.”

“Our job in high-risk obstetrics is to prolong pregnancy to give the neonatologists the best possible chance of being able to provide successful care for the baby once it is born, while also caring for the health of the mother.”

The quality of modern ultrasound images is remarkable, Dr. Shear added, noting that the technology is constantly progressing. “These machines measure the direction and speed of blood flow in the placenta and different fetal organs, providing our medical teams with important information, such as assisting us in identifying exactly where or what a problem might be. Ultrasounds also produce 3D images, which are very helpful to show us the fetus’ heart and spine so we can make earlier and better diagnoses.”

High-risk patients come from across Quebec

The JGH is the busiest obstetrical centre in Montreal and it receives patients from across the province. It is one of six tertiary care hospitals in Quebec that accept and deliver extremely preterm cases under 27 weeks gestation. “Our job in high-risk obstetrics is to prolong pregnancy to give the neonatologists the best possible chance of being able to provide successful care for the baby once it is born, while also caring for the health of the mother,” Dr. Shear said. Her team is responsible for the hospital’s unit for high-risk pregnancies where some women must stay for many weeks. The team also helps many others in its specialized clinics.

As Dr. Shear and her team look to improve the patient experience, they have their eye on the JGH’s donor-supported Hospital@Home service, which allows patients to remain at home while being continuously monitored and cared for by hospital staff. “It’s the future of where medicine is heading,” Dr. Shear said. One project that is under development is expanding the home care provided to patients with gestational diabetes to reduce the times they must come into the hospital for monitoring and tests.

Dr. Shear’s team is not exclusively focused on pregnancy and childbirth or physical issues. A doctor joined the team in August to expand services in menopausal care, and new projects are being developed focused on women’s mental health, particularly in the perinatal and postpartum periods, when these issues can be serious for many. One such program, The Fourth Trimester, is already up and running and was made possible thanks to seed funding from the JGH Foundation. It was developed by Dr. Judy Hagshi as part of a multidisciplinary program to support parents in adapting to the various challenges of a new baby.

With all this activity and support shown by donors to the JGH Foundation, Dr. Shear is optimistic as she nears the completion of her first year in her current role. “I enjoy leading our team and looking to the future,” she said.

To make a donation to the Jewish General Hospital Foundation, please go to jghfoundation.org