Toronto Doctor

(PRWEB) February 27, 2000

For Immediate Release

Contacts:

Krista Smith

New Venture Communications

503-944-5507

kristas@newventurecom.com

Sonia Rai

First Insight

503-533-4555 x229

srai@first-insight.com

David Pietrobon

VAN Vision Alliance Network, Inc.

905-690-1435

van@optometry.net

First Insight to Acquire Toronto-Based Vision Alliance Network

Web-based service strengthens online optometry community, helps

practitioners reach new audiences

PORTLAND, Ore./TORONTO, Canada, February 24, 2000 – First Insight ® Corporation,

the leading provider of technology-based solutions for eye-care practitioners, today

announced that it will acquire the Toronto-based VAN Vision Alliance Network, Inc.,

(VAN) a provider of web-based services for optometric practices and associations.

The acquisition provides First Insight with access to VAN’ s Optometry.net, a web-based

service that allows eye-care practitioners to easily create and manage their own

professional web sites. VAN partners with the Canadian Association of Optometrists and

numerous Canadian provincial optometric associations, and is endorsed by the New

York State Optometric Association.

“Eye-care practitioners are looking for ways to promote their presence to new audiences and to build stronger relationships with existing patients,”said Nitin Rai, president and

CEO of First Insight. “Our customers have come to rely on our business-to-business

solutions, and now, with the addition of VAN’ s services, we will be able to help them connect with the consumer market as well. VAN’ s proven technology and strong existing customer base will help solidify First Insight’ s leading position in the online eye-care services market.”

“By joining forces with an organization of First Insight’ s caliber, we will be able to reach a wider audience and provide our clients with a broader range of technology services,”said David Pietrobon, president of VAN. “We are confident that together we will provide eye-care practices the most complete solution, enabling them to compete at a higherlevel.”

According to the terms of the acquisition, VAN will be renamed First Insight Canada and

Optometry.net will become part of the First Insight network. The acquisition will

encourage the growth and development of online optometric communities through

shared services and communication.

About Vision Alliance Network Inc. (VAN)

VAN’ s mission is to optimize patient care through information integration among primary eye-care professionals, the eye-care industry and the public. VAN creates value by providing strategically integrated Internet solutions for eye-care professionals and theircommunities.

VAN’ s Optometry.net offering enables optometric practices to easily create and manage professional web sites. Optometry.net helps eye-care practitioners build stronger relationships with patients by facilitating easier communication and providing valuable eye health information.

VAN is the developer and joint operator of CAO.Optometry.NET, a unique extranet for

members of the Canadian Association of Optometrists, which integrates content and

functionality for eye doctors and vision industry suppliers.

About First Insight

First Insight Corporation is the leading provider of technology-based solutions for the $ 20B eye-care industry. First Insight’ s comprehensive practice management software

and electronic medical records enable optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians to be more competitive.

Since its introduction in 1994, First Insight’s Practice Management solution, Maximeyes, has been installed in more than 550 eye care practices throughout the U.S. and Canada. MaximEyes was the first practice management solution for eye care on the Microsoft Windows platform, and was also the first to successfully integrate with Vision Serives Plan’s Internet Doctor Communication System (IDC), enabling verification of patient eligibility, claims submission and prescription orders via the web.

Based in Hillsboro, Ore., First Insight is a pre-public company backed by an investment team that includes Richland Ventures, HLM Partners, Validus (the investment arm of United Healthcare), and Moss Forest Ventures. For more information call 1-800-920-1940 or visit the First Insight web site at http://www.first-insight.com.

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(PRWEB) April 19, 2005

“Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters” a book by Peter Vronsky recently published by Penguin Berkley Books, describes several cases of male-female serial killer couples in the USA, Canada, and England, including the case of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, who videotaped the rapes of their victims before killing them. (See: http://www.petervronsky.com )

As Canada prepares for the upcoming release from prison of serial killer partner Karla Homolka, Vronsky reminds us that there is nothing especially new or unique to the Bernardo Homolka crimes. “The case is similar to the Moors murders in England in the 1960s, when Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, tortured, raped, and killed several children, recording their cries on audio tape,” Vronsky says. “Nor is Homolka’s rape of her younger sister particularly unique; husband and wife serial killers Fred and Rose West in England raped and murdered their own daughter.”

In his book, along with the Homolka case and others, Vronsky describes the case of husband and wife serial killers Charlene and Gerald Gallego in California and Nevada in the late 1970s. Exactly like Homolka, Charlene lured teenage female victims in shopping mall parking lots into her husband’s van. The couple would then rape and torture the girls before driving them out into the desert and killing them. In one case Charlene had bitten off the nipple of one of her victims. Another victim was buried alive by the couple. They killed at least ten girls between 1978 and 1980, sometimes murdering pairs of teenage victims. They were identified after their car was linked to a kidnapping and murder of a teenage couple on their high school prom night outing but police at first could not believe that a married couple were capable of such horrific murder rapes.

After their arrest, Gerald Gallego was convicted and sentenced to death with the help of Charlene’s testimony, who exactly like Homolka was given a much lighter sentence in exchange. Like Homolka, Charlene claimed to have been battered by Gerald into assisting him in the murders.

And exactly like Homolka, Charlene took university courses in psychology while in prison, served out her sentence without parole and was released in 1997, continuing to claim that she was herself a victim. Upon her release, Charlene said, “There were victims who died and there were victims who lived. It’s taken me a hell of a long time to realize that I’m one of the ones who lived.”

Two years after Charlene’s release, a Nevada farmer in 1999 uncovered a shallow grave containing two of the couple’s ten known victims “who died”–thirteen-year-old Sandra Colley and fourteen-year-old Brenda Judd, missing since 1979. Both girls were kidnapped, raped and tortured before being shot in the head.

In another case from the 1980s described in Vronsky’s book, Carol Bundy [no relation to Ted Bundy] would accompany her boyfriend Douglas Clark in his car and sitting in the back seat watched him murder prostitutes he would pick-up on Los Angeles’ Sunset Boulevard. On one occasion, when Clark brought a severed female head home, Carol washed and set the victim’s hair and applied fresh make-up to the head. Carol eventually killed a male victim and severed his head in a futile attempt to impress Clark, whose interest in her she feared was waning.

Vronsky reports that female serial killers are not as rare as we think: 16 percent of known serial killers in the United States between 1800 and 1995 were females and accounted for between four hundred and six hundred victims. Seventy-five percent of these female serial killers appeared on the scene since 1950 and a third committed their crimes with an accomplice, frequently a male.

Vronsky is currently writing his next book for Penguin Berkley, “The Female Monster”, a history of homicidal females that will be published in 2007.

“Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters” is a definitive 430-page book covering the historical, cultural, psychological and investigative aspects of serial homicide around the globe from the Roman Empire to the Washington Beltway and the Green River murders.

Peter Vronsky is currently completing his doctorate in history at the University of Toronto. He is a former international investigative television documentary producer.

For more information or to contact the author: http://www.petervronsky.com

Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters

Peter Vronsky

New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 2004.

432 Pages, Illustrated

ISBN: 0425196402

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Moorestown, NJ (PRWEB) July 13, 2007

Dr. Siegal’s Direct Nutritionals LLC, the exclusive worldwide distributor of Dr. Siegal’s

Singapore (PRWEB) January 13, 2009

Singapore’s largest healthcare group, SingHealth, has brought the world’s first integrated neuroscience center or “brain lab” to the region – a move that serves to anchor the tiny nation-state as one of the world’s leading neurological centers for patient care, education and research.

The cutting edge, digitally-integrated facility was designed by BrainLAB AG and is located at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), one of Asia’s top teaching hospitals.

Driven by neuroscience expertise from the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), this facility helps set a new standard for medical treatments for a whole spectrum of neurological diseases including brain tumors and spinal problems.

“This new center represents a quantum leap in neurosurgical care, by providing state-of-the-art facilities, pre-operative planning capabilities, and advance patient education,” says Associate Professor Ivan Ng, who heads the Neurosurgery departments at both SGH & NNI.

For the first time, a center offers a comprehensive range of treatment options with various cutting edge, intra-operating imaging solutions for highly complex surgical procedures in one location.

From diagnostics, planning through treatment, this new infrastructure provides clinicians with timely information and fine tune pre-treatment planning, resulting in better-informed medical decisions, and the ability to seamlessly combine multiple treatments.

Its facilities include five operating suites, three of which deliver integrated intra-operative imaging capabilities.

“With its high-field MRI, multi-slice CT scanner, and 3D imaging software, the facility allows surgeons to look at precise images of a patient’s brain before, during and right after surgery. This seamless transfer of all neurologically relevant images lets us decide how best to leverage the optimal intra-operative imaging modalities for a specific problem are required to achieve a treatment objective with minimal complications,” says A/P Ng.

To date, only a handful of countries have intra-operative MRI facilities: Boston in the US and Toronto in Canada, as well as Germany and Japan. But Singapore remains the only place in the world with the full complement of intra-operative options.

According to A/P Ng, the US$ 8.5 million facility will make brain surgeries safer.

“With this facility, doctors will be able to perform more minimally invasive procedures with greater confidence. The ability to scan on the spot allows us to appraise the situation as we proceed. Also, it lets us do more complete resections of tumors, which cuts down on the need for repeat surgeries,” says A/P Ng.

He adds that about 30 percent of the center’s patients so far are international patients.

Leveraging new technologies, the facility will also have a strong impact on other clinical specialties beyond neuroscience, such as cancer, and at the same time provide opportunities for research and medical education.

All these will give Singapore’s position as a premier medical hub a boost.

About National Neuroscience Institute

The National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) is the leading regional specialist center for cutting edge treatment, education and research in the neurosciences. It offers over 20 clinical subspecialties and treats a broad range of illnesses affecting the brain, spine, nerve and muscle. The NNI sees the most number of neurological cases in Singapore.

About the SingaporeMedicine Initiative

Launched in 2003, SingaporeMedicine is a multi-agency government-industry partnership committed to strengthening Singapore’s position as Asia’s leading medical hub and international health care destination. Led by the Ministry of Health of Singapore, SingaporeMedicine is supported by three government agencies: the Economic Development Board, which develops industry capabilities, the International Enterprise Singapore, which fosters regionalism by Singapore-based health care players, and the Singapore Tourism Board, which markets Singapore as a healthcare destination to inbound international patients and develops associated people-oriented services.

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Toronto, ON, Canada (PRWEB) March 31, 2008

Author Shireen Jeejeebhoy tells the inspirational story of two pioneers in the medical field of artificial feeding in her award-winning, debut book “Lifeliner: The Judy Taylor Story” (ISBN 9780595445448, iUniverse, 2007). Judy Taylor was the first lifeliner, meaning she was the first person to live long-term strictly on intravenous feeding, without eating any food. Her doctor was Jeejeebhoy’s father and his groundbreaking research on artificial feeding and nutrition helped form the medical foundation of Total Parental Nutrition, or TPN, as it’s known today. “Lifeliner” was designated as an iUniverse Editor’s Choice and Publisher’s Choice award winner. It also placed first in the Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award in the Biography category.

Jeejeebhoy knew Judy personally and remembers her as a woman who lived with passion, even after a dramatic surgery forced her to become dependent on–and a guinea pig for–emerging medical technology. A life-threatening illness forced doctors to remove all of Judy’s intestines, leaving her unable to digest food. But she survived 20 more years on TPN. Judy used TPN to get her daily nourishment, by injecting a nutritionally complete solution into her central catheter every evening.

Jeejeebhoy says she admired Judy for her tenacity and positive outlook on life. Despite her illness, Judy was an active mother and community volunteer, who helped other patients adjust to living on TPN. “Lifeliner,” a book written for the lay audience, details the evolution of TPN and some of the nutritional discoveries Dr. Jeejeebhoy made as a result of Judy’s experiences. TPN was still a developing science, its long-term use unprecedented, when Judy went on it in 1970, and so Dr. Jeejeebhoy employed plenty of trial-and-error experimentation to care for her. His methods paid off though, as they made major nutritional discoveries and honed TPN into a much better system, one that is widely used for long-term patient care today.

“Lifeliner” tells the remarkable, inspiring story of a brave woman, who, together with her inventive doctor, made medical history. “When they sent her home on TPN, no one knew how long she would live or what her quality of life would be like,” Jeejeebhoy says. “As far as Judy was concerned, life itself was good enough and she had no intention of lying on the couch all day. She had been given a second chance and she was running with it.”

About the Author

Shireen Jeejeebhoy was born in London and now resides in Toronto, Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Toronto. She is an accomplished writer with many articles to her credit. “Lifeliner” is her first published book.

“Lifeliner: The Judy Taylor Story” (ISBN 9780595445448, iUniverse, 2007) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit http://www.jeejeebhoy.ca. Publicity contact: http://www.readerviews.com. Review copies available upon request.

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Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) February 5, 2009

Toronto Cosmetic Clinic introduces Axis Three’s Portrait 3D and XS-300 hardware, revolutionary technology that allows women to see the predicted results of breast augmentation almost instantaneously.

“This new tool is a tremendous opportunity to not only help patients visualize what they could look like, but is also a phenomenal tool for me as a physician to provide the best advice to our clients. Being able to accurately measure each individual breast virtually in real time ensures an accurate implant selection making the end result that much better,” Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar, primary physician at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic states.

For the first time in Canada, the power of unique image capture technology enables a patient to see what they may look like before and after breast augmentation surgery. Just one click of a button, and a photo will be taken and rendered into a photorealistic 3D image within 2-3 minutes, with accurate volumetric and linear measurements. This image can then be manipulated to simulate the outcome of breast augmentation in 3D, implementing the desired changes resulting from the specific implant sizes and shapes that are chosen. If necessary, different sized implants can be used to modify each breast in order to achieve a full and balanced contour. The predicted results of surgery can be viewed from all angles, not just from the front like other simulation programs.

Never before has such technology been available to clients of the aesthetic medical field in Canada. It’s fast, enables you to establish realistic expectations, and is a great way to see simulated results to help determine the kind of changes that are achievable through breast augmentation surgery.

Continuing the tradition to remain on the cusp of the industry, Toronto Cosmetic Clinic now offers women the option to fully explore the possibilities of breast augmentation with 3D imaging software before committing to surgery during their initial consultation. There are no strings attached, and it’s absolutely free.

About Toronto Cosmetic Clinic:

Toronto Cosmetic Clinic is a premier cosmetic surgical clinic providing a complete range of procedures for the aesthetic improvement of an individual. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a team of dedicated doctors and medical staff serve clients in the state-of-the art facilities of a private surgical centre. Toronto Cosmetic Clinic is home to leading physicians in laser skin rejuvenation treatments, laser tattoo removal, liposuction, BOTOX

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) May 10, 2007 -

Toronto Cosmetic Clinic is proud to announce they are the first practice in Canada, according to Cynosure, to offer Smartlipo, the latest advancement in laser-assisted liposuction technology. Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar will also be the first physician in Canada to be certified in performing the Smartlipo procedure.

“Smartlipo has been around for a while now in other countries around the world.” Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar, owner of Toronto Cosmetic Clinic states. “With its proven effectiveness in eliminating body fat and reducing the length of post-operative recovery time, it’s about time Canadians were able to experience the benefits as well.”

Smartlipo is a form of laser assisted liposuction that utilizes a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser device manufactured by the Massachusetts-based company, Cynosure. Compared to other methods of liposuction, patients experience less swelling and bruising in the treated area due to the size and abilities of the device.

The equipment used in the procedure, called the Smartlipo LaserBodySculpting Workstation, was approved by the FDA in November 2006. Because of the precise aim of the device, challenging areas can also be treated.

Laser assisted liposuction, also known as laser lipolysis, is one of the many cosmetic surgical procedures offered at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic which have been designed to eliminate fat and improve body image.

About Toronto Cosmetic Clinic:

Toronto Cosmetic Clinic is a premier cosmetic surgical clinic providing a complete range of procedures for the aesthetic improvement of an individual. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a team of dedicated doctors and medical staff serve clients in the modern and clean facilities of a private surgical centre. Toronto Cosmetic Clinic is home to leading physicians in gastric banding, liposuction, injectable fillers, BOTOX