Skip to content

Health Matters: The Historic Montreal Chest Institute

Health Matters podcast MUHC foundation Dream Big Posts

This week on Health Matters, learn about the historic Montreal Chest Institute. 

(Time on Podcast: 0:17) Basil Petrof MD and Director of the Meakins-Christie Laboratories, was interviewed on Health Matters by Julie Quenneville, President of the MUHC Foundation. With the merger of the Montreal Chest Institute Foundation and the MUHC Foundation fast approaching, Dr. Petrof spoke of the historic Montreal Chest Institute, how it became and continues to be, a world-class institute for respiratory care.

“Every day when I walk into the Chest I feel privileged to work with great colleagues and to be in a world-class institution.”

Basil Petrof, MD

The Montreal Chest Institute is renowned for the first-rate clinical care its patients receive. Top international specialists in the field of respiratory care are drawn to work at the MCI because of its reputation. The MCI’s highly specialized clinics, such as for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and TB, are known to have the best treatment outcomes in the world. The MCI’s prestigious position can also be attributed to the wholistic approach taken to patient care. Multidisciplinary teams collaborate on the development of treatment plans, ensuring the highest quality of care for each patient.

Two world-class research units are associated with the MCI; the Meakins-Christie Laboratories and the Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit. These multidisciplinary units have a mix of MD and PhD scientists who have together made significant contributions to the better understanding of respiratory issues and treatment options.

Training is also an important component to the success of the MCI. Many alumni have continued on in their career to hold prestigious positions and to become leaders of research in their field. The newly established Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship in Respiratory Research, funded by the MCI Foundation in honor of Dr. Margaret Becklake, will be a significant component in the future of training at the MCI.

“…I just want to mention that we are really pleased about the newly established Margaret Becklake Fellowship which will continue this tradition. This Fellowship is in honor of Dr. Becklake, who was a trailblazing female physician hired back in the 50’s, back at a time when there weren’t that many females in medicine and who founded our respiratory epidemiology unit and who was really a giant in the area of respiratory epidemiology.”

Basil Petrof, MD

Listen to the Podcast

Celebrating the historic Montreal Chest Institute. The MUHC Foundation’s Health Matters. February 28, 2021