In 2022, Medcan became the first wellness provider in the country to enter the age of truly personalized medicine by providing whole genome sequencing to clients seeking the most advanced technology available to promote longevity. Now, a year later, who is getting their whole genome sequenced, and what impact has the decision had on their lives? What are some of the most surprising findings? Director of clinical innovation Allison Hazell (pictured above) leads director of genetics Jessica Gu and genetic counsellor Justin Lorentz in a fascinating discussion that also features CMO Dr. Peter Nord reflecting on his own experience getting his whole genome sequenced.

5.4 million Canadians are at high risk of experiencing or have been diagnosed with sleep apnea—and not all of them snore. Sleep apnea is the most common breathing-related sleep disorder, and spending the night in a hospital or clinic is an uncomfortable and inconvenient way to be diagnosed and get treatment. Here, Dr. Chris Chan, (pictured above) clinical director of Medcan’s new Sleep Program explains who is at highest risk for sleep apnea, and he introduces a simple and evidence-based device that could help you discover your diagnosis while sleeping in your own bed.

As the weather heats up, so does the talk about sunscreen. Reapply every 2 hours—or every 4 hours. Only use SPF30 or higher…but maybe the SPF15 in your moisturizer is okay. Here, Refine medical director Dr. Jonathan Levy (pictured above) clears up misconceptions about your skin and sunscreen. Learn why SPF80 might not be as protective as you think, which UV rays your sunscreen is blocking, and how to know which brands will make you less likely to break out.

Sleeping well is crucial for wellness. But for those of us who work at demanding jobs, it can be all too easy to sacrifice sleep. In fact, thanks also to streaming services and social media, society is as sleep deprived as we’ve ever been. So in this episode, Medcan chief medical officer Dr. Peter Nord talks with sleep deprivation expert Dr. Ann E. Rogers (pictured above) of Georgia’s Emory University. The two discuss the reasons we’re not getting the slumber we need—and share tips and tricks to maintain performance even during those periods where you’re not getting enough shut-eye.

Can you breathe your way to a better mood and reduced anxiety? This week’s guest says it's possible! Medcan consulting psychologist Dr. Amanda Beaman chats with the medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University, Dr. David Spiegel, a physician. Dr. Spiegel’s recent study with podcaster and neuroscientist Andrew Huberman revealed the mental well-being benefits of a kind of breathwork called cyclic sighing.

In this episode of Eat Move Think, we explore the world of women's nutrition. Guided by Medcan’s director of clinical innovation, Allison Hazell, our Eat expert, Leslie Beck, RD, and registered dietitian Joanna Stochla (pictured above) clear up the biggest misconceptions around nutrition for women, and provide a suggestion for what you should be incorporating into your diet, right away.

This week, Medcan senior medical advisor, and bestselling author of The New Woman’s Guide to Healthy Aging, Dr. Vivien Brown, (pictured above) provides an overview on all things preventive health, touching on everything from telomeres to stress, and the importance of self-education to promote brain health. If you’re a woman, it’s an inspiring—and empowering—way to focus on your own wellness.

Canada’s new alcohol guidelines tell us there is no safe amount when it comes to drinking alcohol. To learn about the implications for us all, Medcan’s chief medical officer Dr. Peter Nord (pictured above) walks us through interviews with guideline coauthors Dr. Tim Naimi, physician and director of Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, and Dr. Jürgen Rehm, epidemiologist at CAMH and professor at the University of Toronto. We also check in with guideline critic Dr. Dan Malleck, historian and health sciences professor at Brock University.

Workforces increasingly expect their employers to support their health and wellbeing—which is why Medcan created the Workplace Health and Wellness Strategy Playbook. In the latest episode of Eat Move Think, join such MAS physicians as Dr. Peter Nord (pictured above), Dr. Alain Sotto, Dr. Matthew Burnstein and Dr. Aisha Khatib as they share first-hand experiences of best practices for workplace wellness, to promote engagement and productivity among employees.

February is Heart Health month, so what better time to bring attention to how you can keep your heart healthy and strong? Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada, and is the first leading cause of premature death in women. Here, Medcan director of cardiology, Dr. Beth Abramson, (pictured above) joins Dr. Peter Nord to break down everything you need to know about heart disease, and the main risk factors that cause it.

Mary Deacon has been pioneering efforts to improve Canada’s mental health for 25 years. She and Medcan CEO Shaun Francis ways to improve access and reduce stigma. It’s a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Our conversations about mental health have changed in the past few years. So when your coworker or close friend discloses that they’re having a tough time, how can you provide the response they need? What’s the best way to set boundaries? And how can you take care of yourself? Learn about things to say, do, and avoid to best show your support, from wellness host Dr. Peter Nord and Medcan social worker Jennifer Baldachin (pictured above).

When you fixate too much on productivity and goal-chasing, focus can fizzle, and burnout results. In productivity expert Chris Bailey’s new book, How to Calm Your Mind, he writes that “in an anxious world, the path to productivity runs through calm.” Here, Medcan consulting psychologist Amanda Beaman talks to Bailey (pictured above) about his own journey to calm, and how the rest of us can become more engaged, more present, and more productive.

Genetic technology isn’t just for scientists anymore. We give genetic tests as gifts to our friends, our family, even our pets. Yet few people really understand what it is that a genetic counsellor does, or how clinical genetic testing works. Here, director of clinical innovation Allison Hazell (pictured above), clinical director of genetics Jessica Gu, and genetic counsellor Justin Lorentz answer the questions they get asked most.

Ah, the last week of the year. It might be a time of reflection as you reminisce, or maybe you’re already planning your 2023! Most of us make New Year’s resolutions with true intentions of sticking with them. So what’s the secret to making long-lasting, permanent, healthy change? As you finalize your goals and hopes for next year, join Shaun Francis as he chats with weight management expert Dr. David Macklin about creating practical goals that are sure to last.

Wearables like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, the WHOOP band and the Oura Ring help us track our exercise and lifestyle habits, collecting loads of data as we use them. So what’s happening with all that information, and how can wearable data help to promote optimal human wellness? Evidation is a Silicon Valley-based company that aggregates the data from wearables and enables its users to participate in groundbreaking research and health programs. In conversation with our Move host, Dr. Andrew Miners of Medcan, Evidation COO Leslie Wilberforce (pictured above) explores the ways wearable data can help us maintain healthy habits, and help us detect medical conditions earlier than ever before.

Adults tend to gain weight as they age — about one to two pounds a year, research shows. A recent study indicates that small changes to one’s diet and/or exercise routine can prevent that incremental accumulation. In this episode, our Eat host, Leslie Beck, interviews the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Robert Ross of Queen’s University (pictured above), a global expert on sustainable positive lifestyle change for weight loss and better health. He shares the study’s findings, and discusses tips on how to halt age-related weight gain.

When Walmart Canada’s executive vice president and chief operating officer first joined the company in August 2020, she introduced herself to her new 90,000 associates as a “recovering workaholic.” Since experiencing anxiety, postpartum depression and burnout in her 20s, Nabeela Ixtabalan (pictured above) has transformed the way she balances work and wellness—and is working to help Walmart Canada employees do the same. In this encore presentation of her conversation with Medcan CEO Shaun Francis, Nabeela discusses her self-care and employee wellness strategies.

A growing body of research suggests that your food choices can affect the long-term health of your brain. In fact, one study showed that those who scored in the top third in terms of adherence to the MIND diet were associated with being 7.5 years younger in brain age versus those who scored in the lower third. So how does the MIND diet work? Which foods are in the MIND diet—and what are some practical tips to help us to incorporate this eating pattern into our lives? Leslie Beck (pictured above) gets the answers from two of the researchers who helped develop the MIND diet: cognitive neurologist Dr. Neelum Aggarwal, and nutritionist Dr. Christy Tangney, both of Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center.

A growing body of research indicates the MIND diet can be so protective of the brain that one study showed those who most adhered to it had a brain age 7.5 years younger compared to those who least adhered to the diet. So how does the MIND diet work? Which foods are in the MIND diet—and what are some practical tips to help us to incorporate this eating pattern into our lives? In the second of our three-part series on Alzheimer’s, Leslie Beck (pictured above) gets the answers from two of the researchers who helped develop the MIND diet: cognitive neurologist Dr. Neelum Aggarwal, and nutritionist Dr. Christy Tangney, both of Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center.