IWK Health

IWK Health Passionately pursuing a healthy future for women, children, youth and families.

The IWK Health page is not monitored 24/7 and should not be used in any emergency situation. If you require emergency help please call 911 or go to the emergency department closest to you. If you are experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis: Call 902.429.8167 or 1.888.429.8167 (toll-free) for the Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team. We welcome your comments on Facebook but before you post on our page, please ensure you do not include personal information or photos of others without their consent.

03/19/2026

Un sac à main constitue une cible facile pour un enfant. Qu’y a-t-il à l’intérieur? Des médicaments, du désinfectant pour les mains, des produits cosmétiques… Toutes sortes de choses dangereuses pour un enfant.

Gardez votre sac à main fermé et à proximité de vous en présence d’enfants. Aidez à

Certified Music Therapist Sarah Bourque is helping youth navigate challenging experiences through the power of music. Wo...
03/18/2026

Certified Music Therapist Sarah Bourque is helping youth navigate challenging experiences through the power of music. Working one day a week at Children’s & Adolescent Intensive Services (CIS/AIS) and two afternoons at the Garron Centre, she facilitates both group and individual sessions tailored to each young person’s needs.

Music therapy in these settings can take many forms—learning a new instrument to build positive coping skills, writing original songs to support emotional expression, or creating intentional playlists to explore how music can influence mood. Through these approaches, Sarah brings a sense of familiarity and comfort to environments that can often feel overwhelming.

“It isn’t often that I meet a youth who doesn’t engage in music in some way, and participating in Music Therapy can provide them with the opportunity to process everything being thrown their way through a familiar medium.”

With a focus on real-world impact, Sarah designs each session with the goal of helping youth carry these skills into their everyday lives. “The overarching goal is always to set the youth up for success in their every day lives,” she explains.

Her work is as dynamic as the youth she supports. “I love how every day is different, and that I can always count on the youth to challenge me to think outside the box.”

By integrating creativity, connection, and clinical care, music therapy offers both youth and their families a powerful tool for healing, growth, and resilience.

March is Music Therapy Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the remarkable benefits of music therapy and the certified music therapists who use it to help people of all ages and abilities.

Join us for two free Virtual Autism Education Sessions for families on Wednesday, March 25, 2026!Getting to Know PPAS fr...
03/17/2026

Join us for two free Virtual Autism Education Sessions for families on Wednesday, March 25, 2026!

Getting to Know PPAS from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Learn about the Provincial Preschool Autism Service (PPAS) and the supports available for families.

Understanding Autism: Practical Information for Families from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Gain a better understanding of autism and practical ways to support your child.

These sessions are designed for parents and caregivers of preschool-aged children with autism (not yet in Grade Primary).

Hosted by the Provincial Preschool Autism Service (PPAS) – a partnership between IWK Health, Nova Scotia Health, Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia, and Autism Nova Scotia.
Register: iwkhealth.ca/provincial-preschool-autism-service/autism-education-series or visit the link in our bio

03/17/2026

March 16-22nd is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a time to recognize and celebrate the diversity of minds and the unique strengths that come from different ways of thinking.

Neurodiversity is the idea that people think, learn, and experience the world in different ways. It recognizes that variations in how the brain functions are a natural part of human diversity and should be respected just like differences in gender, race, or sexual orientation. These neurological differences can influence how individuals communicate, process information, and interact with their surroundings.

As an umbrella concept, neurodiversity encompasses many neurological differences, including autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, learning differences such as dyslexia, and many others. Research suggests that about 15-20 per cent of Canadians are neurodivergent, meaning millions of people experience and interact with the world in unique ways.

Language around neurodiversity is always evolving.

Neurodiversity: The idea that our minds vary naturally and that these differences are valuable parts of human diversity.

Neurodivergent: Describes an individual whose mind functions, learns, or processes information in ways that differ from what is often considered typical by society.

Neurotypical: Describes an individual whose brain development and ways of thinking generally align with what is commonly expected or experienced by many people.

Neurodiverse: A term used to describe a group of people who represent the spectrum of neurodiversity with many different ways of thinking, including both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals.

Neurodivergence: A term that encompasses the experience of being neurodivergent. As an example, ADHD is one form of neurodivergence.

Recognizing neurodiversity helps us better understand and support one another. When we value different ways of thinking, learning, and communicating, we create environments where everyone feels respected, included, and able to thrive. By embracing neurodiversity, we help build stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone’s strengths and perspectives are valued.

03/17/2026

Medicines are the #1 cause of poisoning in kids. Even 2-year-olds can open “child-resistant” bottles.

Keep all medicines, vitamins, and supplements out of sight, out of reach, and locked up. .

Have you received care at the IWK Early Pregnancy Complications Clinic after a pregnancy loss? Researchers at IWK Health...
03/16/2026

Have you received care at the IWK Early Pregnancy Complications Clinic after a pregnancy loss?

Researchers at IWK Health are inviting people to share their experiences with care at the Early Pregnancy Complications Clinic (EPCC). By listening to patients’ experiences, we hope to better understand what was helpful, what could be improved, and how care can be more supportive in the future.

You may be able to participate if you:
• Experienced a pregnancy loss before 13 weeks
• Received care at the IWK EPCC between 2021–2026

Participation involves a one-time virtual interview (about 1 hour) where you can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable. You may skip questions or stop at any time.

We understand that pregnancy loss can be a difficult experience. Participants may access support following the interview if needed.

If you would like to learn more or are considering participating, please contact: empower.research@iwk.nshealth.ca

What began as an innovative clinic has grown into a research hub where patients, clinicians, researchers, and trainees w...
03/16/2026

What began as an innovative clinic has grown into a research hub where patients, clinicians, researchers, and trainees work together toward a shared goal: ensuring that pelvic pain is better understood, validated, and treated with the scientific rigor and compassion it deserves.

The Endometriosis & Chronic Pelvic Pain (E&CPP) Research Centre is dedicated to improving understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain—conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. By combining clinical care with research and innovation, the Centre aims to reduce pain and enhance quality of life for patients while helping shape better standards of care for the future.

https://iwkhealth.ca/news-and-stories/advancing-care-endometriosis-and-chronic-pelvic-pain

Let’s Talk: Teens Building their Healthcare SkillsApril 17th 12-12:45pmRegistration link - https://surveys.novascotia.ca...
03/14/2026

Let’s Talk: Teens Building their Healthcare Skills
April 17th 12-12:45pm
Registration link - https://surveys.novascotia.ca/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=77LL36m0K
This session is for parents and caregivers of children living with a health condition. You’ll hear directly from youth who have moved into the adult healthcare system and learn why it’s helpful to start the conversation about transition early. We’ll explore what self-management means, why it matters, and how you and your child can begin building these skills together.

Two local doctors and an artificial intelligence specialist are teaming up to try to solve a huge problem in the Nova Sc...
03/14/2026

Two local doctors and an artificial intelligence specialist are teaming up to try to solve a huge problem in the Nova Scotia health-care system.

Leading pediatric cardiologists Dr. Robert Chen and Dr. Santokh Dhillon, along with AI expert Mohammed Shameer Iqbal, are close to launching a new high-tech stethoscope that can screen murmurs in children with a high degree of precision.

The goal for their company is to eliminate the majority of unnecessary referrals to specialists, which are clogging up the system and often keeping anxious families waiting more than a year for an answer.

https://iwkhealth.ca/news-and-stories/trio-nova-scotians-attempting-revolutionize-heart-care-children-high-tech

03/13/2026

Sometimes the symptoms don’t tell the whole story. Genetic testing did. With this approach we identified the true cause of Isabella’s illness and matched her with an effective treatment. Precision medicine gave this family the answers they’d been searching for.

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Our Story

The IWK Health Centre provides quality care to women, children, youth and families in the Maritimes and beyond.

In addition to providing highly specialized (tertiary) care, the IWK also provides primary care services.

The IWK is engaged in leading-edge research; works to promote healthy lifestyles for families; and supports education opportunities for health professionals and other learners.

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