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The Team

Dr. Heather Ross is the Medical Director of the Cardiac Transplant Program at University Health Network (UHN), a Member of the Clinical Studies Resource Centre in the Division of Clinical Investigation & Human Physiology, Toronto General Research Institute at UHN, Deputy Director of the MultiOrgan Transplant Unit, Director of Education for The Transplant Institute, and an Associate Professor of the Division of Cardiology and Transplant, at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Ross received her medical degree from the University of British Columbia and completed her Cardiology Training at Dalhousie University. She completed her post-doctoral Fellowship in Cardiac Transplantation at Stanford University, California, and earned her Masters Degree in Bioethics from the University of Toronto in 2002.

Dr. Ross is the founder and past-chair of The Canadian Cardiac Transplant Group. She is Past President of the Canadian Society of Transplantation, and a former executive member of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. She is currently the Secretary Treasurer for the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation.

The author of over 130 publications and numerous book chapters in Heart Failure and Transplantation, Dr. Ross is the recipient of many teaching awards, including the Department of Medicine’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching – Anderson Teaching Award for Individual Excellence, The Institute for Medical Sciences Teaching Award, The Dr. E.D. Wigle Cardiology Teaching Award, and The Young Attending Teacher Award, Department of Medicine, TGH & University of Toronto.

Under her tutelage the fellowship program has grown to an average of 4-6 fellows per year. Prior fellows have gone on to run Heart Failure and Transplant Programs in many provinces and countries including Denmark, Argentina, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.

Dale Shippam, Heart Transplant Recipient

• Resident of Thunder Bay, Ontario
• Received a heart Feb '99
• Married and father of four
• Back to work as a professional fire fighter in April 2000
• Hiked the West Coast trail September 2005
• Hopes to do a major trek on every continent

Quick Facts: Nepal's Mera Peak

Mera Peak is one of the most popular of Nepal's 18 "Trekking Peaks". From the trekker, the walk from Lukla through the Sherpa country of the remote Inkhu valley is an unforgettable experience, offering superb scenery, and abundant wildlife – including rumoured sightings of the legendary yeti.

About 700 foreign visitors climb the 6654m Mera Peak each year, an achievement which requires mountaineering skills and a special permit from the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

The altitude of Mera Peak is 6654m. Above sea level, Mera Peak was an almost overlooked mountain to the east of the main Khumbu trekking trails. It is situated in the Everest region in a remote valley.

When one stands upon the summit, spread before you is an unbelievable panorama of peaks such as Mt. Everest, Makalu and hundreds of other beautiful mountains.

**excerpts from: http://www.himatreknepal.com/mera_peak.htm

The excursion will extend from May 12th, 2008 – June 8th, 2008, with the projected summit of the peak taking place on May 28th, 2008.

The following is a draft itinerary of the trek:

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