In this edition of Doc Talk, we meet Dr. Luc Jutras, who has worked as a cardiologist at the Children’s since 1988. He is the assistant head of the Pediatric Cardiology Division, director of the Echocardiography Laboratory and director of the Magnetic Resonance Program.

In your opinion, what sets this hospital apart from all the others?

Over the course of my training, I had the opportunity to visit many hospitals in Canada and the United States. What brought me back to the Children’s was its size and its family approach, not only toward patients and their families, but also among specialists and between doctors and support staff. Everyone works together for the wellbeing of patients, and the focus is therefore on the patient and not the specialization as such. It’s quite unique. In a lot of hospitals, there are internal conflicts either within a specialization or between different specializations. These are competitive aspects that, in my opinion, are unpleasant and are detrimental, not only to the general atmosphere, but also to patient care.

What questions do parents most often ask you?

When a child has a heart defect, whether it be major or minor, parents always wonder, “Why us?” I tell them that’s probably not the right question to be asking. We all start off as a single cell, and it is therefore a wonder that 99% of us have normal hearts. Deviations in nature, be they simple or complex, are bound to happen. When someone asks me what causes heart defects, I come at it from the opposite angle. I tell them that we don’t quite understand how hearts develop normally. It is likely that when we understand the mechanisms that cause hearts to develop normally, the mechanisms that cause heart defects will become evident. However, we are far from such an understanding.

What surprises people the most?

Parents are always surprised that we’re able to explain things to them in a way that’s easy for them to understand. Because we use scientific terms, they think they won’t be able to follow. Generally, discussions include detailed explanations and, to provide parents with a better understanding of heart function and what happens when there are defects, we often fall back on layman’s terms. I personally use diagrams that I draw as I go during discussions. Parents often come to me some 18 years later, or once their children have grown up and say, “You know, doctor, I still have your drawing. I kept it because it helped me truly understand what was happening with my child’s heart.” They felt included in the discussion and in the process.

You teach highly talented young students. What qualities do you try to teach your students to help them become good doctors?

The skills students must develop really depend on where they’re headed. A doctor has to be engaged. While we generally teach students to maintain a degree of emotional detachment from their patients with the goal of protecting them, I still think some emotional investment is necessary. What happens has to have significance. For me, the significance it carries is proportionate to the bonds I develop with families and patients. These bonds enable us to take charge, be concerned with the wellbeing of the patient and make parents feel important, listened to and able to come to us when they are worried, need reassurance or have questions.

Are you looking forward to being at the new Children’s? How will the new facilities help your team in their work?

I’m really looking forward to it. Of course, we will have to adapt our working methods. Cardiology will have the benefit of having a complete, independent unit, which will allow us to be much more functional than we could be at the current Children’s, as all the technical and consultation units will be in one place. Our team will work together, rather than in different areas. We will always be a few steps from one another, and close to our hospitalized patients. The advantages are many!

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?

Oh, my! I think that on a personal level, I’ve decided to center my practise on patient care, a goal I think I’ve accomplished and will continue to accomplish. It’s my main concern. It’s what I will continue to do in the future and it should be a given. Everyone should have this approach, but there are still many other important considerations. You have to maintain a strong department, properly carry out administrative tasks, do research, teach and also find the balance between all of these things that will make up the whole of your practise. I personally made the decision a few years ago to refocus my practise on patient care, and I have no regrets.