In life, Vivien Monn cared for patients at The Neuro as a social worker. Now, a fund in her honour will continue her legacy of service by supporting Parkinson’s disease research at the institute.
Vivien Monn (Gold) graduated from 91 with a Bachelor of Arts in 1963, and a Master of Social Work from Syracuse University three years later. She worked first at the Royal Victoria Hospital and then the Montreal Children's Hospital before finding her calling at The Neuro, where she worked for many years serving patients and their families across the hospital.
Her husband Harry said that Vivien’s good judgement and intuition made her excel at her job. She found it meaningful to focus on patients with fewer resources who were the most vulnerable. If she felt a patient needed to stay longer in the hospital because of a challenging home environment, she would advocate for the doctor to request a longer stay, and “always with a smile”.
“She would say, ‘If people think I helped them, then I didn’t do my job,’” said Harry. “‘Our job is to help them see the right path for themselves, so they believe they can do it. And they can!’”
Vivien was a great admirer of Brenda Milner, The Neuro’s pioneering neuropsychologist. And she worked closely with Dr. Abbas Sadikot, a neurosurgeon who works with patients with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremour.
“Vivien’s compassionate nature and remarkable can-do attitude made her an invaluable member of our neurosurgical and neurological teams,” said Dr. Sadikot. “She was a pillar of support for patients and their families navigating incredibly challenging times. Her warm smile, gentle demeanor, and genuine kindness were a source of energy and inspiration for all of us.”
After retiring in the 1990s, she and Harry travelled the world, from India to China to Azerbaijan. Then, in 2002, Vivien began having symptoms like difficulty walking, poor balance, and some rigidity in her movement. Shortly afterward, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Suddenly, she had become a patient at The Neuro.
“The care she received was world-class,” said Harry. “We are so fortunate to have a place like The Neuro here in Montreal.”
They continued to travel until Vivien’s health was too poor. Sadly, she died in May 2023.
Harry began to think about what he could do to honour her. The Vivien Monn Research Innovation Fund for Parkinson’s Disease will support world-class research initiatives with clear patient impact, including equipment and the training of the next generation of leaders in the field.
“I would like to make the world a better place on behalf of Vivien,” said Harry. “The Neuro will honour her memory and use the funds well. That’s a good place where one can rest quietly.”
