Latest news with #Kuntz
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Alberta appeals court's injunction against new transgender health-care rules for kids
EDMONTON — The Alberta government has appealed an injunction granted by the courts that prevents the implementation of restrictions around health care for transgender minors in the province. In late June, Justice Allison Kuntz concluded that the new rules, which passed late last year but were not fully in effect, raised serious Charter concerns that needed to be hashed out in court. She granted an injunction until those issues could be settled. 'The evidence shows that there is a benefit to the public in issuing the injunction because it will allow this marginalized group to continue receiving medical care from trusted doctors and a broader team of health professionals thereby avoiding the adverse consequences the Ban will have on them,' Kuntz wrote in her decision. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. On July 25, the provincial government appealed the injunction to the Alberta Court of Appeal, arguing that Kuntz had erred in pausing the restrictions. Last year, the Alberta government passed legislation that sought to ban doctors from providing treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to those under the age of 16 and enacted a total ban on gender-reassignment surgery for minors in the province. In response to the changes, Egale Canada, an LGBTQ advocacy group, along with the Skipping Stone Foundation and five transgender youth, sued the Alberta government and sought a pause on the new rules until the courts could decide on their constitutionality. At the time the injunction was issued, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith vowed to fight on. 'The court had said that they think that there will be irreparable harm if the law goes ahead. I feel the reverse,' Smith said on her radio program, Your Province, Your Premier, the day after Kuntz's decision was issued. Asked about the decision to appeal Kuntz's ruling, Heather Jenkins, a spokesperson for Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery, said in an emailed statement that the legislation was passed to 'protect children and youth when making life-altering and potentially irreversible adult decisions about their bodies. 'Alberta's government will continue to vigorously defend our position in court,' Jenkins wrote. Amery was not made available for an interview. Bennett Jensen, the director of legal at Egale Canada, said the advocacy group respects the right of the government to appeal the decision, but that the province was seeking to interfere with 'the relationship between doctors and patients by seeking to ban medically necessary, evidence-based care for an already marginalized group of youth.' 'We urge the Government to focus on the real challenges facing Alberta's health care system. This is not one of them,' said Jensen in an emailed statement. Last December, Smith had said that using the Notwithstanding Clause — which would allow the law to stand irrespective of what the courts concluded — is also an option before the government, although Smith maintains that the government can win in court and won't pre-emptively use the notwithstanding clause to shield its rules from court scrutiny. The medical treatment of transgender minors has become a major policy debate since the release of the Cass Review the U.K. in April 2024, which disputed some of the evidence surrounding the treatment of gender dysphoria in minors. The Alberta government moved to enact the most stringent restrictions in Canada on health care for transgender minors last fall. 'Prematurely encouraging or enabling children to alter their very biology or natural growth, no matter how well intentioned and sincere, poses a risk to that child's future that I, as premier, am not comfortable with permitting in our province,' Smith said last November. The Alberta Medical Association has spoken out against the United Conservative government's restrictions, arguing that the treatment options provided — including the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy — follow the standards of care set out by the Canadian Paediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics. 'Governmental interference by legislating medical therapy options is inappropriate, unethical and represents serious government overreach into the practice of medicine and patient/family rights to autonomy in their health care decisions,' the group's pediatrics section wrote in a statement last November . Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Winnipeg Free Press
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Can't really think of a better way to start off my professional golfing career'
Braxton Kuntz is hoping to make this a summer for the ages. The 22-year-old Winnipegger — already one of the most decorated amateur golfers in Manitoba history — is on the cusp of turning professional after graduating from Ball State University in Indiana this past May. Kuntz won't have to travel far for his first 'play-for-pay' event. He's secured a sponsor's exemption into the Manitoba Open, which takes place next month at his home course of Breezy Bend, featuring top talent from the PGA Tour Americas. 'I can't really think of a better way to start off my professional golfing career,' Kuntz told the Free Press on Tuesday. NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS FILES Braxton Kuntz will play his first pro tournament at his home course of Breezy Bend in August at the Manitoba Open. NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS FILES Braxton Kuntz will play his first pro tournament at his home course of Breezy Bend in August at the Manitoba Open. 'That's the place that has supported me since I was really young, and now to be able to turn pro and compete in front of the people that have been a part of it for years is really special. I'm really looking forward to it.' However, Kuntz isn't getting ahead of himself. He has two big tournaments left on his personal calendar between now and then which will require his undivided attention. First up is the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship next week at Royal Ottawa Golf Club. Kuntz earned his spot by winning a record-setting four straight Manitoba Amateur titles (2021-24) and finishing tied for third at last year's national event in Saskatoon. The Canadian Amateur boasts an impressive list of past champions, including current PGA Tour players Mackenzie Hughes and Nick Taylor, as well as legends like Richard Zokol, Jim Nelford and Moe Norman. The last Manitoban to win it was Rob McMillan back in 1996. After that, Kuntz will tee it up at the prestigious U.S. Amateur Championship from Aug. 14-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. He punched his ticket through a two-stage qualifying process — tying for third on July 2 in Minnesota to advance, then grabbing one of seven final spots after finishing third this past Monday in Kansas City. 'That's going to be a fun way to finish the amateur career,' said Kuntz, who will be one of just a handful of Canadians in the field. Former U.S. Amateur champions include some of the biggest names in golf history: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Bob Jones and Phil Mickelson. 'That's the place that has supported me since I was really young, and now to be able to turn pro and compete in front of the people that have been a part of it for years is really special. I'm really looking forward to it.'–Braxton Kuntz Kuntz had never attempted to qualify for the event before but made it a priority this year. That meant making the tough call to skip a shot at a fifth straight Manitoba Amateur title, which was held last week at Southwood. 'They had split the U.S. Amateur qualifying into two stages. After I got through the first one, you had to pick from a few different sites (for the second) and rank them first to third choice. If I didn't get my first choice, which was Kansas City, I would have had to go to Iowa, which would have been in the middle of the Manitoba Amateur,' he said. Kuntz still had a front-row seat at Southwood, caddying for good friend and fellow Breezy Bend member Allan McDonald, who finished sixth. Evan Nachtigall of Shilo claimed the title by three shots. 'It was a little weird to walk around the golf course and not at least be reaching for a golf club,' Kuntz said, laughing. NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS Braxton Kuntz won a record-setting four straight Manitoba Amateur titles between from 2021 to 2024. NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS Braxton Kuntz won a record-setting four straight Manitoba Amateur titles between from 2021 to 2024. 'I would say I'm happy that I played well this week (at the U.S. Amateur qualifying) because I took the week off to work on my game and am glad that paid off. I feel a lot better about my decision. And I'm super happy for Evan. Such a great guy, such a good player, and I'm really happy for him.' Kuntz, Manitoba's male golfer of the year for four consecutive years, has continued pushing to improve his game. Last fall, he was named to the men's Team Canada NextGen squad, working under national coach and fellow Winnipegger Derek Ingram and utilizing a wealth of resources and training at his disposal, including amateur events around the world. In addition to sharpening his game, Kuntz has been working on the off-course challenge of raising funds. Cory Johnson, the general manager at Breezy, has been assisting in that department as well by trying to drum up local support. 'Pro golf is expensive, right?' said Kuntz. 'I've been trying to meet with a lot of business owners and build some relationships and hopefully secure some funding. So that, when I do turn pro, I can take the steps needed, compete in qualifying schools and make a good career out of it. Obviously some people have very wealthy parents and can fund it through that way, but for the majority of talented golfers, you need a whole host of people and business behind you.' That was certainly the case for Manitoba's top current professional, Aaron Cockerill, who worked his way up from the Canadian Tour with the help of sponsors before breaking through in 2019 on what is now the DP World Tour. The 33-year-old from Stony Mountain has earned more than $3.5 million overseas. 'Pro golf is expensive, right?'–Braxton Kuntz 'I've sent quite a few emails and not heard a whole lot back,' said Kuntz, who can be reached directly at braxtonkun25@ 'It's hard, but it's a slow process. It's not done overnight, but I'm putting the work into it.' A strong showing at the Manitoba Open (Aug. 21-24) could speed up that process. The past three winners — Johnny Keefer, Hayden Springer and Parker Coody — are already playing PGA Tour events. 'Obviously, I'm very familiar with the golf course, but it's shaping up to be a lot tougher than it usually is. They narrowed the fairways and are growing out the rough,' he said. 'It'll be fun to be able to play in front of all those people that I've gotten to know over the years.' Assuming he secures enough sponsorship support, Kuntz plans to enter at least two qualifying schools this fall, with the Korn Ferry Tour (PGA Tour feeder), DP World Tour and Asian Tour all in consideration. 'Doing all three would be chaotic and expensive,' he said. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'But if I could pick one or two and get hot at the right time — that's how Aaron Cockerill got on — then hopefully I can get my card. If not, there's a lot of mini-tours I can play on down in the southern U.S., and then hopefully I'll find a place in Phoenix or Florida where I can go and keep myself sharp.' Fortunately, Kuntz has a strong Plan B after an excellent collegiate career. He graduated with a 3.96 GPA in finance and received Ball State's medal of excellence. He also helped lead the Cardinals to a pair of second-place team finishes while being their top scorer. 'My parents always told me academics are just as important as athletics and you gotta have a backup plan. So I put a lot of effort into that as well,' said Kuntz. 'So I come out of school with a good-looking degree, a pretty decent resumé and, in the end, if golf doesn't work out, I can hopefully get an attractive job. But right now I'm fully in on golf. Pretty big next six weeks for me. Two national championships and then my first pro start-up. I'm pretty excited.' X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg Mike McIntyreReporter Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike. Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Business Wire
17-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Elucid Names Richard E. Kuntz, MD, MSc and Shamiram Feinglass, MD, MPH Board Directors
BOSTON & SCCT ANNUAL MEETING, MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elucid, an AI medical technology company focused on providing physicians with a more precise view of atherosclerosis to drive patient-specific therapeutic decisions, has made two additions to its Board of Directors. The company named Richard E. Kuntz, MD, MSc and Shamiram Feinglass, MD, MPH as board directors. The appointments will help guide Elucid as it accelerates its clinical research strategy, commercializes its flagship PlaqueIQ coronary plaque assessment technology, and continues development of its investigational FFR prediction model, based on PlaqueIQ. Share These appointments will help guide Elucid as it accelerates its clinical research strategy, commercializes its flagship PlaqueIQTM coronary plaque assessment technology, and continues development of its investigational FFR prediction model, based on PlaqueIQ. PlaqueIQ is the first and only FDA-cleared, non-invasive plaque analysis based on objective histology rather than subjective CCTA visual estimates. PlaqueIQ quantifies and classifies plaque morphology based on ground-truth histology, the gold standard for characterization of plaques. The software is designed to help physicians prioritize and personalize treatment based on actual disease, rather than population-based risk. An experienced medical technology executive and clinical expert, Dr. Kuntz is former senior vice president and chief medical and scientific officer of Medtronic plc. Prior to joining Medtronic, he was the founder and chief scientific officer of the Harvard Clinical Research Institute (HCRI), a university-based contract research organization that coordinates National Institutes of Health (NIH) and industry clinical trials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Kuntz has directed several multicenter clinical trials and has authored more than 250 original publications. Dr. Kuntz was an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, chief of the division of Clinical Biometrics, and an interventional cardiologist in the division of cardiovascular diseases at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Feinglass is a managing director at Manatt Health working across the business, medical, and policy needs of health systems, life sciences, medical device, digital health and diagnostic companies globally. A global leader in health care, Dr. Feinglass has served as an executive and chief medical officer in large multi-national life sciences corporations including Danaher and Zimmer-Biomet. In parallel, she has driven policy changes alongside senior government officials around the world to influence health policy, regulation, and access. A former regulator at U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and commander in the U.S. Public Health Service with extensive regulatory and legislative experience, Dr. Feinglass is on faculty at the John's Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health and is a member of the Board of Directors of Sandoz AG. 'We are honored that Dr. Richard E. Kuntz and Dr. Shamiram Feinglass have joined Elucid's Board of Directors,' said Elucid CEO Kelly Huang, PhD. 'Rick lends an important and experienced interventional cardiology view, as well as expertise in clinical trial strategy and execution, and product innovation strategy. Coupled with Shami's unparalleled expertise in market access, policy making, and regulatory strategy, the two will be invaluable as we push forward our vision of a future where cardiac care is personalized, precision patient care versus risk factor and population-based care.' About Elucid Elucid is a Boston-based AI medical technology company dedicated to developing technology designed to provide physicians with a more precise view of atherosclerosis (coronary plaque buildup), the root cause of cardiovascular disease. The company's PlaqueIQTM image analysis software is designed to help physicians prioritize and personalize treatment based on actual disease, rather than population-based risk of disease. PlaqueIQ includes the only FDA-cleared computed tomography angiography (CTA) algorithm that objectively quantifies plaque morphology validated against ground truth histology, the gold standard for characterization of plaque, as indicated by renowned pathologists. PlaqueIQ equips physicians with critical information regarding the type and amount of plaque in arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke. Elucid is also pursuing an indication for FFR CT , derived from its plaque algorithm, to help identify coronary blockages and the extent of ischemia non-invasively. For more information, visit
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hamburg the latest club credited with interest in Bella-Kotchap
Southampton's Armel Bella-Kotchap could depart the club this summer but his future has been (Image: PA) RECENTLY promoted Bundesliga side Hamburg are the latest club credited with interest in Saints defender Armel Bella-Kotchap. Bella-Kotchap is keen on a return to Germany after three years at Saints, and also has reported interest from Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Advertisement Hamburg sporting director Stefan Kuntz is familiar with Bella-Kotchap, having handed the now 23 year old his under-21 debut in 2021. Hamburger Abendblatt report that Hamburg have renewed their interest in the out-of-favour Saints defender ahead of their Bundesliga return. Armel Bella-Kotchap pictured during a brief cameo against Cardiff City. (Image: Matt Watson / Southampton FC) READ: 'Interesting profiles' - Still shares first impressions of Quarshie and Matsuki Bella-Kotchap played just five times for Saints last season, once in the Carabao Cup and four times in the Premier League, and was particularly not fancied by Russell Martin. Advertisement The two-time Germany international was eventually handed minutes when a centre-back injury crisis hit Saints, but fell out of favour again when players returned to fitness. Southampton manager Will Still has admitted the club need to sell players before making further additions this summer, in order to trim the size of his squad. They have made progress with that, having already sold Kamaldeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu, while Kyle Walker-Peters, Joe Lumley and Adam Lallana's contracts expired.
USA Today
28-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers LS calls Mike Tomlin 'literally ruthless' despite being a player's coach
Many love to criticize Steelers HC Mike Tomlin for being a player's coach — but LS Christian Kuntz believes everyone has the wrong idea. On Thursday's Kaboly + Mack podcast, Kuntz argued that Tomlin is just as 'ruthless' as he is motivational: 'Everything that's said in the public, and the way he acts, is truly the way he acts in the locker room in front of us,' Kuntz said. 'Motivating, you know, he's gonna get it out of you. People call him a player's coach, and yeah, obviously he's a player's coach, 'cause you see how many guys want to come play with him. A player's coach, yes, but he's gonna get on your a--. He is gonna let you know about every single finer detail; he is going to call you out. If you're not doing your job, you're being held accountable.' Recently, Steelers legend James Harrison also weighed in on Tomlin's player's coach mentality — considering it both his best and worst quality. How Tomlin's ruthlessness will mesh with the Aaron Rodgers-led offense remains a mystery — but the Steelers are hopeful this union will finally end their postseason misfortune. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
