Cape Breton neurology team expands

Cape Breton recently hit a milestone, with three neurologists serving patients across the Eastern Zone – a record number for this region. We are excited to introduce you to this dynamic team and share what this infusion of expertise and care means for Nova Scotians.

Dr. Laith Shimon joined Nova Scotia Health more than 25 years ago. Originally from Iraq, he started his career in family medicine before shifting gears to neurology in the early 2010s – a dream supported by the then Cape Breton Health District.

He calls neurology the “art of medicine” and says one of the most rewarding parts of his job is helping patients and families navigate complex and life-altering conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular diseases, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. 

“All patients deserve quality healthcare,” he says. With more neurologists in the region, he says more people can be treated locally, meaning less travel and improved quality of life.

Laith’s work also includes teaching at Dalhousie’s Cape Breton Medical Campus and mentoring family medicine and neurology residents. In fact, that’s how he first met his neurologist colleagues – two recent graduates from Dalhousie’s Neurology program in Halifax.

Dr. Braydon Connell joined the Cape Breton Regional Hospital-based team in September 2024. Originally from Halifax, he did a number of medical school and residency rotations in Cape Breton and fell in love with the breadth of care he gets to provide in the Eastern Zone.

Braydon first became interested in neurology while completing his master of science in occupational therapy and, in particular, during his clinical rotations working with people who’d experienced stroke and spinal cord injuries.

“Patients would come in with symptoms that would often seem confusing at first – like weakness or numbness or they had some memory changes. Through talking to them, you begin to connect the pieces and try to figure out what’s going on. The process of clinical reasoning really appealed to me,” says Braydon.

“But what really drew me in was the profound impact that neurologic diseases can have on people’s lives. A lot of these diseases touch the core of what makes people human – how we move, how we communicate, how we think and experience the world. I find it incredibly gratifying to find answers for people about what’s going on, hopefully treating them and making them feel more functional in their lives.”

Braydon is also excited about research trials happening in Cape Breton, including studies around treatment for multiple sclerosis and stroke. 

“Despite being a smaller and regional centre, we’re still quite active,” he says, crediting Dr. Shimon’s efforts to spearhead this work.

Dr. Max Fiander is the newest member of the neurology team, arriving in Cape Breton from Halifax in January 2026. 

Like Braydon, he was introduced to the Eastern Zone, geography encompassing the Cape Breton, Guysborough and Antigonish areas, while in medical school. 

“My very first rotation in clerkship, in third-year of medical school, was in the emergency department at Cape Breton Regional Hospital. I had a really good experience and enjoyed Cape Breton and getting to know the people here,” he says. 

He says connecting with the neurology team during his residency – as well as the people of Cape Breton – solidified his decision to make the move.

As for his decision to practice neurology, it came down to helping people navigate uncertainty and find hope. 

“Uncertainty is really tough. I remember an elderly woman I met during my residency training who was in severe pain…her friends didn’t believe her. I remember her crying with relief when I told her ‘no, you have a condition called trigeminal neuralgia and we can treat it,’” he says. 

“Neurology is no longer just diagnosing,” he says, “it’s diagnosing and really making a big difference in people’s lives.”

No two days are the same for Max, who – like his colleagues – works with both in-patients and out-patients across all neurological conditions and needs. His work is based in Sydney but he’s excited for potential opportunities down the road to expand his reach into smaller communities.

Max is grateful for the support he’s received as he settles into his new career, mentioning Nova Scotia Health colleagues like Physician Onboarding Consultant Taylor McLean, Executive Assistant Denise Fraser, Operations Manager Sarah Witzell and Medical Affairs Lead Glen Brann, in addition to the neurology team of nurses, technicians and administrators who’ve helped him make the adjustment and feel at home.

Laith is similarly grateful for his new colleagues and the wider network of support. “We are a collaborative tight knit team. I’m very grateful to have them.

Photo of (L-R) Dr. Braydon Connell, Dr. Laith Shimon and Dr. Max Fiander. Photo by Fallon Bourgeois.