Improvements across complex health-care systems are established through building a culture of innovation and a community of collaboration. With this in mind, Accelerate Okanagan, BC Cancer, Interior Health, and The University of British Columbia have joined forces to host an annual Future of Health Forum for health researchers, clinicians, innovators, entrepreneurs, and members of the public to connect and exchange ideas.
Top talent from across the country will take the stage at the Innovation Centre in Kelowna on October 18 to explore the current state of cancer care in BC and the ground-breaking research that is shaping the future of health in our province.
This forum was designed to foster connection and provide a platform for the exchange of ideas around research and innovations in cancer care. The schedule of events follows the patient journey from preventing and detecting the disease through to diagnosis and treatment to finding ways to support survivorship and a patient’s quality of life.
Track 1 | Technology for Communicating with Patients
Snap! In this fast communicating world, there are ample platforms for us to improve the way we communicate with patients. Join us in exploring today’s landscape of communication and technology and uncovering how we can leverage these new channels to improve the patient journey.
Dr. Kevin Wade
PALLIATIVE CARE PHYSICIAN CONSULTANT, BC CANCER
After graduating from UBC Vancouver, Dr. Kevin Wade spent his early years in practice as a locum family doctor gaining experience in rural areas such as Princeton, Grand Forks and Iqaluit.
He completed a year of added competency training in palliative medicine in 2019, and has joined BC Cancer Kelowna as a palliative care consultant. He sees complex patients who receive care in multiple settings: Clinic, hospital, home, and hospice. He is interested in how these settings can be made more seamless through technology. He also works as a reservist with the Canadian Armed Forces.
Dr. John Oliffe
PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR RESEARCH, SCHOOL OF NURSING, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Dr. Oliffe’s research program addresses a diverse range of men’s health issues. Founder and lead of the UBC Men’s Health Research program, he focuses on the influence of masculinities on men’s male health behaviours and illness experiences and the implications for tailored services.
Oliffe’s contributions provide key services and insights to assist clinicians and researchers promote men’s health. His research findings have been featured in academic conferences, workshops, and peer-reviewed publications.
Bernice Budz
VICE-PRESIDENT, BC CANCER
Throughout her career, Bernice Budz has focused on working to benefit others, foster quality of care, and encourage patient engagement. Bernice has an extensive background in both the healthcare and education sectors. Her experience has been developed through clinical practice, education and leadership positions in large tertiary centers, community hospitals and ambulatory clinics. In these capacities, she has worked in cardiovascular sciences, general surgery and critical care.
In her current role, Budz leads the interprofessional practice, as well as the patient engagement, education and survivorship programs. She is also responsible for professional practice leadership for nurses, psychological services, nutrition, rehabilitation and spiritual care.
Track 2 | Empowering Patients with Choice
Each stage of this journey presents its own set of challenges. Today there are new options for relieving pain, ending suffering, enhancing decision-making, and improving quality of life. Join us in exploring some of these new options, including the use of new technologies, medical use of cannabis, and Medical-Assistance-in-Dying (MAID).
Dr. Pippa Hawley
Medical Director of the Provincial Pain and Symptom Management/Palliative Care Program, BC Cancer; CLINICAL PROFESSOR AND HEAD, UBC DIVISION OF PALLIATIVE CARE, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Dr. Hawley wants to improve the management of the most distressing symptoms of cancer that patients and their families can experience. In pursuit of this goal, Hawley’s research interests include the management of continuous and intermittent cancer-related pain, like the use of minimally invasive palliative procedures, methadone and lidocaine, and the management of opioid-induced constipation.
Dr. Hawley designed the Bow Tie Model of 21st Century Palliative Care and also founded the concept of Bucket List Festivals.
Michelle St. Pierre
PHD STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, OKANAGAN
Michelle St. Pierre is a Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology at The University of British Columbia and a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar. She researches the association between cannabis use and pain. In addition to her graduate research, she is the study coordinator for a study assessing the psychosocial impact of cannabis legalization on young adults. Michelle co-authored the widely disseminated Sensible Cannabis Education Toolkit – voted the #1 cannabis education resource in 2018 by the National Institute for Cannabis Health and Education.
Dr. Bernie Garrett
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Dr. Garrett’s work focuses on deception in healthcare products and services (including alternative medicine), and the use of virtual and augmented reality technologies in healthcare applications (such as pain management)
Prior to these research focuses, Garrett worked in the technological fields of educational technology, simulations, e-portfolios, and virtual and augmented reality within UBC.
Dr. Tarnia Taverner
ASSOCIATE CLINICAL PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA; SENIOR DIRECTOR, PATIENT CARE SERVICES, PROVINCIAL HEALTH SERVICES AUTHORITY
Dr. Taverner has an extensive background working as an executive in health authorities in BC and England. She was awarded a medal of distinction from the UBC faculty of applied sciences for services to healthcare and nursing.
Taverner’s research interests are in pain associated with chronic wounds, as well as virtual reality and neuropathic pain management.
Dr. Harsh Hundal
INTERIOR HEALTH AUTHORITY MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR
“At the end of the day, a request for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is an opportunity to be invited into a conversation on the quality of one’s dying.’ Harsh has worked as a rural family physician providing palliative, ICU, and ED care; as well as a rehabilitation hospitalist, and a clinical leader in mental health. He has been on multiple provincial working groups, including the initial MAiD provincial working group.
Dr. Barb Pesut
PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF NURSING, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA OKANAGAN
Dr. Pesut is engaged in finding innovative ways to enhance the care of older adults living with life-limiting chronic illness, as well as the provision of religious and spiritual diversity. She seeks to understand and address the ethical issues related to the integration of the values, beliefs and experiences characteristic of Canadian society into a publicly-funded, secular healthcare system.
Pesut has received the Centenary Medal of Achievement from the UBC School of Nursing, the Health Researcher of the Year Award from UBC Okanagan, and the College of Registered Nurses Award of Excellence in Nursing Research. She holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Health, Ethics and Diversity.
