Events/Talks & Lectures

NOVEMBER 28^th 2024 – Dr. Jennifer Ritonja

Working Against the Clock: Night Shift Work as a Potential Carcinogen

Night shift work is a prevalent work schedule in Canada and worldwide, particularly within the healthcare sector. Despite the classification of night shift work as a "probable carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2007, the relationship between night shift work and cancer risk remains complex. While epidemiologic studies suggest long-term exposure increases the risk of multiple cancer types, including breast and prostate, results across studies are not consistent. In addition, the mechanisms by which night shift work may increase cancer risk are not well understood, hampering the development of effective prevention strategies. In this talk, Dr. Jennifer Ritonja will showcase the current epidemiologic evidence on the association between night shift work and cancer risk, with a particular focus on breast cancer risk. Possible biological mechanisms, risk mitigation strategies and areas for future research will also be discussed.

At the end of this presentation, participants will:

1. Evaluate the current epidemiologic evidence linking night shift work to various types of cancer, with a particular focus on breast cancer risk.
2. Identify the potential biological mechanisms through which night shift work may influence cancer development.
3. Discuss possible risk mitigation strategies to prevent risks associated with working a night shift schedule.

Dr. Jennifer Ritonja is a postdoctoral fellow in the Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology at McGill University and St. Mary's Research Centre. Her area of research specializes in identifying modifiable risk factors for cancer in women. She holds an MSc and PhD in epidemiology from Queen’s University where her graduate work focused on investigating the adverse health impacts of working night shifts in women for diseases such as breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. Jennifer's current postdoctoral work examines the impact of body fatness and physical activity on ovarian cancer risk using life course epidemiologic methods.

NOVEMBER 21^st 2024 – Dr. Sylvie Lambert

The TEMPO Canadian Cancer Trial: advancing self-management for men with prostate cancer and their caregivers

TEMPO, which stands for a web-based, Tailored, sElf-Management PrOgram, was developed to support men with prostate cancer and their caregivers. Initially piloted through a randomized controlled trial, TEMPO demonstrated promising improvements in coping skills, communication, and physical activity levels among participants. This presentation will outline TEMPO’s initial development and pilot study findings. We will then introduce the latest, large-scale sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) examining TEMPO’s efficacy and cost-effectiveness compared to usual care. This multi-stage, SMART seeks to evaluate the delivery of TEMPO using a stepped-care approach on anxiety and quality of life outcomes for patients and caregivers. Attendees will gain insights into the methodology and anticipated impacts of this unique program, designed for self-directed use without healthcare professional involvement.

At the end of this presentation, participants will:

1. Understand TEMPO’s development and pilot findings: explore the foundations of TEMPO, including feedback from preliminary studies and the pilot trial, which informed the program’s self-management tools for patients and caregivers.
2. Describe the objectives and design of the national trial: gain insights into the structure of the latest SMART design for men with prostate cancer and their caregivers.
3. Appreciate the role of lay guidance in self-management programs: understand the rationale and anticipated benefits of introducing lay guidance for non-responding participants and its hypothesized impact on anxiety and overall program effectiveness.

Prof. Sylvie Lambert is an Associate Professor and Associate Director of Research at McGill University's Ingram School of Nursing. She also holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Illness Self-Management Support Interventions for Patients and Their Family Caregivers. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating sustainable self-management interventions for patients with cancer and other chronic illnesses, as well as their caregivers. Prof. Lambert has been recognized for her contributions to research. In 2024, she received the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) Research Excellence Award. Throughout her career, Prof. Lambert has secured more than $7M in funding. Notably, she was awarded a $300,000 health equity research grant from the Canadian Cancer Society for a project aimed at improving communication between cancer patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and clinicians. Her presentation today will be focusing on her recent CIHR project grant for $761,000. Prof. Lambert has an extensive publication record, with over 127 peer-reviewed articles and more than 100 conference presentations. Her work has significantly advanced the fields of patient education, caregiver research, and self-management interventions, contributing to improved outcomes for patients and their families.

NOVEMBER 7^th 2024 – Marie-Christine Boulianne & Adrian Mares

From Law to Practice: PIAs in Research at COMTL

This conference will examine the implications of the new Act respecting health and social services information, also known as " Bill 5," on research activities at the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (COMTL). We will address the new legal framework for Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs, known as " EFVPs " in French) in the context of research, offering a pragmatic perspective on their implementation.

We will explore the crucial role of PIAs (" EFVPs ") in obtaining authorizations to access health and social services information (HSSI) without the consent of the individuals concerned, as well as the evaluation criteria used by the competent authorities. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the new legal requirements, authorization processes, and best practices for ensuring the protection of HSSI in their research projects. The presentation will focus on practical advice and concrete strategies to effectively navigate this new regulatory landscape.

At the end of this presentation, participants will:

1. Understand the new legal framework established by Bill 5 for Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs/EFVPs) in healthcare research at COMTL.
2. Identify the requirements and processes for obtaining authorization to access health and social services information (HSSI) without patient consent.
3. Apply best practices and practical strategies for protecting health and social services information in research projects within the new regulatory context.

Marie-Christine Boulianne is a key professional at the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS-ODIM), where she supports research initiatives and ensures compliance with personal data regulations. She brings extensive experience in health services administration and specializes in implementing Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) under Quebec's Law 25. Prior to this role, Marie-Christine was a project coordinator in mental health research for the CRISP group at the Douglas Institute. Her work focuses on promoting ethical research practices and robust data governance in the health sector.

Adrian Mares is a professional at the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (COMTL), where he works in the field of personal information protection. He focuses on the operational implementation of data protection policies, conducting privacy impact assessments (PIAs, known as EFVPs in French), and managing confidentiality incidents. Adrian actively participates in staff training activities and coordinates the Committee on Access to Information and Protection of Personal Information (CAIPRP). Previously, he was a research professional for the research and information management component at the Health Technology and Intervention Methods Assessment Unit. His approach is grounded in his training and professional experience in document and information management, allowing him to bring a comprehensive perspective to information protection in the health sector.

OCTOBER 24^th 2024 – Émilie Provost

Nurse Practitioners in Mental Health, What Exactly Can They Do?

This presentation will cover the following:

Brief history of Nurse Practitioners in North America; the role of a Nurse Practitioner in mental health in Quebec right now; legal limitations of the role; what can NPs in mental health bring to the table?

At the end of this presentation, participants will:

1. Have a better understanding of the Nurse Practitioner’s profession and professional responsibilities.
2. Identify the legal limitations of a Nurse Practitioner in Mental Health.
3. Identify what these professionals can bring to the table in terms of opportunities for the health sector.

Emilie Provost is a Nurse Practitioner in mental health, currently working at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and in the private sector. She works with clients affected by schizoaffective disorder-bipolar type and bipolar disorder in the public while she sees a general psychiatry clientele in the private sector. She partakes in research regarding the treatment of bipolar disorders. Mme Provost also contractually teaches at the nurse practitioner Master's program at the Université de Montreal and supervises students during their internships.

SEPTEMBER 5^th 2024 – Isabelle Leblanc

"Too much pain doctor!”: Training clinicians to detect expressions of psychological distress in patients of diverse ethnocultural groups

Clinicians often struggle with identifying psychosocial stress presenting as somatic complaints. It is even harder in a transcultural context. This presentation will outline a research project aiming at creating a teaching module for clinicians on that topic. It will present finding from the research as well as the next steps to create a module for clinicians and residents from the Department of Family Medicine.

At the end of this presentation, participants will:

1. Recognize the difficulty of assessing psychosocial distress in a transcultural context
2. Identify 3 strategies to elicit psychological aspect of pain
3. Be familiar with different presentations of psychosocial distress

Dr. Isabelle Leblanc is a primary care family physician who came to medicine after training in anthropology and literature. She completed her medical studies at the University of Ottawa and her residency at McGill. In her position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, she has taught bioethics, interprofessional communication and social health issues to both students and residents in family medicine. She practices and teaches in Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal.

AUGUST 28^th 2024 – Anthony Albers

Pain Control Following Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Study Comparing Spinal Anesthesia Adjuncts vs. Fascia Iliaca Block vs. Pericapsular Nerve Group Block vs. Local Anesthetic Infiltration

This presentation will cover the following:

Background and Introduction: pain management with use of nerve blocks post hip replacement.

Study Methods and Design: four arm randomized control study.

Results: local anesthetic infiltration leads to higher patient satisfaction, lower perceived pain and lower opiate consumption.

Implications for Patient Care and Treatment: the surgical team should prioritize the use of local anesthetic infiltration over the use of Fascia Iliaca or PENG blocks in order to improve post-operative pain control and reduce costs.

At the end of this presentation, participants will:

1. Understand the levels of satisfaction with pain control after hip replacement.
2. Determine the efficacy of three nerve blocks (LAI vs. FIB vs. PENG block) vs. no adjunct (spinal anesthesia only) in post-operative pain control in patients who undergo an elective, inpatient primary hip replacement.
3. Learn about opioid consumption for pain management after surgery.

Dr. Anthony Albers completed his medical school and orthopaedic residency training at McGill University, followed by subspecialty training in adult hip and knee reconstruction at the University of British Columbia. He holds a position of Associate Professor of Surgery at McGill University and is actively involved in teaching medical students, residents and fellows. He is also the current Director of Orthopaedic Research at St. Mary's Hospital. Dr. Albers has received numerous teaching awards, including the McGill Division of Orthopaedic Surgery Educator of the Year for 2018; the Harvey H. Sigman Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award in 2020; and the Robert Turcotte award in 2022. His clinical focus includes all facets of hip and knee arthroplasty, of which he performs 350+ per year, including partial knee replacements and complex revision surgeries. He strives to deliver optimized care in a bilingual environment, leading his patients to the best possible functional outcomes.

JUNE 20^th 2024 – Harmehr Sekhon

Technological Interventions for Older Adults: An Exciting Opportunity

This presentation will provide an overview of ongoing novel technological research with older adults. The implications this work has on next steps and clinical settings. Key steps to successfully engage older adults and caregivers as partners starting from the conception and design of research studies.

At the end of this session, participants will gain an understanding of:

1. Technological interventions adapted to older adults.
2. Older adults and caregivers as partners in the research process.
3. How to design a digital literacy component for older adults.

Dr. Sekhon is an assistant professor at McGill University in Geriatric Medicine, and an Associate Scientist at St. Mary’s Research Centre. Previously, she was a CIHR and Alzheimer’s Society supported Postdoctoral Research Fellow at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School Affiliated, and at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), University of Toronto Affiliated. She has over 40 manuscripts published since 2017, and has been an invited speaker and presenter at more than 20 conferences and annual scientific meetings. In addition to her commitment to science she is also passionate about mentorship and training. Her research focus is technology based interventions (e.g.virtual reality, robotics, telehealth, wearables, etc.) for older adults.

JUNE 6^th 2024 – Diego Herrera & Nicholas Hickens

“Together towards inclusion”. The creation and participatory implementation of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan at the RI MUHC

This presentation analyzes the participatory process of creating and implementing the EDI Action Plan at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) called “Together towards inclusion”. Two questions guide the reflection: 1) What opportunities did the consultations and implementation of the EDI Action Plan create for equity-seeking groups at the RI-MUHC to be effectively recognized, heard and influential? 2) What institutional changes have resulted from this participatory design and implementation process? Through self-reflective analysis of a concrete case, we present lessons learned about the role of participatory action in the organizational changes necessary to create an inclusive work experience in a health research institute.

At the end of this session, participants will:

1. Learn, from a concrete experience, participatory methodologies to conduct consultation to create an equity, diversity and inclusion action plan.
2. Reflect on the challenges equity-seeking groups face in a health research institution.
3. Strengthen skills in the creation of actions that contribute to the creation of an inclusive environment in a health research institution.

Diego Herrera, PhD, is the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Specialist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC). He has worked sixteen years as a researcher and practitioner with Indigenous peoples, women, displaced population, and youth affected by armed conflicts in seven countries. He worked as EDI Advisor for Research at the University of Ottawa and as program specialist at UN Women Colombia and at the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) in Canada. He holds a PhD in intercultural communication and development.

As an EDI Specialist at the RI-MUHC, he is responsible for creating, implementing and monitoring strategies to make the Research Institute an inclusive work environment representative, inclusive and responsive to Canadian diversity. He leads, supports and monitors awareness-raising, training, research and strategic actions to ensure the accurate inclusion and development of full potential of the Institute’s members regardless of their gender, backgrounds or origin.

Nicholas Hickens (he/him) is a healthcare professional of Caribbean descent with experience in various research initiatives, including working for the Public Health Agency of Canada. He has a Human Nutrition, Biochemistry & Biology and Applied Sciences background from Mount Saint Vincent University and Dalhousie University. He is a candidate in the MSc Family Medicine program at McGill University. He works at the Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, investigating the state of patient-reported outcome and experience measures in HIV clinical guidelines. He serves on the review committee for the Healthy Populations Journal at Dalhousie University, the QEII Foundation Diversity in Healthcare Bursaries and two co-investigation committees addressing systemic discrimination and racial bias in Psychology EEG research and Dietetic practice. His research interests include chronic diseases and infections, optimizing and managing healthcare systems, AI in healthcare, public health ethics, and decolonizing healthcare.

MAY 22^nd 2024 – Rebecca Wyse

The RecoverEsupport Program: digital intervention to implement ERAS behaviors and support patients prepare for and recover from their cancer surgery.

Worldwide, there are over 300 million major surgeries performed each year. International ‘Enhanced Recovery From Surgery’ (ERAS) guidelines include patient-led behaviours to reduce post-surgical complications and length of hospital stay, such as early mobilisation, and rapid resumption of feeding and fluids, and breathing and physiotherapy exercises. However, patients need support to adhere to these guidelines, and a digital health intervention (DHI) may be an effective, cost-effective, and scalable solution. In response, we co-designed the RecoverEsupport intervention (with researchers, clinicians and patients). RecoverEsupport consists of a website and SMS/email prompts to encourage patient self-management using evidence-based behaviour change strategies such as information provision, goal setting, skills training, behavioural self-monitoring and feedback, and prompts and cues. This presentation describes the RecoverEsupport support research program, which includes patient surveys, qualitative studies and 2 randomised controlled trials (currently in progress) targeting colorectal and breast cancer patients. Both trials aim to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the RecoverEsupport intervention. If effective, the RecoverEsupport intervention could be rapidly scaled up and/or adapted for other surgical patient groups.

At the end of this session, participants will:

1. To gain an understanding of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Guidelines.
2. To gain an understanding of how evidence-based behavioural change techniques can be applied to the ERAS guidelines.
3. To reflect on the facilitators and barriers to implementing digital health interventions that target patient behaviours in hospital.

Rebecca Wyse is a behavioural researcher who specialises in developing and evaluating digital behavioural interventions to support the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle (NSW, Australia). She is currently a research fellow with the Cancer Institute NSW and she also holds an honorary fellowship with the Heart Foundation of Australia. Her current research focuses on helping cancer patients better prepare for and recover from their surgery and their radiation therapy.  

She has previously conducted prevention research across a range of risk factors for cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma and obesity, and has conducted effectiveness and implementation trials across a range of settings including hospitals, schools, childcare services and the home. Her interventions have been adapted for different population groups, adopted in state-wide prevention plans, rolled out across the Local Health District and reached thousands of NSW school students. She has received over $5 million in grant and fellowship funding and published almost 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts.

MAY 2^nd 2024 – Patrick Cloos

What can be said about the links between precarious migratory status and health status? Discussion of a cross-sectional study of migrants without medical insurance, Montreal.

The aim of this presentation is to discuss the social determinants of the perceived health of precarious-status migrants without medical insurance. Between June 2016 and September 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of uninsured international migrants in Montreal. We met and interviewed 806 migrants in various spaces across the city, and through a snowball strategy and media advertisements. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic, socio-economic and psychosocial characteristics, social determinants, health needs and access to healthcare, as well as health perception. In our study, almost half of migrants without health insurance perceived their health negatively. Our study also suggests a high rate of unmet healthcare needs among migrants with precarious status, a situation that correlates with poor health perception. Measures need to be put in place to guarantee access to resources and social care and services for all migrants, with or without authorized status.

At the end of this session, participants will:

1. Understand the notion of precarious migratory status.
2. Understand the links between migration status, medical insurance and health status.
3. Understand why migratory status can be seen as a determinant of health and thus contribute to social inequalities in health.

Dr. Patrick Cloos is a professor at the School of Social Work and the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montréal. His courses focus on health and the environment. Before joining the academic field, PC practiced emergency medicine in hospital and humanitarian settings for Médecins sans frontières in several regions of the world, notably in wartime. He was also Director of Public Health in Dominica (West Indies). His doctoral thesis was completed as part of an interdisciplinary program in the social sciences, and focused on public health and racism. PC is currently involved in several global health studies. In particular, he is conducting research into the links between climate change, migration and health in the Caribbean.

APRIL 4^th 2024 – Anne Bourbonnais

The relationship-centred approach with older people, or how to promote the well-being for all

Working with older adults living with cognitive impairments is often difficult because of their communication difficulties. This can lead to behaviour that is difficult to understand. This has consequences for them as well as for their family care partners and caregiving staff. The relationship-centred approach can improve everyone's experience. The principles of this approach will be outlined, based on each person's unique needs, the reciprocity of their relationships, and their shared aspirations. Examples of the application of this approach in clinical settings will be presented.

Using a relationship-centred approach when working with older adults living with cognitive impairments can help both caregiving staff and family care partners better understand the sometimes difficult or out-of-the-ordinary behaviour that these patients may show.

At the end of this session, participants will:

1. Recognize the experience of older persons living with cognitive impairment.
2. Define the relationship-centred approach with older persons living with cognitive impairment.
3. Describe strategies for implementing this approach.

Anne Bourbonnais, RN, PhD is a full professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the Université de Montréal, she is the Chairholder of the Canada Research Chair in Care for Older People and of the Research Chair in Nursing Care for Older People and their Families. She is also a researcher at the Research Centre of the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM).

She has expertise in the care of older people living with a major neurocognitive disorder. As a researcher, she is particularly interested in the behaviours of these older people and the development of interventions to promote their well-being, as well as that of their family care partners and caregiving staff, from a clinical and social perspective. For more details, click here.

FEBRUARY 22^nd 2024 – Mark Yaffe

Lay mental health self-care:  the innovative DIRECT care model

The DIRECT research group will present an overview of its comprehensive program of studies aiming to improve the management of depression for older adults. This interdisciplinary team of researchers, primary care physicians, mental health specialists, trained non-medical mental health workers, and community stakeholders has focused on understanding the complex needs of older adults with chronic physical conditions and depression. Recognizing the urgent need for mental health support in this population, it has collaboratively developed, evaluated and disseminated depression self-care interventions for use in different contexts. These models utilize brief, low-intensity psychological interventions that encourage self-care.

The DIRECT team developed a depression self-care toolkit specifically for community-based patients. The toolkit, which can be modified according to the needs of specific target populations, acknowledges the interconnectedness of mental and physical health and addresses both aspects in a coordinated manner. The team has shown the feasibility of delivering supported depression self-care based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles using telephone or internet modalities. This model of guided mental health self-care is innovative, accessible, and employs low-cost self-care tools and trained lay guides who may be recruited from communities-at-large.

Multiple randomized trials of this guidance model have been conducted by the team, demonstrating better mental health outcomes compared to both self-directed use of self-care tools as well as usual care. The team has also explored dyadic interventions involving family or friends in depression self-care to further enhance outcomes. The patient-centered approach promotes empowerment and active participation of older adults in decisions regarding their mental health and overall well-being. This model offers an option for older adults’ active management of mental health issues; and from work done using these tools on younger populations (e.g., depression in post-partum women and in cancer survivors), it appears that what is learned from using the tools may be applied preventively in later life.

At the end of this session, participants will:

1. Describe the components in a supported mental-health self-care intervention.
2. Understand how supported mental-health self-care interventions can be adapted to various clinical populations.
3. Describe the outcomes of studies having evaluated supported mental-health self-care interventions.

Dr. Mark Yaffe is a Tenured Professor of Family Medicine at McGill University, a Full Scientist at St. Mary's Research Centre and a practicing family physician at the St. Mary's Family Medicine Group. Dr. Yaffe maintains a large family practice and has received the Quebec College of Family Physicians’ Award of Excellence for his work as a clinician. He is also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement in Family Medicine Research Award from the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and an early inductee into the McGill Faculty of Medicine Honour Roll for teaching excellence. He led an interdisciplinary team that developed and validated the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI), a simple tool to assist family physicians in detecting elder abuse. The EASI has been translated into 17 languages and the World Health Organization has found it to be valid in a number of countries. Dr. Yaffe has also extensively studied family caregiving, depression and patient-self-care. Today, he speaks about the DIRECT program in which he has been involved for over 15 years. Dr. Yaffe and the DIRECT research team have recently been awarded a Seniors’ Mental Health Outstanding Care and Integrative Practice Award from the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health.

JANUARY 11^TH 2024 – Alex McComber

Considerations to Ensure Respectful Relations with Indigenous Patients

This presentation will provide participants with an overview of Indigenous world view and perspectives of health and wellness; a view of Canadian colonial history and impacts from an Indigenous lens with an aim to facilitate discussion on understanding the importance of cultural safety in building relationships with Indigenous patients.

At the end of this session, participants will:

1. Reflect on their culturally safe, personal practices of patient engagement.
2. Understand that cultural safety is a personal journey beyond attending cultural information workshops.
3. Appreciate Indigenous patients’ perspectives of seeking respectful provincial health services.

Alex M. McComber is Bear Clan Kanien'keha:ka, a husband, father, and grandfather from Kahnawake Territory, Quebec. He is a community health activist, researcher and consultant; areas of expertise include diabetes prevention, Indigenous community-based participatory research, health promotion, community mobilization and mentorship, personal and community empowerment, Indigenous health and wellness, and research ethics.

Alex was invited to join the McGill Dept. of Family Medicine in 2016 as an Assistant Professor to support the creation of an Indigenous Program within the Dept. of Family Medicine that focuses on Indigenous teachings and respectful knowledge exchange, cultural safety education in health research and care, and patient participation in health research. He has developed and delivered a graduate level course and lectures on Indigenous health research, Indigenous world view and culture, understanding colonial history and health impacts, and understanding cultural safety. He involved with various community, regional and national research endeavors including the Indigenous Health Centre of Tiohtia:ke urban Indigenous clinic; the Indigenous Expertise & Indigenous Patient Partner Circle and the McGill University Data Vaolorisaton Axis (both with the Quebec SPOR Support Unit); the Tahatikonhsontóntie' Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR); the Teionkwaienawa:kon Quebec Indigenous Mentorship Network (QIMNP); and the Indigenous Youth Mentorship Project (IYMP).

Download relating reading materials:

• Shaheen-Hussain, S., Lombard, A., & Basile, S. (2023). Confronting medical colonialism and obstetric violence in Canada. Lancet (London, England), 401(10390), 1763–1765. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01007-3
• Antone, B. & Hill, D. (1992). Ethnostress: The Disruption ofthe Aboriginal Spirit. London. Tribal Sovereignty Associates.

DECEMBER 14^TH 2023 - Elena Parvez, MD FRCSC

Immigration status and disparities in breast cancer outcomes in Ontario

This presentation will help participants understand some of the challanges and barriers faced by immigrant women with breast cancer when accessing care. Population level data from Ontario demonstrating differences in quality of care measures for immigrant and non-immigrant women with breast cancer will be presented.

At the end of this session, participants will: 

1. Understand the differences that exist in quality of care measures between immigrant and non-immigrant women in Ontario.
2. Understand the limitations of the data available on immigrant populations and avenues for future research.

Dr. Elena Parvez is a Surgical Oncologist at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Center in Hamilton, Ontario and Assistant Professor of Surgery at McMaster University. The focus of her clinical practice is in breast cancer surgery. She completed medical school and general surgery residency at McMaster University, and went on to complete a Surgical Oncology fellowship at McGill University. She attained a Master of Science from the University of Toronto, with training in both clinical trials and qualitative research. She is the recipient of the W.E. Noonan Fellowship early career award and the New Investigator Fund from Hamilton Health Sciences to support her research to build a better understanding of breast cancer care for immigrant women.

DECEMBER 7^TH 2023 -  Sara Ahmed, PT, PD

Integration of digital health and data to achieve patient-centered care 

The  BRILLIANT learning health care community focuses on patient-centered care through digital health and data feedback to focus care on individuals and their families' needs. Developed based on rehabilitation best practices, BRILLIANT integrates digital health tools for both patients and clinicians, aiming to enhance the quality of care for individuals with chronic conditions. Key features include a patient health portal, clinical information system, and various technologies to monitor and improve community-based rehabilitation. This system supports transitions from in-patient to community care, particularly for those with cardiovascular and neurological conditions.  The program's multidisciplinary approach, involving healthcare, engineering, computer science, and other fields, emphasizes collaboration with patients, clinicians, and industry partners. This presentation will showcase BRILLIANT's role in setting new ways of approaching person centered care using data-driven, patient-centered rehabilitation care and its potential for broader application in healthcare.

At the end of the session, participants will:

1. Understand the role and benefits of digital health in personalized healthcare.
2. including clinical information systems and monitoring patient reported outcomes and mobility.
3. Discuss advancements in patient-centered care through multidisciplinary collaboration and data-driven approaches.

Sara Ahmed, PT, PhD, is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, and a senior scientist at the McGill University Health Center. Professor Ahmed conducts research aimed at improving health outcomes for individuals with chronic diseases. Her research addresses the implementation of digital health solutions and patient-centered outcomes across trajectories of care to inform clinical and health system decision-making. She leads a research program in person-centered digital health research and is the Scientific Director of the international BRILLIANT learning health community project.  She is an advisor for the Implementation of Patient-Centered Outcomes for the Quebec Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR). Professor Ahmed is leading the development of a provincial Digital Health Network that aims to advance the training of the next generation of digital health scientists and innovators, and accelerate the development, implementation, and evaluation of patient and clinician digital health solutions.

NOVEMBER 16^TH 2023 -  Pierre Lemay, Directeur adjoint de la performance et de la valorisation des données (DQEPE)

L'entrepôt de données clinico-administratives du COMTL : valoriser nos données pour innover dans les soins aux patients

Over the past few years, CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal's business intelligence center, Perfocentre, has built up a data warehouse and developed expertise in the creation of data-based management and decision-making tools. This clinical-administrative data is a strategic organizational asset, enabling us to innovate and improve patient care in our various facilities. However, not knowing about the possibilities of leveraging this clinical-administrative data in research projects is difficult. The aim of this presentation is to promote the discoverability of the data managed by the Perfocentre and the access mechanisms. This presentation will cover the architecture of the warehouse, the sources of the data integrated into it, the mechanisms for accessing the data and requesting support from the Perfocentre team.

At the end of the session, participants will:

1. Know the data available according to the information systems integrated in CIUSSS-ODIM's data warehouse. 
2. Understand the data infrastructure and operation of the Performance and Statistics Department (Perfocentre), CIUSSS-ODIM's business intelligence center.
3. Be familiar with the process for sending requests for support or access to data to the Performance et statistiques department (Perfocentre).

With a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's in public administration, Pierre Lemay has been working in the health and social services network for nearly 15 years. He has held various positions in data analysis, performance management, data governance and decision support. He is now Assistant Director of Performance and Data Valorization at CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, where he works to deploy a culture of measurement, performance management and continuous improvement.

NOVEMBER 9^TH 2023 -  Raphaël Guyard et Thomas Baracos

Innovation sociale : du développement de services de proximité au changement de systèmes

This presentation will address the links between social innovation and system transformation. The presenters will propose a framework for supporting entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial initiatives that aim to generate social transformations in a context of complexity. The concepts presented will be illustrated by examples from players in the Quebec ecosystem. Particular attention will also be paid to links with the healthcare system.

Raphaël Guyard is a consultant in the MIS strategic support department. In particular, he provides support for collaborative innovation experimentation planning processes. He is also regularly called upon to provide training in innovation and social entrepreneurship to institutional and public players, and to support innovation ecosystems. Raphaël holds a bachelor's degree in product design and a master's degree in design research, and has taken creativity courses at HEC Montréal and IDEO. He is particularly interested in the effects of innovation labs in strengthening individual and collective capacities in institutional settings.

A senior consultant at MIS, Thomas Baracos initially worked in geopolitics, where he carried out over 100 consulting mandates in political risk management and governance in 20 countries, on 3 continents and in 4 languages. Since then, he has led territorial development projects in Quebec and Canada, with a particular interest in the socio-economic development levers of transition. He holds a master's degree in economic intelligence from King's College London and trained at Harvard Business School. In 2022, he was named one of Canada's 250 Emerging Leaders by the Governor General.

OCTOBER 15^TH 2023 -  Mylaine Breton, MBA, Ph.D.

Accès aux services de première ligne : un défi toujours contemporain

Access to front-line services is a priority for everyone. Problems of access to front-line services have persisted for over twenty years in Quebec, both in terms of the high number of Québécois who have no affiliation with a front-line professional, and the high number of Québécois who report not being able to see a professional quickly in an emergency situation. A number of solutions have been implemented over the years to improve access. The objectives of this presentation are to present an overview of the situation in Quebec and discuss the solutions that have been put in place.

Mylaine Breton, MBA, PhD, is a full professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke's Longueuil campus, and holds the Canada Research Chair in Clinical Governance on Primary Health Care. She was awarded the prestigious 2019-2020 Canadian Harkness Fellowship in health care policy and practice to complete a sabbatical year at the Havard Medical School Center for Primary Care. Mylaine's research program consists of applied research projects carried out in partnership with clinicians and managers to improve the organization of healthcare services. Her current research focuses on front-line services, and aims to better understand promising organizational innovations to improve accessibility and continuity of services. In recent years, she has primarily engaged in consultation to organizations seeking to improve psychological safety of their workforce and clinical practice of cognitive-behavioural therapy. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia and an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University.

SEPTEMBER 15^TH 2023 -  Dr. Anthony Albers

Osteoarthritis: Myths and Misconceptions

This conference aims to educate and inform the public about the myths and misconceptions surrounding osteoarthritis. In addition, participants will have the chance to learn about joint health, disease prevention and treatment.

Dr. Albers completed his medical school and orthopaedic residency training at McGill University, followed by subspecialty training in adult hip and knee reconstruction at the University of British Columbia. He holds a position of assistant professor of surgery at McGill University and is actively involved in teaching medical students, residents and fellows. He is also the current director of orthopaedic research at St-Mary’s Hospital. His research interests include technology adoption in orthopaedics, outcomes of total hip and knee arthroplasty, surgical robotics and outpatient total joint replacements. Dr. Albers has received numerous teaching awards including the McGill Division of Orthopaedic Surgery Educator of the Year for 2018, the Harvey H. Sigman Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award in 2020 and the Robert Turcotte Altruistic Patient Care award in 2022. His clinical focus is the treatment of hip and knee arthritis, specifically all facets of hip and knee arthroplasty. He strives to deliver optimized care in a bilingual environment, leading his patients to the best possible functional outcomes.

JUNE 1^ST 2023 -  Dr. Julia Chabot & Sophia Mondestin

Music Interventions for the Facilitation of Sleep in the Acute Geriatric Setting: a 3-arm Randomized Controlled Trial

This feasibility study examined the impact of music and non-musical sound listening interventions on the facilitation of sleep for patients admitted to the geriatric assessment unit (GAU). A questionnaire was used to measure patients’ subjective view of their sleep quality, and secondary outcomes such as mood, pain level, and number of medications used for sleep were also measured

Dr. Julia Chabot is a geriatrician working at St. Mary’s Hospital. She completed a master’s degree in psychology research at Université de Montréal and her research interest is about the use of music in the geriatric population.

Sophia Mondestin is currently a 5th year Geriatric Medicine resident at McGill University. She completed her medical degree and Internal Medicine residency at McGill University as well. She will be starting her practice in Geriatric Medicine in Gatineau, QC this upcoming fall.

MAY 18^th, 2023 - Hinatea Lai, MSc & Bertine Sandra Akouamba, PhD

Self-care for mental health: concept definition and models

The purpose of this conference is to present the results of the Self-Care for Mental Health project. The results of this work have led to the development of a definition of the concept of self-care and the proposal of an ecological model of self-care in mental health.

Hinatea Lai holds a Master's degree in Public Health from the Université de Montréal. She will join the team of the Unité d'évaluation des technologies et modes d'intervention en santé et services sociaux (UETMIS-SS) of CIUSSS de l'ouest-de-l'ile-de-Montréal (CIUSSS ODIM) in 2019.

Bertine Sandra Akouamba holds a PhD in microbiology and immunology from the Université de Montréal. She has been working in technology assessment and intervention methods (TAMI) for over 11 years. First, at CHU Sainte-Justine in 2012; then at INESSS in 2016; and since 2018, at UETMIS-SS of CIUSSS ODIM

May 4^th,2023 - Sydney Wasserman

Coping-Together Advanced: Evaluating the acceptability of Coping-Together for patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers

The aim of this qualitative study is to evaluate the acceptability of Coping-Together, a self-directed self-management intervention originally developed for patients with an early-stage cancer and their caregivers, among patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers.

Sydney Wasserman is a registered nurse clinician and has been working clinically at the Emergency Department, while also conducting research in the field of psychosocial oncology under the supervision of Dr. Sylvie Lambert

April 20^th 2023 - Dorothy Williams PhD

Exploring Black care-giving in Quebec predating the 20^th century

• Origins of Blacks as caregivers during Quebec's period of enslavement. 
• Evolution of Black caregivers as household and institutional labour. 

Dr. Williams will address caregiving's legacy of marginalization affected community development, migration, and demography in Quebec throughout the past centuries.

Photo by Muhammad-taha Ibrahim  (Unsplash)

March 30th, 2023 - Dan Bilsker Phd

Supported self-management (SSM) for depression: 

A 15-year project 

Dr. Dan Bilsker is a Director of Vancouver Psych Safety, a consulting firm,  Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of BC and an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University.  The conference will focus on The Antidepressant Skills Workbook, a tool developed to improve supported self-management of depression.

The Antidepressant Skills Workbook was developed to enhance supported self- management of depression. It is available for free download in 7 languages and is evidence-based, user-friendly and feasible for wide dissemination. It has been downloaded over 2 million times globally.

The surprising potential of supported self-management for depression will be discussed. 

March 16, 2023 - Jeannie Haggerty Phd & Victoria Wicks MSc(c)

Jobs To Be Done:

A new perspective on needs assessment

Needs assessments are used to identify how product or services can better meet the gap between a current state and a desired outcome for a target group. The Jobs to Be Done Theory focuses on why that gap matters.

What started out as a project to understand patients’ top needs in navigating the health system turned into a broader exploration of the functional, emotional and social dimensions of that need to better identify relevant solutions.

Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash

February 16, 2023 - Miriam Carver et Tamara Carver

Let’s Talk Conflict!

We all experience differences of opinion and conflicts every single day in both our work and home lives. Yet for the most part we are not educated in how to talk to each other in these situations, so we either avoid them all together because we’re afraid to make things worse, or perhaps we jump right in and create the outcomes we most fear. The reality is that however good or bad we are at dealing with conflict we can learn to be better. 
Following this talk you will be able to:

• Define what conflict is 
• Identify approaches to use when you are facing differences of opinion or conflicts 
• Explore triggers to escalating conflict 
• Apply a simple and effective process to use when having difficult conversations 

It will be a highly interactive and engaging session and we look forward to meeting and working with you.  

Invited Speakers:

Miriam Carver  MEd, President of Carver Institute Inc., an organizational development firm providing learning and consulting services to a wide variety of clients across North America and globally. She is an expert in the field of conflict resolution and is a certified international workplace mediator.

Tamara Carver PhD, Director of the Office of Ed-TECH (Education Technology and E-learning Collaboration for Health) for the McGill University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Health Sciences Education and an Associate Member of the Department of Surgery.

Photo by Tim Gouw sur Unsplash

January 26,  2023 - John William Kayser RN, PhD, CPMHN(C)®

The implementation of Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare at the Montreal West Island Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre 

John William Kayser is a Senior Nursing Advisor in the Nursing Directorate of the Montréal West Island CIUSSS, a member of the SBNH Clinical Partnership Group, and a lecturer at the Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University. 

Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership (SBNH-L) provides a value-driven philosophy intending to humanize our fragmented healthcare system. This approach is founded upon a unique partnership across three health networks and their academic centre, the Ingram School of Nursing, McGill that shares a common goal and commitment to a culture of lifelong learning and excellence in nursing.

The challenge is how to translate this philosophy into nursing leadership and clinical practice, which targets behaviours, beliefs and attitudes of care among diverse stakeholders at all levels of our healthcare system.

The objective of this presentation is to describe the strategic approach to implementation of SBNH at the Montréal West Island CIUSSS and across three University Health Networks in Montreal. 

December 15, 2022 - Guillaume Fontaine, RN, PhD

An introduction to Implementation Science and an overview of key considerations for successful implementation efforts

This webinar will explore the historical roots, disciplinary origins and rationale of Implementation Science and provide an overview of models, theories, frameworks and tools that can be used in research and on the field to implement and evaluate innovations.

Guillaume Fontaine is a researcher at the Center for Nursing Research at the Jewish General Hospital and a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow (CIHR) in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. He is also a member of the Center for Implementation Research and the Psychology and Health Research Group at The Ottawa Hospital. (Presentation in French)

OCTOBER 31, 2024 -  Alexandra Sabin

Co-create solutions to meet the needs of caregivers and seniors

Our aim is to foster open dialogue and build meaningful connections between the community and our researchers. With a strong foundation in caregiving research at SMRC—spanning from interventions supporting caregivers' mental health to studies on caregiving roles in chronic illness—this event offers a unique opportunity to strengthen collaboration and bridge the gap between community knowledge and health research.

The St. Mary's Research Centre is part of the St. Mary's Hospital Centre, a facility of the Centre universitaire intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Ouest-de-l'Île de Montréal. CRSM's community conferences aim to disseminate academic and scientific research throughout Côte-des-Neiges and Montreal, ensuring that the knowledge gained is shared with the communities we serve.

This conference features a keynote speaker :

• Alexandra Sabin (Founder, Siaana Tech) who will present the topic “Organizational and technological innovation: co-constructing simple, practical solutions for caregivers and people losing their autonomy” (Lecture will be given in French)

Click here to participate via Teams. 

May 8 2024 -  Dr. Louise Potvin and Dr. Anita Koushik

Wellness and Behavioural Interventions

The SMRC Community Conferences aim to link research, communities and healthcare professionals, encouraging the exchange of knowledge. This Community Conference will focus on the theme of Wellness and Behavioural Interventions, encouraging action on the social determinants of health (such as tobacco and physical activity) to improve health outcomes.

Join us on May 8, 2024 for an in-depth look at healthy behavior indicators and how local environments affect food insecurity.

Refreshments will be provided. 

Register here to participate in person. 

Click here to join via Teams. No RSVP required for online participation. 

OCTOBER 23rd 2023 -  Sylvie Lambert, Ilja Ormel, Nina Morena & Nicholas Meti

SMRC Breast Cancer Research: Putting Patients First

To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the St. Mary's Research Centre is holding a community conference on October 23rd at 12pm on the 4th floor of the Hayes pavilion. The conference will feature an exclusive discussion with St. Mary’s researchers dedicated to enhancing the quality of care for breast cancer patients. Our distinguished speakers include Sylvie Lambert, Ilja Ormel, Nina Morena and Nicholas Meti. The discussion will be moderated by Ari Meguerditchian, Scientific Director of the SMRC.

For those who are unable to attend in person, we are pleased to offer virtual attendance via Zoom.