2023 Alzheimer Update

Speakers

Haakon Nygaard, MD, PhD
is an Assistant Professor of Neurology, and the new Director of UBCH-CARD. His scientific interests include bridging the gap between basic science and patient care. He is the lead investigator on a study to repurpose a cancer drug for Alzheimer treatment.

Ging-Yuek Robin Hsiung, MD, MHSc
is an Associate Professor in Neurology with extensive experience in behavioral neurology. He has conducted many large scale multi-centre clinical trials, as well as studies in the genetic and clinical epidemiology of dementia.

Mari L. DeMarco, PhD DABCC
is a Clinical Associate Professor in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UBC and a Clinical Chemist at St. Paul’s Hospital. Her lab works collaboratively with health care providers and patients to design, build and implement new biofluid tests for use in patient care, with an emphasis on timely and accurate diagnosis of neurogenerative disorders.

Dean Foti, MD
has been on staff at Vancouver General Hospital since 1996, and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia. His practice is in Behavioural and General Neurology, with his main areas of interest dementia diagnosis and management. He provides education to family physicians and specialists in BC. Dr. Foti is an evaluating neurologist at the Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, providing clinical care, teaching of Neurology residents and Behavioural Neurology fellows, and participating in clinical research and clinical trials in dementia.

Emily Dwosh, MSc, CCGC
has worked as a genetic counsellor at UBCH-CARD since 2001, providing information and support to hundreds of families from across BC who are affected by Alzheimer disease (AD) and other memory disorders. Emily is a clinical assistant professor with the UBC Faculty of Medicine and has co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles pertaining to familial AD and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Julie Robillard, PhD
is Assistant Professor of Neurology at UBC and Scientist in Patient Experience at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital. She leads the Neuroscience, Engagement and Smart Tech (NEST) lab. Her research is focused on the development and evaluation of novel technologies to support brain health across the lifespan.
health and social media.

Silke Appel Cresswell, MD
is a movement disorder neurologist and Associate Professor in Parkinson’s disease at the UBC Movement Disorder Clinic. Her clinical and research work focuses on a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to the treatment and prevention of brain disorders. Complementary to typical medical treatments, interventions target physical and emotional wellbeing through active engagement in exercise, art, mindfulness, nutrition, enjoying nature and community building. She is co-founder and director of the BC Brain Wellness Program.
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Nita J Levy, RN Retired, SRN HV
is the Executive Director of Paul’s Club which she co- founded in 2012. Paul’s Club is a Vancouver based social and recreational day program for individuals diagnosed with a young/early onset dementia causing illness. She qualified as a Registered Nurse in England.

Barbara Lindsay, LLB
has been with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. and is currently the interim CEO, having held the titles of Director, Advocacy & Education and Director, Marketing & Communications. A lawyer whose passion is for people rather than paperwork, Barbara is committed to ensuring that the voices of people affected by dementia are heard, as the Society works towards its vision of a dementia-friendly province.

B Lynn Beattie CM MD FRCPC
is a specialist in Geriatric Medicine, attended at the UBCH CARD from its inception in late 1983 until retiring from practise in 2013. She is former President of the American Geriatrics Society and the Canadian Geriatrics Society and has served on the Board of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. She received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and was inducted into the Vancouver General Hospital Hall of Honour. She is President of the Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation and sits on the Research Committee and Board of the Pacific Parkinson's Research Institute. In 2020 she received the Order of Canada.

John Andru
has been an Associate Director, Major Gifts with VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation since 2016. He works directly with individuals, corporations, and foundations who are interested in supporting VGH and UBC Hospital including the Clinic for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. He leads the Foundation’s current priority campaign – Brain Breakthroughs – a $35 million initiative to raise awareness and funds for equipment, programs, and research.

Matthew Sacheli, PhD
is the Research Program Manager of the BC Brain Wellness Program. He has a background in clinical neuroscience, kinesiology and exercise physiology. His PhD work was completed at the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Center and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC. Dr. Sacheli joined the BC Brain Wellness Program after managing the Parkinson’s Disease portfolio and the Brain Health program at the Weston Brain Institute and the Weston Family Foundation in Toronto.
