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.
Sherri Hayden, PhD, R.Psych
is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor with the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She is also a faculty member of the UBC Women's Health Research Cluster. Dr. Hayden has been at UBC Hospital in the Clinic for Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders since 1993.
Dean Foti, MD
is originally from Ontario, and completed medical school training at McGill University in 1989. Gradually migrating westwards, he completed his residency in Neurology at the University of British Columbia, moving south to complete two years of fellowship training in Behavioural Neurology at UCLA. Dr. Foti has been on staff at Vancouver Hospital since 1996. He holds the title of Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC). His practice is in Behavioural and General Neurology, and his main areas of interest are dementia assessment and management and education of residents and fellows. He is involved in the Clinical Trials program at the Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders at UBC Hospital.
Silke Appel-Cresswell, MD
is a movement disorder neurologist and Associate Professor for Medicine/Neurology at the University of British Columbia. She holds the Marg Meikle Professorship for Research in Parkinson’s disease and directs the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre at UBC. Her research focusses on the role of the microbiome in Parkinson’s disease, and other brain disorders, nutrition and lifestyle interventions as well as non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. She is the founding director of the BC Brain Wellness Program and has previously served as the president of the Canadian Movement Disorder Society and the Director of the Canadian Residents Course for Movement Disorders.
Penny Slack, MSc, CCRP
is a research coordinator at the Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, UBC. She has administered neuropsychological tests and coordinated several studies at the clinic since 2009. She has most recently coordinated the national recruitment campaign for the CAN THUMBS-UP study, which is testing an online educational program (Brain Health PRO) that teaches participants about lifestyle changes that may help lower their risk of dementia
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.
Alex Henri-Barghava, MD
is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at UBC, based in Victoria, where he teaches in the Island Medical Program. He is a behavioural neurologist who works at the Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospitals.
Jen Lyle, MHA
is the Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. Prior to joining the Alzheimer Society of B.C., she was the founding CEO of BC’s continuing care workplace safety association, SafeCare BC. Jen has also previously worked in a dual role as a health-care practitioner and the Director of Operations for a Burnaby-based rehabilitation organization and has collaborated on research looking at the impact of design on people living with dementia. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Health Administration from the University of British Columbia.
B Lynn Beattie CM MD FRCPC
was the founding director of the UBCH CARD from about 1983, making this year the 40th Anniversary of the beginning of the Clinic. The mandate of the Clinic was to provide clinical assessment and management for referred patients, education and counselling for individuals and groups and to be involved with research, projects undertaken by Clinic personnel themselves or in cooperation with others locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. The critical value of working in the Clinic was engaging with a professional interdisciplinary team, learning from them and providing the best possible help for individuals and their carers in the dementia journey. For the 30 years I was involved, I look back and value the high level of continuing education for all the members of the team. I recognize that much of the learning was directly from our patients and their families.
John Andru
is Director, Campaigns at VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. He works directly with individuals, corporations, and foundations who are interested in supporting Vancouver Coastal Health including the Clinic for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. He led the Foundation’s Brain Breakthroughs Campaign which raised over $42 million to enhance patient care and advance research into all neurological conditions.
Amy Freeman, MSW
is the social worker for the Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders and has practiced in the health care field for over two decades. Amy’s role at the clinic involves supporting patients and families to navigate health care resources; assisting with transitions to care settings and consulting on home-based care. In addition, Amy is a certified fitness trainer and nutrition coach and has a special interest in the impact of diet and exercise on caregiver resilience. She is also a fitness instructor with the B.C. Brain Wellness Program.
Sally-Anne Stelling, PT
is the exercise lead at the BC Brain Wellness Program and works alongside students in the UBC Physical Therapy and Research Clinic. Her role includes assessments, exercise prescription and program development. Having obtained a Physiotherapy degree from Pretoria University, she has worked South Africa, Scotland and Canada in both public health and private practice and has experience in acute care, long term rehabilitation and outpatient settings. She brings her experience in neurological rehabilitation, orthopaedics, women’s health and geriatrics to the program. Sally is passionate about helping people function to the best of their ability, to facilitate and improve functional movement and assist people in reaching their goals.
Philip Lee, MD
is Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and an Associate Member of the Division of Neurology. He is an internist who completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine. He also completed a behavioural neurology fellowship at the University of Toronto before returning to practice in Vancouver. Dr. Lee cares for patients at UBCH-CARD and is a clinician educator.
