Speakers
![Harvey Chochinov headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-02/harvey-chochinov-headshot.jpg?itok=voTJkxdh)
Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov
(Plenary speaker)
![Maxxine Rattner headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-02/maxxine-rattner-headshot.jpg?itok=abzDIDyq)
Maxxine Rattner, PhD, RSW
(Plenary speaker)
![Joshua Black headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/joshua-black-headshot.jpg?itok=lpu2Eldw)
Joshua Black, PhD
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Mireille de Reland headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/mireille-de-reland-headshot.jpg?itok=bLVF4jks)
Mireille de Réland
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Danica Hans headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/danica-hans_headshot.jpg?itok=eXvQLPB9)
Danica Hans, RN, BScN Bilingue, CHPCN(C)
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Paula Holmes-Rodman headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/paula-holmes-rodman-headshot.jpg?itok=pxkeMVYP)
Paula Holmes-Rodman, PhD
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Sarah Karesa headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/sarah-karesa-headshot.jpg?itok=daE0tiuP)
Sarah Karesa
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Sheila Killoran headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/sheila-killoran-headshot.jpg?itok=6tZy8--t)
Sheila Killoran, MA MTA FAMI
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Stephanie Laing headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/stephanie-laing-headshot.jpg?itok=2Kpu1_WS)
Stephanie Laing, MSW, RSW
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Lawrence Lee headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/lawrence-lee-headshot.jpg?itok=fbwVOkCm)
Dr. Lawrence Lee
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Meghan MacMillan headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/meghan-macmillan-headshot.jpg?itok=9Ago6ahI)
Meghan MacMillan
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Wenda Salomons headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/wenda-salomons-headshot.jpg?itok=vI9Mkx9P)
Wenda Salomons
(Concurrent session speaker)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-04/blank-board-member.png?itok=ZBNnROJt)
Dr. Megan Sellick
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Mary-Ann Shantz headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/mary-ann-shantz-headshot.jpg?itok=4ptTIyCj)
Mary-Ann Shantz
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Craig Traynor headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/craig-traynor-headshot.jpg?itok=pdrUjB11)
Craig Traynor
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Sharon Watanabe headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/sharon-watanabe-headshot.jpg?itok=pvQVLDBW)
Dr. Sharon Watanabe
(Concurrent session speaker)
![Linda Watson headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/linked_image_and_text/public/2024-06/linda-watson-headshot.jpg?itok=wLE5fTu4)
Dr. Linda Watson
(Concurrent session speaker)
Panelists
Coming soon.
Speaker bios
Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov
Dr. Chochinov is a distinguished professor of psychiatry at the University of Manitoba, a senior scientist at CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute and co-founder of the Canadian Virtual Hospice. He is a global authority on palliative care, with more than 300 career publications focused on how patients and families cope with life threatening and life limiting illness. He is the co-editor of the Handbook of Psychiatry in Palliative Medicine and his latest book is entitled Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine, both published by Oxford University Press. He is an officer in the Order of Canada and an inductee into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.
Sessions:
![Harvey Chochinov headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-02/harvey-chochinov-headshot.jpg?itok=A9H-oM_d)
Maxxine Rattner, PhD, RSW
Maxxine is a hospice/palliative care clinician and educator recognized for her expertise in non-physical suffering. During her decade of work as a hospice social worker, she supported the psychosocial needs of hospice residents and their (chosen) families and implemented a bereavement support program. Currently, Maxxine writes, teaches and does research and advocacy work on palliative and end-of-life care, suffering and grief. Her work seeks to create more space within palliative care for the harder parts of living with, and dying from, a life-limiting illness and to support patients, families and clinicians with these aspects. In her private practice, she provides clinical training, education, consultation and support to health care teams, and clinical supervision to social workers working in hospice and palliative care, long term care, cancer care, and other settings.
Sessions:
![Maxxine Rattner headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-02/maxxine-rattner-headshot.jpg?itok=f5rzQrtz)
Joshua Black, PhD
Joshua Black is a bereavement researcher, speaker, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast. He is dedicated to raising awareness of those who are bereaved who are not being provided the necessary bereavement support. Joshua works as the bereavement initiative manager for the BC Centre for Palliative Care.
Sessions:
![Joshua Black headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/joshua-black-headshot.jpg?itok=RTWE5IEI)
Mireille de Réland
Mireille de Réland is a mindfulness facilitator, consultant and caregiver. She provides well-being programs to caregivers, individuals impacted by life limiting illnesses, and the ageing. She is a member of the Canadian Centre of Caregiving Excellence Advisory Network, a social prescribing advocate and a volunteer at Kensington Health. Mireille has her certificates in mindful informed end-of-life care, and narrative based medicine from the University of Toronto.
Sessions:
![Mireille de Reland headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/mireille-de-reland-headshot.jpg?itok=MpU_K00L)
Danica Hans, RN, BScN Bilingue, CHPCN(C)
Danica Hans is the education lead for the Covenant Health Palliative Institute. Danica has experience as a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Nursing and as a registered nurse and clinical nurse educator on the Tertiary Palliative Care unit in Edmonton, Alberta.
Sessions:
![Danica Hans headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/danica-hans_headshot.jpg?itok=3jexzOsk)
Paula Holmes-Rodman, PhD
Paula Holmes-Rodman is an anthropologist, consultant, writer, caregiver, and advocate. Paula is pursuing an advanced certificate in narrative based medicine at the University of Toronto in illness narratives, solidarity storytelling, and health equity. Through Ovarian Cancer Canada, she has offered writing workshops and presented on caregiving, legacy, and storytelling.
Sessions:
![Paula Holmes-Rodman headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/paula-holmes-rodman-headshot.jpg?itok=Zqc_OSTe)
Sarah Karesa
Sarah Karesa is a Registered Psychologist, Program Manager of the Edmonton Healing Centre (a program of Jewish Family Services Edmonton which specializes in grief and loss support), and an Associate Professor with City University of Seattle’s Edmonton Campus. Additionally, she is published researcher, professional speaker, and mental health advocate with a passion for working with grief, end-of-life, and caregiving.
Sessions:
![Sarah Karesa headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/sarah-karesa-headshot.jpg?itok=Ox3N_7KH)
Sheila Killoran, MA MTA FAMI
Sheila Killoran is the education lead for the Covenant Health Palliative Institute. Sheila holds a master’s in creative arts therapies, with an interest in imagery and grief. An educator and music therapist, she teaches at the University of Alberta and has 18 years of experience at the Tertiary Palliative Care Unit in Edmonton, Alberta.
Sessions:
![Sheila Killoran headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/sheila-killoran-headshot.jpg?itok=zq9gs4B0)
Stephanie Laing, MSW, RSW
Stephanie Laing is the director of operations at Kelowna Homelessness Research Centre (KHRC) and a PhD student at the University of Calgary. Stephanie has a long-standing interest in forensic social work, psychiatry, and homelessness, and is an enthusiastic advocate for reciprocal and responsive community situated research.
Sessions:
![Stephanie Laing headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/stephanie-laing-headshot.jpg?itok=j3Ub_fQW)
Dr. Lawrence Lee
Dr. Lawrence Lee has been a palliative care physician consultant in the Edmonton Zone Palliative Care Program since 2010. He’s an associate clinical professor with the Division of Palliative Care at the University of Alberta, Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians board member and past national conference chair as well as LEAP master facilitator with Pallium Canada.
Sessions:
![Lawrence Lee headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/lawrence-lee-headshot.jpg?itok=1uISF2Qu)
Meghan MacMillan
Meghan MacMillan is a music therapist with Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice in Kitchener, Ontario. She provides bedside support to residents and their families, bereavement programs, and staff wellness supports. She supervises students from Wilfrid Laurier University, where she received her masters in music therapy.
Sessions:
![Meghan MacMillan headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/meghan-macmillan-headshot.jpg?itok=gYDXN2ps)
Wenda Salomons and Craig Traynor
As chaplains, Wenda Salomons and Craig Traynor provide spiritual care in the Mel Milner hospice at the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre. In their unique role, they innovate and shape interventions that promote the spiritual health of patients, families, and staff. For enjoyment, Wenda takes pinhole photographs and Craig creates charcoal portraits.
Sessions:
![Wendy Salomons and Craig Traynor headshots](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/wendy-salomons-craig-traynor.jpg?itok=GBdKtQX0)
Dr. Megan Sellick
Dr. Megan Sellick worked in the Edmonton zone as a palliative care physician from 2015-2022. In March of 2022 she joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s palliative care team. She is a LEAP facilitator, and member of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physician’s conference planning committee.
Sessions:
![](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-04/blank-board-member.png?itok=TqMBapRG)
Mary-Ann Shantz
Mary-Ann Shantz is a researcher, writer, and educator. Mary-Ann has a doctoral degree in history from Carleton University and six years of experience teaching history at MacEwan University. She is the research coordinator for the Palliative Institute, and since late 2020 has coordinated the Palliative Care Public Awareness project.
Sessions:
![Mary-Ann Shantz headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/mary-ann-shantz-headshot.jpg?itok=8nFYpdjZ)
Dr. Sharon Watanabe
Dr. Sharon Watanabe is a palliative care physician who currently serves as director of symptom control and palliative care at the Cross Cancer Institute and co-lead of the Provincial Palliative Care Tumour Team for Cancer Care Alberta.
Sessions:
![Sharon Watanabe headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/sharon-watanabe-headshot.jpg?itok=5OFGf8n1)
Dr. Linda Watson
Dr. Linda Watson has been an oncology nurse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for over 30 years. She has held a variety of nursing and inter-professional leadership roles within the Cancer Care Alberta (CCA) provincial program and currently holds the role of Executive Director, Supportive Care Services and Patient Experience.
Dr. Watson also holds an adjunct professor position with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary and is past President of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO). She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC).
Sessions:
![Linda Watson headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1040/public/2024-06/linda-watson-headshot.jpg?itok=aCtOINi8)
Registration now open
Register before Oct. 17 for the Palliative Care Education and Research Conference.