Both settlement service providing organizations as well as organizations in the health care sector have an interest in supporting newcomers to successfully access health care and to achieve good health outcomes. To achieve this, the two sectors must work together to bridge the gap between settlement and health. Newcomers need to be supported to navigate the health care system and to effectively engage in maintaining good health.

This E-Symposium will explore innovative approaches to health care and health promotion for newcomers, focusing on collaboration and communication between the settlement service provider agencies, the health sector and newcomers themselves.

Event Details and Registration:

Date: March 7, 2016
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PST)
Location: Online and/or at the Fletcher Challenge Theatre – Simon Fraser University (SFU) at Harbour Centre – 515 West Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3
Registration Cost: 

• $15.00 per online connection
• $20.00 per in-person attendance

Registration deadlines:

• For in-person participation: March 3 at 4:00pm
• For online participation: March 4

To register, click here.

***Note: If you are from an IRCC-funded organization or an AMSSA member, you may be eligible for discounted rates. Please e-mail AMSSA at events@amssa.org to learn more.

Panelists:

Ann Pederson, Director of Population Health Promotion, BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre

Ann Pederson became the Director of Population Health Promotion at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre in April 2014. Prior to joining the hospital, she worked at the BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health in a number of roles, the last as Co-Director of the Centre. In 2013-14, BC Women’s contracted with Ann and her team to conduct a project to understand the health needs and care experiences of newcomer immigrant women in British Columbia. That project resulted in the creation of fact sheets and videos to help newcomers navigate health services in BC and a mobile electronic resource to support health care providers to engage with diverse patients.  Ann has been active in health promotion research and practice for 30 years and has published several co-edited books, most recently Making it Better: Gender-transformative health promotion and Women’s Health: Intersections of Policy, Research and Practice, both by Canadian Scholars Press.

Dr. Mei-ling Wiedmeyer, Staff Physician and Medical Coordinator, Bridge Clinic in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority

Dr. Mei-ling Wiedmeyer is a staff physician and medical coordinator at the Bridge Clinic in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. Bridge Clinic provides a variety of primary and preventative health care for refugees in the lower mainland, including screening and management of infectious diseases and parasites, immunizations, mental health, primary care, minimal pediatric and internal medicine services, and referrals to community services and support groups. She completed medical school at McGill University, and did a family medicine residency and fellowship in Women’s Health at the University of Toronto, with a special concentration in refugee health.

Naomi Armstrong, Coordinator, Language Services, Fraser Health Diversity Services

Naomi Armstrong works in Diversity Services at Fraser Health Authority in BC’s Lower Mainland, one of the fastest-growing and most diverse regions in Canada. She coordinates language services, community engagement and policy development on issues related to diversity and health equity. Naomi holds a Master’s in Social Inequities in Health from Simon Fraser University and an Intercultural Studies Certificate from UBC.

Facilitator:

Caitlin Johnston, Ambulatory Program Manager, BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre

Caitlin Johnston is an Ambulatory Program Manager at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre. Caitlin’s manages programs and research related to women’s sexual and reproductive health including; contraception and abortion services, pregnancy assessment and loss, management of chronic pelvic pain, reproductive healthcare for women with disabilities, sexual assault examination and support services, and community primary care clinics for women with limited access to health services, including newcomers to Canada. Caitlin is also involved with several community based research and service projects in Canada and abroad. She co-founded, U-Tena Arts and Education Society (U-Tena), registered in Kenya and Canada. U-Tena uses non-literature based methods to provide HIV education to communities with low levels of literacy and increased vulnerability to sexual health problems.