On Wednesday, July 20th, Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell and the BC Brain Wellness Program invite you to join our annual celebration of World Brain Day! The World Federation of Neurology has selected the theme "Brain Health for All", which aligns with our vision and mission at the Brain Wellness Program.
Please join us to learn from keynote speaker Dr. Roger Wong and his research and approaches surrounding dementia care and enjoy a special presentation from BWP Co-Founder, Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell on lifestyle interventions from promoting brain health for all.
We will also be joined by participants of the BWP who will share the impact of participating in our Intergenerational Program as well as how the BWP supports brain health for all through the lens of one of our BWP families including a participant, a care partner, and healthy ager.
Speakers
Dr. Roger Y.M. Wong, CM, BMSc, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FCAHS
Dr. Roger Wong is a Clinical Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine in the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Medicine and is a Consultant Physician of the Geriatric Consultation Program at the Vancouver General Hospital. He is the Vice Dean (Education) in the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Wong has been appointed to the Order of Canada, the first time a geriatrician is appointed to the country's highest civilian honour, for his contributions to the field of geriatric medicine, including the advancement of policies, education and specialized, culturally sensitive health care.
Dr. Wong received his M.D. degree with Honours in Research from the University of Alberta and completed his postgraduate and fellowship training there. He was elected to the Fellowship of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, one of the highest honours in the health sciences field in Canada. Nationally, he is a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Geriatric Medicine and Internal Medicine Examination Boards, and internationally, he was elected to the Fellowship of the American College of Physicians.
Dr. Wong has received a number of prestigious awards in recognition of his exceptional national leadership in the field of seniors’ health care, including the Ronald Cape Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the health care of older adults in Canada and is the highest honour given by the Canadian Geriatrics Society. He is also awarded the Lions Club International Medal of Merit, a number of Awards of Appreciation from the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia to recognize his advocacy work in the community and numerous medical education awards.
Dr. Wong works tirelessly to advance academic and clinical health sciences related to geriatrics, and his work has made significant impact on the care for older people in Canada and the world. He was the 13th President of the Canadian Geriatrics Society and founded the state-of-the-art Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit in Vancouver, which has been implemented nationally and internationally. His clinical research focuses on hospital medicine in vulnerable older adults, including quality improvement in acute care geriatrics.
Dr. Wong has published and lectured extensively on geriatric medicine and medical education. He is also a TEDx Speaker, and his TEDx Talk has been viewed by international audiences around the world.
Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell – Co-Founder/Director
Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell is a movement disorder neurologist, Associate Professor and Marg Meikle Professor in Parkinson’s disease at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and the UBC Movement Disorder Clinic/Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre at the University of British Columbia. She holds the Marg Meikle Professorship for Research in Parkinson’s disease. She is a Co-Founder and Director, of the BC Brain Wellness Program to foster wellbeing in chronic brain disease and aging through exercise, arts, nutrition, mind care, and education.
With a strong athletic background, 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. With an extensive interdisciplinary research program, she is investigating the role of the gut microbiome with the goal of finding new approaches to neurodegenerative disorders. She has founded iCAPTURE PD, a movement disorder registry following nearly 2,000 participants. In addition to Parkinson’s disease, dystonia is a particular interest of her work, especially ultrasound guidance for injection treatment with botulinum toxin.
She also serves as President of the Canadian Movement Disorder Group, as the Director of the annual National Canadian Neurology Residents Course for Movement Disorders, as well as Co-Director of the Canadian Course for Ultrasound Guidance of injection therapy in dystonia. She serves on the Educational Committee of the Pan-American Section of the Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society and is a recipient of the UBC/Medicine Master Teacher Award.