Dr. William R. Miller, one of the world’s most cited scientists, is the featured speaker at a two-day Treating Addiction seminar in Whistler next March.

Renowned addictions expert to speak at Whistler conference

Health care professionals who treat patients with addictions have a rare opportunity to learn from renowned psychologist  Dr. William R. Miller at a Treating Addiction conference in Whistler.  The two-day seminar is March 10 and 11, 2016 at the Whistler Conference Centre.

Dr.  Miller, who accepts relatively few speaking engagements, is an Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico and co-director of the Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions (CASAA).  His publications include 40 books (e.g. Motivational interviewing in health care: Helping patients change behavior) and more than 400 articles and chapters. The Institute for Scientific Information lists him as one of the world’s most cited scientists.

This seminar will explore the latest clinical science associated with treating addiction and discuss how it can be integrated into practice. The full continuum of care is addressed providing a menu of evidence-based treatment methods. This seminar is meant for professionals in the field — both generalists and specialists — and decision-makers to provide an up-to-date foundation for helping individuals and families experiencing addictive disorders.

Click here to see a brief interview of Dr. Miller discussing Alcoholics Anonymous. You can see more interviews of Dr. Miller in CBC’s The  Nature of Things documentary Wasted, Jan 21, 2016 at 8 pm.

Conference marks launch of Sea To Sky Knowledge Exchange

The conference marks the launch of the Sea to Sky Knowledge Exchange initiative, a partnership between Vancouver Coastal Health’s Sea to Sky Mental Health and Addiction Services  and Sea to Sky Community Services to create more robust culture of knowledge exchange .

“This is the kick-off event to creating and supporting a culture of learning and professionalism in relation to mental health and addictions,” says organizer Kevin Fraser, Manager, Mental Health & Addictions Sea to Sky Corridor. “Smaller events will be held throughout the year, but we intend to conference annually.”

Tickets are limited and the event is expected to sell out quickly. Please note the first 100 tickets purchasers will also have free access to an evening before catered event (March 9th ) which will have a special presentation and discussin on Youth & Addiction facilitated by a psychiatrist, Dr. Steve Mathias.   VCH employees are eligible for discounted tickets, which can be purchased at http://seatoskyknowledgeexchange.ca/tickets/
For more information, email conferences@seatoskyknowledgeexchange.ca