Join the True North Forum on Jan. 17

Kick off the New Year by joining our new forum on Thursday, Jan. 17: the True North Forum. It reflects the VCH True North goals that all of us – senior leaders, managers, physicians and staff – have in common. We might be working on different projects and using different strategies, but these goals are the desired end result.

Based on your feedback, the True North Forum is replacing the Strategic Implementation Forum or “SIF” that you may have attended in the past. Take a look at how things used to be, and how our new forum will be different (we think you’ll get the picture).


Mark your calendar!

Our True North Forum will only be a success if you are there, either in person or by webcast.

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013
1 – 3 p.m.
Add the forum to your Outlook calendar now.

Attend in person at the Paetzold Auditorium, VGH

Seating is limited. Please register on CCRS.

Attend via webcast

You can join the forum online, using one of these links when the event is starting: Silverlight Player or Classic Viewer.

Create a bookmark now. No registration required.

You must have one of the players (Silverlight Player or Classic Viewer) installed on your system—check with Service Desk for assistance with this. New to webcasts? Check out this short video about how it works.

The recorded webcast will continue to be available after the event.

What’s on the agenda?

As you can see below, our focus for this forum is on the First Nations Health Authority. It aligns with our True North goal of promoting better health for our communities.

This is what you’ll have a chance to hear and participate in:

  • You will be welcomed by our president and CEO, Dr. David Ostrow, as well as Larry Grant, a Musqueam First Nation elder.
  • You’ll learn about the First Nations Health Authority and its relationship with VCH, from Dr. Patty Daly, vice president of Public Health and chief medical health officer, and Marilyn Ota, senior advisor to Public Health and FNHA vice president of Policy, Planning and Strategic Services.
  • Dr. Jat Sandhu, regional director of Public Health Surveillance, will talk about Aboriginal population health status.
  • Tonya Gomes, Aboriginal Health clinical practice initiatives lead for Vancouver, will present a draft framework intended to help all of us be more culturally aware and competent when caring for patients, clients and residents of Aboriginal communities.
  • Consultant Mara Andrews will discuss a VCH initiative aimed at bringing Aboriginal and First Nation communities together with primary and community care teams, and also identifying health care gaps in urban, rural and remote communities.
  • There will be time for a panel discussion and Q&A with the above leaders.
  • We’ll move on to celebrate our People First award recipients! We will recognize staff who have gone above and beyond to serve the needs of our patients, clients, residents or colleagues.
  • As part of the closing remarks, Linda Dempster, executive director of Quality and Patient Safety, will share our recent Accreditation survey results.

The agenda is also available on VCH Connect.