2025 Bluewater Palliative Care Retreat

Thank you to all our speakers and sponsors for making this event possible!

The objectives of the Bluewater Palliative Care Retreat are to:

  • Provide learners with an update on the medical management of malignant and non-malignant conditions that people with life limiting illness encounter

  • Improve the learners confidence in communicating about serious illness

  • Enhance the learners perspective on how to care for various populations of patients facing life limiting illnesses

Please note: Attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodations.

Speakers

  • Dr. Patricia Strachan

  • Dr. Gillian Mount

  • Dr. Sheri Bergeron

  • Dr. Julie Lebert

  • Dr. Joanna Laba

  • Dr. Sunita Puri

  • Dr. Caroline McGuinty

  • Ms Freya Kelly

  • Doug George

Program

September 25, 2025
8:15 – 9:00 AM Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:25 AM Welcome
9:25 – 9:30 AM Centering Meditation
9:30 – 10:30AM Dr. Patricia Strachan: Nursing Communication Approaches and Dynamic Relational Work in Caring for those with Life Limiting Illness
10:30 – 10:45 AM Break
10:45 – 11:45 AM Dr. Gillian Mount: Palliative Care in Hematologic Malignancies
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 PM Dr. Sheri Bergeron: Palliative Care for All: Persons Experiencing Homelessness
2:00 – 3:00 PM Dr. Julie Lebert: Immunotherapy Adverse Effects
3:00 – 3:15 PM Break
3:15 – 4:45 PM Dr. Joanna Laba: Radiation for Brain Metastases: Balancing Burden and Benefit
5:15 PM Cocktails, Dinner & Social Event
September 26, 2025
8:30 – 9:10 AM Continental Breakfast
9:10 – 9:15 AM Welcome
9:15 – 10:15 AM Dr. Sunita Puri: Saying What We Mean and Meaning What We Say: Finding the Right Words for Courageous Conversations about Living and Dying Well
10:15 – 10:30AM Break
10:30 – 11:30 AM Dr. Sunita Puri: Being The Witness: Writing as a Tool for Healing and Fulfillment
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Lunch
12:15 – 1:15 PM Dr. Caroline McGuinty and Ms. Freya Kelly: Palliative Care in Patients with Heart Failure
1:15 – 2:15 PM Doug George: Culturally Safe Care for Indigenous People
2:15 – 2:30 PM Closing Remarks

The in person portion of this program will take place at Oakwood Inn, Grand Bend and moderated by Dr. Evan Lilly and Dr. Allison Crombeen. For virtual attendees, please note the live feed will be paused during breaks and meal times.