Ottawa ON
Canada
Connect & Learn | Ottawa-Gatineau
Join us in Ottawa-Gatineau for an evening of connection, conversation and community.
Connect & Learn is a chance to come together with others affected by a blood cancer – including people living with a diagnosis, caregivers, healthcare professionals and supporters – to learn, share experiences and feel part of a stronger community.
Hear from experts on the latest developments in blood cancer care, explore important topics like treatment innovation and managing side effects and gain valuable insights from people with lived experience who understand the challenges and realities firsthand.
More than an educational event, Connect & Learn is an opportunity to ask questions, make meaningful connections and leave feeling informed, supported and empowered.
Whether you are newly diagnosed, supporting someone you love or simply want to better understand blood cancer, everyone is welcome.
Explore the full agenda below and save your spot today.
Location:
Canada Science and Technology Museum
1867 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1G 6M7
Click here for a map
Schedule:
5:00 – 5:30 pm: Registration and light dinner
5:30 – 5:35 pm: Opening remarks
5:35 – 6:30 pm: Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue and Brain Fog
Cancer-related Fatigue and Brain Fog are among the most common side effects experienced by blood cancer patients and can have a huge impact on quality of life and day to day functioning. This presentation will provide an understanding of the causes of fatigue and brain fog as well as an overview of evidence-based strategies and available supports to help patients cope better and feel more hopeful moving forward.
English session: Patricia Barrett, RN, BScN, MNRS, NBH-WHC
French session: Malick Ouattara6:30 – 6:35 pm – Interactive activity
6:35 – 6:45 pm – Break
6:45 – 7:40 pm – From drug discovery to clinical application, discussion of how drugs are being approved for reimbursement in Canada | Dr. Pierre Villeneuve
Join us for an evening of clarity designed to pull back the curtain on the how drugs are being approved and reimbursed in Canada and demystify the treatment approval pathway . We will break down how healthcare teams evaluate your unique health status to identify the best treatment path, navigate the complexities of medication approvals, and explain the strategy behind different lines of therapy.
Note that this session is in English, with French materials available7:40 – 8:00 pm: Lived experience testimonial | Keegan Morin
8:00 – 8:15 pm: Closing remarks
Patricia Barrett is a registered nurse who has worked as a Cancer Coach and Group Facilitator since 2013. She has worked with individuals and their families through all stages of cancer. Her areas of particular interest and experience include: improved coping with symptoms and treatment side effects, managing stress and emotions related to cancer, returning to work after cancer, implementing healthy lifestyle changes, and caregiver support.
Keegan Morin is an incoming MD student at NOSM University and currently conducts research at the CHEO Research Institute. A survivor of stage IV Burkitt’s lymphoma, Keegan is passionate about patient advocacy, rural healthcare, and blood cancer awareness. Originally from Northern Ontario, he hopes to pursue a future career as a hematologist-oncologist.
Malick Ouattara is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology with an M.A. in Gerontology. His doctoral research investigates the longitudinal evolution of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment among older adults undergoing breast cancer treatment. Specifically, his work explores how psychosocial factors shape cognitive outcomes over time in this vulnerable population.
Dr. Pierre Villeneuve is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and he is a member of the Blood Diseases Centre at The Ottawa Hospital. His clinical areas of expertise are myeloproliferative neoplasms and leukemias. His clinical research focuses on improving treatments for myeloproliferative neoplasms. He also has a research focus in health economics.
No. This event is free to attend.
Everyone is welcome. Connect & Learn is open to people living with a blood cancer diagnosis, caregivers, family members, healthcare professionals and anyone interested in learning more about blood cancer care and support.
Yes, advance registration is encouraged to help us plan for seating and event materials.
Connect & Learn is designed to be an engaging and welcoming evening featuring expert speakers, practical education, lived experience perspectives and opportunities to connect with others in the blood cancer community.
Yes. There will be opportunities throughout the event to ask questions and engage with speakers and other attendees.
Not at all. Whether you are newly diagnosed, in treatment, post-treatment, supporting a loved one or simply looking to learn more, the event is open to you.
We are happy to offer you a light dinner before our program begins.
We aim to host events in accessible spaces, including this Connect & Learn event. If you have specific accessibility needs or questions, please contact us in advance so we can help support your attendance.
Yes, we are pleased to offer attendees free, on-site parking.
For English inquiries, please contact: Isabella Garofalo, Community Services Lead, West Ontario: [email protected] or 647-253-5508.
For French inquiries, please contact: Jolyane Pelletier, Community Services Lead, Quebec West: [email protected] or 438-266-0326
This event was made possible thanks to the support of:
