Burnaby, BC (January 6, 2017): The British Columbia Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Danielle Martin, Acclaimed Physician and Health Care Expert, will be the opening keynote speaker for the 40th Annual Conference to be held in Whistler, BC on May 28-31, 2017. A renowned and accomplished physician, Dr. Martin practices in the Family Practice Health Centre at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario where she is also the Vice-President of Medical Affairs and Health System Solutions.
In 2015, Dr. Martin was named Canada’s eighth most powerful doctor by The Medical Post, and in 2013 was named one of The Toronto Star’s top “13 People to Watch”. Along with outlining some of the health care challenges facing seniors and Canada’s aging population, Dr. Martin will be discussing some of the areas in her upcoming book, Better Now: Six Big Ideas to Improve Health Care for All Canadians. Dr. Martin will also be participating in the opening plenary discussion focusing on best practices in providing seniors care including end of life (EOL) and residential care.
“I am honoured to have been asked to speak at the 40th annual BCCPA Conference regarding the delivery of seniors care, an issue I feel very passionate about,” says Dr. Danielle Martin. “Along with highlighting some of the challenges facing seniors and the continuing care sector it is important that we begin looking at bold fixes that are achievable and affordable.”
The opening key note and plenary session will take place on Monday morning, May 29, 2017 at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.  “It’s a great honour to have Dr. Danielle Martin address our delegates this year,” says Daniel Fontaine, BCCPA CEO. “She has been a strong national voice and has also helped to raise important issues relating to health care and seniors in Canada.”
Joining Dr. Martin on the best practices in EOL and residential care panel will be Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the UHN hospitals, and Provincial Lead of Ontario’s Seniors Strategy. Dr. Sinha’s breadth of international training and expertise in health policy and the delivery of services related to the care of the elderly have made him a highly-regarded expert in the care of older adults.
As part of this year’s Annual Conference entitled “Providing 40 Years of C.A.R.E: Collaboration, Achievement, Research and Excellence” there will also be over 24 workshops focusing on a wide range of topics for anyone with an interest in Canada’s continuing care sector. Three additional plenary sessions are also scheduled to take place including on the topics of quality and collaboration; the role of post-secondary institutions and research in continuing care; as well as a 40th year BCCPA retrospective panel.
The BCCPA Annual Conference is considered a premiere event for the continuing care sector in Canada. It is the largest sector-focused conference of its kind in Western Canada attracting well over 400 attendees last year – including over 60 exhibitors.
Dr. Danielle Martin Biography
Acclaimed Physician and Health Care Expert
Dr. Danielle Martin sees the cracks and challenges in our health care system every day. A family doctor and national media commentator on the health issues that hit closest to home for Canadians, Dr. Martin speaks with passion on our national health-care system, defending and defining the ways we can make it even more worthy of our immense national pride.
Her debate on the merits of the Canadian vs. American health systems in a U.S. Senate Subcommittee hearing in Washington, with Senator Richard Burr and Bernie Sanders, the video of her testimony went viral and has since achieved over 1.3 million views.
Currently, Dr. Martin practices in the Family Practice Health Centre at Women’s College Hospital, where she is also the Vice-President of Medical Affairs and Health System Solutions.
In 2006, her first year of practice, Dr. Martin helped launch Canadian Doctors for Medicare, representing Canadian physicians who believe in a high quality, equitable, and sustainable health system, and chaired its board until 2013. She went on to help found the WCH Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care – a hub of innovation dedicated to solving the health gaps in our system.
In 2015, Dr. Martin was named Canada’s eighth most powerful doctor by The Medical Post, and in 2013 was named one of The Toronto Star’s top “13 People to Watch”. In the media she is a regular contributor to CBC TV’s The National, and writes a monthly column for Chatelaine magazine. Her upcoming book, Better Now: Six Big Ideas to Improve Health Care for All Canadians, will be published in early 2017.
