Northern Mental Health and Substance Use Conference

I am a community pediatrician based in Vancouver, having graduated from the Northern Medical Program at UBC in 2013 and residency in 2017. As a community pediatrician my practice centres away from institutions, and I work mostly with those affected by complex behavioural and developmental conditions that require advocacy and teamwork. Through the first years of independent practice, it was clear that much needs to be done to assure equity for those with behavioural and developmental complexities which resulted in an after-hours interest in research and subsequently multiple projects - we seek to improve access for those who are typically excluded due to their diagnoses (aggression, self injury, limited spoken capacity). I do outreach to more rural communities, working in Bella Coola/ Nuxalk valley and Powell River/ Qathet regions as well as working within outlying clinics in Vancouver and psychiatry at BCCH.

I graduated from Malaspina University College in Nanaimo in 2007 and started my nursing career at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital where I worked for 10 years in acute care, outpatient care, mental health, community care, and on the code blue team with children and youth of all ages. I obtained my Masters of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner degree from UNBC in 2017 and moved to Prince George with my dog in January 2018. Since living in Prince George as a nurse practitioner I have worked in nearly every team-based clinic, but currently work at Blue Pine Primary Health Care Clinic part-time where I run my own OAT clinic and as the Clinical Lead of Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Implementation Lead of Nurse OAT Prescribing. When I am not working, I enjoy walking my 2 dogs, Pippa and Kona, cooking and crafting, spending time with my nieces Penelope and Phoebe or enjoying good food, drinks and company with my friends and partner.

Dr. Barb Kane is a psychiatrist who has been practising in Prince George since 1990. She is the head of the Department of Psychiatry at UHNBC and Medical Lead for Mental Health for NH.

Dr. Caroline Dance first developed a passion to work with individuals experiencing neuropsychiatric conditions prior to medical school, in her role as a community care aid. Her undergraduate degree in English (BA) and work in community programming supporting artistic expression emphasized the role of understanding each person's unique story and experience of their illness. After completing medical school at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2020 she entered UBC Psychiatry residency based in Prince George. Throughout her residency she pursued her interest in Neuropsychiatry by way of educational, academic, and elective experiences. Dr. Dance is now entering her final year of Psychiatry residency and her first year of Neuropsychiatry Fellowship. In the future, Dr. Dance hopes to provide patient-centered neuropsychiatric care to individuals living in rural and underserved communities.

Christine Kennedy (she/her) is a practicing psychiatrist in Lheidli T’enneh Nation/Prince George. She is the current Northern Medical Program Psychiatry Discipline Site Lead. Her professional interests are psychotherapy, particularly for depression, anxiety, and personality disorders, along with assessment and treatment of mental health disorders in the perinatal period.

Dr. Emes is a general psychiatrist, with a particular interest in helping adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Over the past eight years his practice is focused primarily on assessment and treatment services for adults with ADHD. He is very experienced with supportive, cognitive behavioural, and ADHD coaching therapies. He has many years of experience managing ADHD medications. His practice of psychiatry relies on a broad knowledge of medical, psychological, and social conditions which contribute to the causes and treatment of ADHD. He sees his role as providing patients with information, and empowering them to make their own healthcare decisions. Dr. Emes obtained his medical degree and completed a family medicine residency at the University of Alberta. Then, after working for a few years in family practice, he completed his psychiatry residency at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec with additional work at Columbia University in New York City. He previously worked at various hospitals and community mental health centres, in both urban and rural settings. Dr. Emes has also been active with medical student teaching and resident training, as clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Dmitri Zanozin finished medical school in Moscow, USSR and internship in South Africa. He did mostly surgery and trauma in South Africa for 7 years and came to Canada as a family doctor. He has done Rural Family Practice with ER for 25 years. He completed his Psych residency in Prince George. After residency, he has been working in areas of Early Psychosis, Consultation-Liaison, addictions, and adolescent psychiatry.

Dr. Emma Crowley works as a family physician, FP-OB, and addictions physician with a particular interest in Perinatal Substance Use. She spends most of her clinical time working in Prince George in a variety of settings, but also does some work at BC Women's Hospital.

Obtained BSc. Pharm and then MD at UBC. Completed IM residency at U of A, then Fellowship in Geriatrics in U of C. Currently working in St. Pauls Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital as a Geriatrician and Internist. Provide outreach visits to Chetwynd/Tumbler Ridge.

Greg Dubord, MD is the leading advocate of medical CBT—the integration of cognitive behavior therapy’s tested techniques into normal family practice appointments.

Dr. Dubord is the CPD Director of CBT Canada and the Director of the Fellowship in Medical CBT (FMCBT). Under Dr. Dubord’s leadership, CBT Canada won the National CME Program Award of the College of Family Physicians of Canada for the Certificate in Medical CBT (CMCBT), and CBT Canada became the first institution authorized by the CFPC to provide three-credits-per-hour CME.

In addition to nearly 25 years of teaching with the University of Toronto’s Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Dubord regularly gives workshops for eleven other Canadian medical schools. He has provided medical CBT workshops at every Family Medicine Forum since FMF began in 2000 (usually several per year; now over 50 FMF workshops total). He has led trainings in all ten provinces—along with the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut—and in over a dozen overseas countries. In total, Dr. Dubord has presented over 500 full-day (or longer) workshops on medical CBT.

Dr. Dubord completed his orthodox CBT training under CBT’s founder, Dr. Aaron T. Beck, and was the first Canadian Fellow of the Beck Institute. In the late 1990s the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry (now CAMH) recruited Dr. Dubord to establish the Advanced CBT Institute. He is a recipient of the University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry’s Continuing Mental Health Education Award, and the CME Teacher of the Year award from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine.

Dr Heather Siemens graduated in 2018 from the UBC Northern Family Practice Residency Program in Prince George and started working at the Northern Regional Eating Disorder Clinic soon after. She works with a diverse team of interprofessionals to provide community treatment in Prince George, and regional assessment and treatment management across northern health.

When she is not working at the eating disorder clinic or her obstetrics and family practice, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, her garden and her animals.

Ingrid has been a family physician in Prince George for 20 years. She is the Physician Lead for the Northern Gender Clinic (NGC), which provides gender affirming care to BC’s Northerners, and co-lead of a local advocacy group called Physicians for Diversity & Inclusion. Ingrid is actively involved in UBC's Family Medicine residency training program and also provides training opportunities in gender affirming care to UNBC Medical Students as well as UBC Family Medicine, Psychiatry & Pediatrics residents at the NGC. More recently, Ingrid has led the Prince George Physician Peer Support Program with the support of the Doctors of BC Physician Health Program and a fabulous local team of docs and admin. Her 2 amazing teenage children keep her busy outside of work and the whole family loves to enjoy the breathtaking outdoors BC has to offer whenever they can!

Dr Prigmore is a Family and Addiction doctor based in Prince George. He is the Northern Health medical lead for addiction medicine and works in the detox unit, youth treatment centre and the virtual addiction clinic, as well as providing inpatient consults at UHNBC.

Originally from Wales, he moved to PG in 2003.

Dr Laila Drabkin (she/her/hers) is currently completing Psychiatry Residency training through UBC and is based in Vancouver. She previously obtained a degree in Biology Psychology and then completed medical school through the UBC Island Medical Program. Prior to entering medical training, she worked in community based roles supporting youth and families, which left a lasting impression on the importance of interdisciplinary team based care, creative solutions, and play. Though the majority of her training has taken place in larger city centers, she has been grateful to connect with rural communities through outreach clinics and electives throughout medical training. In her role as the Outreach Representative for the UBC Psychiatry Residency Program, she aims to expand the connection of other residents to rural training opportunities as well. Dr Drabkin is now entering her final year of Psychiatry residency and her first year of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship through UBC.

Specialized in the care of Older Adults, I work with my own private practice patients, at the University Hospital of Northern BC providing consultative services and with UBC to teach both residents and medical students in the care of the elderly. I am also partnered up with the Alzheimer's Society of Canada and we have recently completed the National Dementia Guidelines for Primary Care Providers. I am pleased to work with a great team of allied health professionals and geriatric psychiatrists and GP COEs at our SOAS Clinic.

I am a life-long resident of Prince George and spend my time working a self-sustaining farm operation. When time permits, I play in the vast outdoors both on my Placer Claim and spending time hunting and fishing. It is an honour to be asked to present at this years' conference.

Dr. Lawrence Fredeen is originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and has called Prince George home for thirty-two years. He took over a solo Family Practice in 1992, which included several patients on methadone treatment. This led to an increasing awareness of the need for effective addiction treatment in all realms of medicine, including Family Practice, Emergency and Obstetrics. Addiction Medicine is now a major focus of Dr. Fredeen’s practice.

Dr. Fredeen has been certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (2010 - present) and is an active member of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. He functioned as the Regional Addiction Medicine Lead for the Northern Health Authority (NHA) from 2002 - 2023, which included the initiation and development of the Nechako Opioid Agonist Treatment Clinic (OAT). He started and developed the Northern Viral Hepatitis Clinic and functioned as its Medical Director from 2002 to 2010. He was a Peer Practice Assessor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC from 2011 to 2017, where he reviewed OAT prescription practices of provincial physicians. He was also a member of the Methadone Maintenance Committee for the College of Physicians and Surgeons, developing policies and procedures around OAT prescribing in BC. He is a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of British Columbia, instructing medical students and family medicine residents on the topics of Hepatitis, Addiction and Family Medicine.

Dr Fredeen continues his work with the Regional Addiction Medicine Program through NHA and with his busy Family Practice which is now shared with three other physicians. On the rare times he has off, he enjoys traveling with his wife and family and spending time at the cabin on Bednesti Lake.

Matthew Burkey is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with an interest in public health focused on the mental health needs of rural youth and families. He completed his MD, PhD and MPH at the Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Public Health, and has been practicing in BC since 2016. His clinical practice is based in Williams Lake, and he is the Medical Lead for Child/Youth Mental Health for Northern Health and for Interior Health. He enjoys exploring the outdoors with his partner and 3 daughters.

Dr. Siobhan Key is an Obesity Medicine and Family Physician (with added competencies in ER and Palliative Medicine) and has been a member of the Prince George medical community for 18 years. She received certification through the American Board Of Obesity Medicine in 2018. Siobhan is focused on improving the lives of people who live with obesity by removing the stigma around care. Her journey to understand why sticking to healthy eating is tough for patients (and us) led her to integrate coaching in her care, offering patients supportive and effective tools for behavioural change.

When not working, you can find Siobhan somewhere on the trails with her 2 canine running buddies or hanging out at the lake with her kids.

After completing my BSc Honours in biochemistry and molecular biology at UNBC, I completed medical school through UBC’s NMP. I am now a fourth-year UBC psychiatry resident in the Prince George track. Over the course of residency, I have developed an interest in various areas including psychodynamic/psychanalytic theory and child and adolescent psychiatry. Once I have completed residency, I hope to continue to provide mental health care to patients in the North.

I grew up on Vancouver Island and completed my MD at the University of British Columbia. I wanted to do a family medicine residency in a rural location and chose Prince George. This medical community immediately welcomed me to the North and I fell in love with the isolation, nature and wonderful people here. I have practiced in Prince George since in my full service family practice. I earned a special competency in Emergency Medicine and practiced Emergency Medicine at UHNBC for 12 years. A large part of my practice is maternity care. I became involved in systems improvement work with the Prince George Division of Family Practice in 2014 and have worked specifically with improving access to Mental Health and Substance Use services since 2017. As a family doctor, a large part of my practice involves mental health care and this is difficult work. My hope is to improve access to MH services in Northern Health so that patients suffer less and spend more time happy and healthy.

Graham Hall is the Executive Lead for Mental Health and Substance Use. He has over 15 years of experience in mental health and substance use programs, and for the past eight years has been the Manager, Specialized Community Mental Health and Substance Use programs in Prince George.

Graham holds a Master of Health Studies degree, providing a foundation in research, health sciences and policy development.

Beyond his professional achievements, Graham is dedicated to his family. He resides in Prince George with his wife Amy and their three amazing and active children. His commitment to both his family and his community underscores his passion for making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Graham’s academic background, combined with his clinical and operational experience provide him with a unique perspective and knowledge base to continue to enhance the quality and accessibility of mental health and substance use services in Northern Health.