Conference 2023
Public Health and Equity in the Digital Age
Thank you to all who attended the 2023 Conference.
We look forward to welcoming you at our 2024 Conference next November!
Our Call for Abstracts is now closed. Thank you to all who submitted. Click here to see our draft program at a glance!
Scientific Program Committee
We are pleased to introduce Dr. Alex Choi and Dr. Shannon Freeman, our Scientific Program Committee co-chairs for our 2023 conference.
Dr. Alex Choi – SPC Co-Chair
Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health
Clinical Instructor, University of British Columbia
Dr. Alex Choi is the Medical Health Officer for Vancouver Coastal Health. She is a dual-certified family physician and public health specialist physician, and a Clinical Instructor at UBC. She holds a Medical Degree from McMaster University, a Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology from UBC, and has served populations through public health work at the local, regional, and international levels. She has a strategic interest in the role of artificial intelligence in shaping population health and public health practice.
Dr. Shannon Freeman – SPC Co-Chair
Associate Professor, School of Nursing, UNBC
Academic Director, Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North
Academic Director, UNBC Research Data Centre
Dr. Shannon Freeman is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at that University of Northern British Columbia. Dr. Freeman has expertise in the health and social care needs of older adults in rural and northern communities, both among community-dwelling adults and those in long-term care.
She holds a PhD in Health Studies and Gerontology from the University of Waterloo and an MSc in Internal Medicine and Rehabilitation from Tohoku University School of Medicine in Japan.
Since moving to northern BC in 2014 to pursue research, Dr. Freeman has spearheaded and contributed to a number of cutting-edge projects in the area of aged care, including establishing CTAAN, the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North in 2019, an AGEWELL national innovation hub and collaborating center dedicated to enhance innovations in technology development and implementation to support older adults in rural and northern communities (www.ctaan.ca).
Dr. Freeman was awarded a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research – AGE-WELL Network of Centers of Excellence (NCE) 2020 Scholar Award. Dr. Freeman’s interest in improving quality of life and care for older adults shows through her engagement in a range of community-partnered research activities, which are having a real-world impact on the rural and northern communities where the research is taking place.
Scientific Program Committee Members
Shannon Turner | Executive Director, Public Health Association of BC |
Ginelle Smith | Operations Manager, Public Health Association of BC |
Selenna Ho | Communications Director, Public Health Association of BC |
Emily Faris | Events Manager, Public Health Association of BC |
Lovey Dhesi | Administrative Coordinator, Public Health Association of BC |
Dr. Simon Carroll | Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria |
Dr. Ihoghosa (Muyi) Iyamu | Doctoral Researcher, BC Centre for Disease Control |
Dr. Geoff McKee | Medical Director, Population and Public Health, BC Centre for Disease Control |
Dr. Irving Rootman | Adjunct Professor Emeritus, University of Victoria |
Heather Oullette | Community Health Nurse, Northern Health Authority |
Astou Thiam | CEO and President, GCSPAP Research Society |