Steven Friesen is Director, Quality, Clinical Education and Research at Bethany Care Society and holds an adjunct appointment with the University of Alberta's faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine’s Occupational Therapy department. He has held research and evaluation positions in Alberta’s public and non-profit health care sector for more than 15 years. His professional experience includes a broad focus on health service and system research and program evaluation across primary care, continuing care and acute care settings. Steven’s graduate work in environmental design and subsequent research experience emphasize a special focus on the performance of the built environment and relationship to health and health care systems.

Jennifer Mah, Dean, Faculty of Health & Community Studies

Arlene Wong

Hilary Schmidt

James Leask

Jeanine Kimura

Edythe Andison, Vice President, Clinical Support

Arlene Walsh-Starkes

Renate Sainsbury, General Manager

Sujoy Ghosh Hajra

Olivia Chubey

Adriana Rios Rincón (PhD) is an assistant professor of the Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta. She is an AGE-WELL network investigator. Her current research is devoted to investigating the use of assistive technologies to assess and promote cognitive skills and engagement in play in individuals with motor and cognitive impairment including those living with dementia. She is also interested in exploring the use of information and communication technologies and artificial intelligence to support decisions about transitions across the continuum of care in older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Hannah O'Rourke (RN, PhD) holds a Faculty of Nursing Professorship in Dementia Care Interventions at the University of Alberta and has a New Investigator Award from the Alzheimer Society. Her program of research is patient-oriented, and focuses on the design, evaluation and dissemination of interventions to improve quality of life for people with dementia. She has adapted several interventions for use with people with dementia, which are aimed to address loneliness and promote positive perceptions of intimacy and belonging in relationships with others (i.e. social connectedness) – a priority for quality of life according to people with dementia. Future studies will test whether and how well the interventions work and for whom, contextualizing the findings for sub-populations of people with dementia. The ultimate goal of Hannah’s research is to produce effective interactions that promote social connectedness, which people with dementia, and their family, friends and health care providers find acceptable for use in real world settings to improve clinical practice and quality of life of people with dementia.

Kathy Tam is the Chief Executive Officer at Wing Kei in Calgary, a position she has held since 2007. Kathy has extensive experience in continuing care and geriatric rehabilitation medicine and is currently an Accreditation Canada surveyor for other long term care centres across Canada. Throughout her career in health care, her focus has been on creating dynamic, flexible teams that meet the needs of residents and patients.

Kathy has experience in starting up a long term care centre in Calgary, Alberta as well as being on the leadership team of one of Canada’s largest centres in Edmonton, Alberta. Her entrepreneurial spirit has enabled her to develop and lead specialized outpatient, day and home care programs, developing partnerships within the health care system and externally.

Kathy holds a Masters of Science in Administration from the University of Central Michigan and is affiliated with several professional associations including the Canadian College of Health Service Executives.