People who use substances come from all walks of life and have different treatment goals, so we have a range of services that help us meet them where they’re at. Like harm reduction resources and Rapid Access to Addiction Care Clinics that provide walk-in care and referrals.

In this important conversation, Dr. Victoria Lee is joined by Dr. Sarah Mark to discuss many topics, including treatment programs, culturally appropriate services and why “resiliency” is one word that Dr. Mark would use to describe the future of health care.

Guest bio
Dr. Sarah Mark is a co-program medical director for Addiction Medicine and Substance Use Services (AMSUS) with Fraser Health, and its regional medical lead for AMSUS education.

Learn more

Substance use services
Drug checking
Rapid Access to Addiction Care Clinic
Virtual health
Overdose prevention service and sites
Roshni Clinic

About The Heart of It
Every episode, Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health, takes listeners to the heart of health care, where passion, dedication and innovation drive individual, community and planetary health.

Listen to and watch more episodes of The Heart of It here. And be sure to subscribe to The Heart of It in your favourite podcast player app so that you don’t miss a beat.

This episode of The Heart of It was recorded on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the q̓ ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt and Semiahmoo First Nations, treaty lands of the sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) First Nation, and on the home of the Surrey-Delta Métis Association.

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With a heart-shaped body, warm smile and outstretched arms, Fraser, our digital health care navigator, is here to help patients find the right service for their needs. They are just one of our many digital health services we offer to help people find information and support from the comfort of their homes.

In this captivating episode, Dr. Victoria Lee is joined by Jennifer MacGregor, and Dr. Amyeen Hassanali to guide us through how artificial intelligence is transforming patients’ and providers’ experiences, whether it be through personalized nutrition guidance, translation services, or by using our virtual psychiatry unit.

Guest bios

Dr. Hassanali serves as the chief medical information officer at Fraser Health and concurrently holds a part-time role as a hospitalist andsite medical director at Ridge Meadows Hospital.

Jennifer Macgregor is our vice president of Digital Patient and Provider Experience. She has over 25 years of experience working with health systems globally in digital health.

Learn more:

Learn more about Fraser, our digital health care navigator: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/patients-and-visitors/meet-fraser

Visit Fraser: https://askfraser.fraserhealth.ca/engage/dfd/home

About The Heart of It

Every episode, Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health, takes listeners to the heart of health care, where passion, dedication and innovation drive individual, community and planetary health.

Listen to and watch more episodes of The Heart of It here. And be sure to subscribe to The Heart of It in your favourite podcast player app so that you don’t miss a beat.

This episode of The Heart of It was recorded on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the q̓ ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt and Semiahmoo First Nations, treaty lands of the sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) First Nation, and on the home of the Surrey-Delta Métis Association.

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What do the Texas Hold ‘Em Challenge and prescriptions for exercise have in common? They’re two non-medical examples of how we’re helping older adults avoid frailty and age healthily and independently in their homes.

In this episode, Dr. Victoria Lee is joined by Dr. Grace Park and Paramjit Rai to discuss the many home-support programs within Fraser Health that are improving the health and well-being of older adults and providing respite for family caregivers.

Guest bios

Dr. Grace Park is a family physician and the regional medical director for Home and Community Care at Fraser Health.

Paramjit Rai is a health care aide/activity worker in Fraser Health’s South Asian Adult Day Program.

Learn more:

Day Program for Older Adults: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/Service-Directory/Services/Seniors---Community-Services/day-programs-for-older-adults

Home Support services: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/Service-Directory/Services/home-and-community-care/home-support-services

South Asian Day Program for Older Adults Program participants take on the Texas Hold ‘Em Challenge: https://www.instagram.com/fraserhealth/reel/C4_sUduvzMS/

About The Heart of It

Every episode, Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health, takes listeners to the heart of health care, where passion, dedication and innovation drive individual, community and planetary health.

Listen to and watch more episodes of The Heart of It here. And be sure to subscribe to The Heart of It in your favourite podcast player app so that you don’t miss a beat.

This episode of The Heart of It was recorded on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the q̓ ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt and Semiahmoo First Nations, treaty lands of the sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) First Nation, and on the home of the Surrey-Delta Métis Association.

Send us a Text Message.

Did you know that we perform more than 100,000 surgeries every year? This episode explores how we prepare patients for surgeries, how we support their recoveries, and everything that happens in between to help them have positive experiences.

Join host Dr. Victoria Lee for a fascinating conversation with Dr. Dave Konkin and Dr. Feisal Mohamedali, our regional medical directors and department heads for Surgery and Anesthesiology, respectively.

Guest bios

Dr. Dave Konkin is Fraser Health’s regional medical director and department head for Surgery. His expertise lies in performing various major abdominal operations, including gastrointestinal, colorectal, gallbladder, trauma and hernia surgeries.

Dr. Feisal Mohamedali is Fraser Health’s regional medical director and department head for Anesthesiology. His team specializes in caring for seriously injured patients resulting from car accidents, gunshots and stabbings.

Learn more

Fraser Health virtual health: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/patients-and-visitors/virtual-health

About The Heart of It
Every episode, Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health, take listeners to the heart of health care, where passion, dedication and innovation drive individual, community and planetary health.

Listen to and watch more episodes of The Heart of It here. And be sure to subscribe to The Heart of It in your favourite podcast player app so that you don’t miss a beat.

This episode of The Heart of It was recorded on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the q̓ ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt and Semiahmoo First Nations, treaty lands of the sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) First Nation, and on the home of the Surrey-Delta Métis Association.

Send us a Text Message.

In season two, we'll be exploring what happens behind the scenes at Fraser Health to ensure patients receive the best care possible.

We’re going to dive into what happens when patients need surgeries and CT scans, how to access mental health and substance use services, and the home-based supports available for seniors.

We’ll also learn how our hospitals are trying to reduce wait times in emergency departments and how virtual health services can help you find information and support from the comfort of your home.

We can’t wait to share these episodes with you. Don’t forget to subscribe in your favourite podcast player app so you don’t miss a beat.

Learn more about The Heart of It: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/podcast

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When we heard that Helen Bevan was going to be in town, we jumped at the opportunity to connect with her. Helen is one of the leading voices in the world when it comes to health care transformation.

In this episode, Helen and Victoria cover a range of topics related to how health systems can provide the best care possible for patients, including continuous improvement of care and services, compassionate leadership and Fraser Health’s own engagement radicals.

Guest bio
Helen is a leader of large-scale change, an innovator and an activist in health and care. She is currently Professor of Practice in Health and Care Improvement at Warwick Business School at the University of Warwick and a Strategic Advisor to the National Health Service’s Horizons team.

Helen has spent more than three decades working in England’s National Health Service, focusing on large scale transformational change. She has led and facilitated many nationwide improvement initiatives, including those in cancer services, urgent and emergency care, and dementia care and treatment.

About The Heart of It
Every episode, Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health, take listeners to the heart of health care, where passion, dedication and innovation drive individual, community and planetary health.

Listen to and watch more episodes of The Heart of It here. And be sure to subscribe to The Heart of It in your favourite podcast player app so that you don’t miss a beat.

This episode of The Heart of It was recorded on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and home to the Vancouver Sea to Sky Métis Association.

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Trudy Robertson may not have seen it all – but she’s seen a lot. Throughout a career spanning 40+ years, she’s worked as a licensed practical nurse, a registered nurse, a clinical nurse educator, and now, as the clinical nurse specialist for the Fraser Health Neuroscience Network.

In the final episode of season one of The Heart of It, she shares stories from when she was first deployed to the neurosurgical units at Royal Columbian Hospital 20 years ago, and how personal experiences, like her mother's brain aneurysm and her mother-in-law's Parkinson's disease, deepened her commitment to her practice.

She also discusses how artificial intelligence has transformed stroke care for patients and her continued focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and staff wellness throughout the health care system.

Guest bio
Trudy Robertson is a clinical nurse specialist and has worked as a health care provider for over forty years. She initially pursued nursing as a licensed practical nurse in 1980 and spent 20 years in various roles, primarily at Royal Columbian Hospital, before joining the neurosurgical units. Over the course of her career, she has been instrumental in the development of educational programs and protocols for nurses in neurosciences and her work has improved patient care and outcomes, particularly in stroke and neurosurgery.

About The Heart of It
Every episode, Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health, take listeners to the heart of health care, where passion, dedication and innovation drive individual, community and planetary health.

Listen to and watch more episodes of The Heart of It here. And be sure to subscribe to The Heart of It in your favourite podcast player app so that you don’t miss a beat.

This episode of The Heart of It was recorded on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Coquitlam, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen First Nations, and on the home of the Surrey-Delta Métis Association.

Send us a Text Message.

Tina Hartnell and Elaine Chu know that food is an important part of disease prevention and injury and illness recovery. They also know that honouring diversity in food preferences is an integral piece of restorative, person-centred care.

In this episode, they share their journeys in the field of dietetics – including how their post-secondary education and first jobs introduced them to the link between food consumption and planetary health, and the many ways in which food can positively impact individuals.

They also discuss the ways in which ‘choice dining’ is helping transform the hospital food experience -through many of the five million prepared meals each year - the positive impact of reframing food as ‘plant powered’ and their goal of a more sustainable and inclusive health care food service community.

Guest bios
Tina Hartnell is the executive director of Food and Clinical Dietitian Services at Fraser Health. Working with a team of dietitians, nutritionists and other health care professionals, she is responsible for overseeing the food and nutrition services provided by the health authority to help ensure that patients and residents receive the best possible care. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of dietetics.

Elaine Chu is a registered dietitian, the regional manager of food operations at Fraser Health, and chairperson of the Lower Mainland Sustainable Hospital Food Operations Committee. She has been involved in a number of innovative food programs to rethink how patients interact with food in hospitals.

Learn more
Fraser Health Planetary Health strategy: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/planetaryhealth

About The Heart of It
Every episode, Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health, take listeners to the heart of health care, where passion, dedication and innovation drive individual, community and planetary health.

Listen to and watch more episodes of The Heart of It here. And be sure to subscribe to The Heart of It in your favourite podcast player app so that you don’t miss a beat.

This episode of The Heart of It was recorded on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Coquitlam, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen First Nations, and on the home of the Surrey-Delta Métis Association.

Send us a Text Message.