Cope with Cancer Advisory Board
Digital Rain would like to thank the Cope with Cancer Advisory Board for their assistance in developing the content of this program. Digital Rain would also like to thank Wellspring and its members for providing facilities and guidance throughout the project.

Wellspring
Located in Toronto, Wellspring offers support groups for patients, caregivers, and young adults, as well as

a family program for children/adolescents and parents. Wellspring’s programs include workshops in wellness, healing, and relaxation, as well as stress-and-pain-management programs such as yoga, body-mind meditation, Reiki, healing and therapeutic touch, and relaxation and visualization.

Holly Bradley, MA
Holly Bradley, MA, graduated from the University of Guelph in 1987. She has previously coordinated clinical trials research and has also conducted cognitive remediation with brain-injured patients. Holly joined Wellspring, a support centre for cancer patients and their family members, as program director in 1995.

Alastair J. Cunningham, BVSc, PhD
Alastair J. Cunningham, BVSc, PhD, is senior scientist at the Ontario Cancer Institute/Prince Margaret Hospital , and a professor of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. Since 1982 his work has focused on investigating the psychological benefits of group support and training in coping skills for cancer patients. He is the author of The Healing Journey, a self-help book for cancer patients. He also helped to establish Wellspring, a support centre for cancer patients and their families in Toronto, and is a clinical consultant there.

Jack Laidlaw, PhD, FRCPC
Jack Laidlaw is a physician and Director of Research and Education, Cancer Care Ontario (CCO). He is also Vice-President, Professional Affairs, Cancer Care International, a subsidiary of CCO which provides, consultative services in cancer control to developing countries.

Dr. Laidlaw has been involved in patient care, education and research in Canadian (University of Toronto, McMaster University) and U. S. (Harvard University) medical schools for some four decades. He was Director of the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto and Chairman, Department of Medicine and later Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University. For six years he served as a member of the Advisory Committee on the Health Research, World Health Organization, Geneva. From 1986 to 1992 he was Executive Director, Medical Affairs, Canadian Cancer Society. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Wellspring.

Patti Payne, RN
Pattie Payne, RN, has extensive experience in oncology nursing, both in a clinical setting and in program development. She has a long-standing interest in the needs of people with cancer and their families, and for the past ten years it has been the focus of her nursing practice. Since July 1991 she has been the manager of the Cancer Information Service. Prior to that, she worked at the Princess Margaret Hospital as coordinator of Patient Education and Quality Assurance Programs. As part of this experience she created a lending library of books about cancer and related issues for use by patients of the hospital, and has since used this experience to help with the development of several similar programs in centre across Ontario.

Doris Howell, MSN
Doris Howell, MSN, has been professionally involved in the specialty of oncology and palliative care for over 15 years, and for the past two years, she has been Clinical Director of Interlink Community Cancer Nurses. As a clinical nurse specialist, she gained extensive experience in providing consultation and counselling to people with cancer and their families. At present she is a nursing consultant in oncology, specializing in education and program development, and she lectures on topics related to oncology nursing care. Ms. Howell is also past-president of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology.

Richard Hasselback, MDCM, FRCPC
Richard Hasselback, MDCM, FRCPC, has worked at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto for more than 30 years. His major interest is in hematological malignancies, breast cancer, and breast diagnostic clinics. Semi-retired since January 1994, Dr. Hasselback remains affiliated with the Princess Margaret Hospital, Women’s College Hospital, and St. Michael’s Hospital.

Dr. Hasselback was a founding member and first chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and vice-president of the Ontario Division of the Canadian Cancer Society. He has been active in public education through public speaking and forums on cancer in radio and TV, and is Canadian editor of Everyone’s Guide to Cancer Therapy - a guide for lay people.

Margaret Fitch, RN, PhD
Margaret Fitch, RN, PhD, is Head of Oncology Nursing and Supportive Care at the Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre in Toronto. Dr. Fitch is responsible for directing a program of nursing research and assisting nursing staff in developing research-related expertise. As head of Oncology Nursing she is responsible for providing leadership for professional nursing practice, research, and education. She is also cross-appointed to the Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, as assistant professor.

Dr. Fitch’s research interests lie in coping and adaptation to illness, with a focus on patient perceptions. She has presented papers to a wide variety of professional and student groups on such topics as palliative care, coping with life-threatening illness, specialization in nursing, and clinical nursing research, in addition to reporting her research.

Liz Nichol, RN
Liz Nichol, RN, is a pediatric consultant with Interlink Community Cancer Nurses and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She has contributed to the provincial expansion of the pediatric program and assumes the responsibilities of team leader. Prior to joining Interlink, she was nurse manager of the Hematology/Oncology Program at the Hospital for Sick Children.

Stehpanie Burlein-Hall, RN, BScN, MEd
Stehpanie Burlein-Hall, RN, BScN, MEd, was an oncology nurse for more than 15 years, caring for cancer patients and their families in the community, the hospital, and outpatient cancer clinics. She’s now a health education consultant in independent practice, developing and writing health education materials and programs for individuals with cancer.

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