COPD Support

COPD Patient Forum: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe.


COPD Patient Forum

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is preventable and treatable lung disease that causes shortness of breath and chronic cough. As we celebrate World COPD Day this November 15, BC Lung Foundation is holding its annual webinar to raise awareness on the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention for COPD. Keeping lungs healthy is an integral part of future health and well-being - it is now more important than ever to act sooner! 

Join us on November 9, 2023 and hear our guests talk about your COPD, your diagnosis, your medications and what you can do keep your lungs healthy.

View the recording of this year's patient forum HERE.

November 9, 2023, 10am to 12pm

Speakers:

Dr. Tharwat Fera

Dr. Tharwat Fera completed his internal medicine and respiratory medicine training at University of British Columbia’s respiratory division. He completed 2 years of post-doctoral fellowship in the Respiratory medicine at UBC.  Dr. Tharwat Fera brings a vast amount of experience in both clinical practice and clinical research. Dr. Fera has been participating, over the last 20 years, in clinical research for evaluation of the efficacy and safety of new treatments in asthma and COPD.  Dr. Fera has led a distinguished career serving as the head of medicine and director of the intensive care unit (ICU) at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital and is the president of medical staff. He is currently a clinical professor in the University of British Columbia’s respiratory division. Dr. Fera provides expert advice on respiratory and pulmonary function testing, as well as sleep apnea evaluations. Dr. Fera is a medical staff member at Providence Health Care. In addition to serving communities in the lower mainland he has been serving as a respiratory consultant to the Northern health remote areas for the past 30 years. He speaks Greek & Arabic.


Sonia Bola

Sonia Bola is a respiratory therapist, certified respiratory educator, and certified tobacco educator. Sonia graduated in 2015 from TRU as a respiratory therapist. She began working in the hospital in acute care. After 2 years of acute care, she decided to try out the community and fell in love. She worked at Community Respiratory Services in Fraser Health for 2 years before starting her position at Vancouver General Hospital. Sonia currently works at Vancouver General Hospital in the Lung Centre as the Asthma and COPD Education Coordinator.


Jenna Jangalee

Jenna Jangalee is a Registered Respiratory Therapist, Certified Respiratory and Tobacco Educator. Jenna did her undergraduate training at McMaster University in Hamilton, and her Respiratory training in Toronto at the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences.  Jenna set her sights West and had worked for Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) for 15 years in various roles with a focus on Respiratory Education and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. With Jenna's commitment to personalized and preventative care she has co-founded Poplar Pulmonary Wellness; an online Respiratory Care service that focuses on providing education, exercise and community to those who live with chronic lung conditions.


Tina Hsu

Tina has over 17 years of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist and is a Certified Respiratory Educator. She was Clinical Site Coordinator for Thompson Rivers University for many years, educating RT students in their clinical year of study. Tina currently works in acute care as a front-line RT and she is Co-founder of Poplar Pulmonary Wellness; a community Respiratory Care service for people living with chronic lung conditions. Tina proudly served on the BCSRT Board of Directors as the Director of Education, and she is currently the Chair of the Executive of the CSRT Primary Care Network.


Via Zoom: Click here to register

 

See the recording here from the 2022 COPD Patient Forum, November 17, 2022.

 

Page Last Updated: 28/11/2023