Virtual

Bridging Heart Failure Care: Recognizing Signs and Symptoms, Reducing Risks and Managing Connected Conditions Heart Failure Awareness Week English Webinar 2026, presented by Heart & Stroke and HeartLife Foundation Date: May 5, 2026 Time: 12:00-1:00 PM EST Presenters Dr. Morgan Krauter, DN, NP Doctor of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner Lead, Heart Function Program Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, ON Dr. Daniel Ngui, BSc, PT, MD, FCFP Clinical Professor University of British Columbia, Medical Director Fraser Street Medical Vancouver, Family Physician, BC. Joel Buenacruz Person with lived experience of heart failure Moderators Marc Bains Co-founder, HeartLife Foundation, Co-lead for the Canadian Heart Function Alliance Shannon Doucette, RN, BScN, MN Heart Failure Project Lead, Heart and Stroke Foundation About this Presentation Aligned with Heart Failure Awareness Week (May 3rd–9th, 2026), this webinar will provide healthcare providers, people with lived experience, and caregivers with essential knowledge to recognize heart failure signs and symptoms, understand key risk factors, and appreciate how heart failure interacts with other conditions. Participants will also receive a practical overview of the role of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), including how evidence-based medications improve survival, reduce hospitalizations, and enhance quality of life. The presentation will highlight ongoing efforts across Canada to bridge unified heart failure care […]

Join us for a virtual webinar hosted by the TRANSCENDENT Concussion Research Program and Brain-Heart Interconnectome where we explore the intersection between concussions and heart health. This event brings together expert and lived experience recounts to shed light on important research topics in concussion. Hear from Dr. Roger Zemek (CHEO Research Institute), Dr. Roanne Segal (Lived Experience, TRANSCENDENT Community Advisory Committee), Dr. Kim Connelly (University of Toronto, Unity Health) and Dr. Veronik Sicard (CHEO Research Institute) speak to the connection between concussion and heart health, highlighting how the brain and cardiovascular system interact during recovery. March 31, 2026 at 12:00 - 1:30 PM EST REGISTER NOW

TRANSFORM HF and The Heart Hub want to build and sustain a vibrant community of local People With Lived Experience (PWLE) who are “research-ready!” This free workshop series was co-developed by PWLE with the goal of training and empowering patients, caregivers, and family members. The two-session series is intended for heart function patients living in the Greater Toronto Area and does require in-person participation. 12 PWLE applicants will be admitted into the course based upon application selection criteria and with consideration to equity, diversity, and inclusion. A mix of theoretical content, experiential learning, and case studies will introduce foundational lessons and skills. Material will be delivered by researchers, health systems experts, and seasoned PWLE partners. The second and final session will involve collaborating with UHN Investigators on real-world projects, with the potential to be invited on as a PWLE partner. By the end of the course, graduates will be able to: Identify as a community of knowledgeable PWLE of heart disease ready to co-create with researchers. Describe the role of the patient partners in health research, assess its challenges and opportunities and evaluate own strengths and needs as a patient partner. Access and utilize patient-oriented research resources for patient partners to be […]

The Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research invites any Canadian living with heart failure or heart disease, as well as heart transplant recipients, to join our virtual expressive writing workshops. Being diagnosed with heart failure or disease can make you feel as if your world has turned upside down. Powerful emotions come with the diagnosis: fear, anger, sadness, loss—often difficult to express. Writing has been shown to have emotional and physiological benefits to those dealing with life-threatening or chronic conditions, hardship, or trauma. Facilitated by Sharon Bray, Ed.D., author, educator and heart failure patient, the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research is hosting a series of virtual workshops where you can learn why, and how, writing can be healing, whether you write alone or with others. “As patients, I think we learn a lot from each other,” Sharon says. “The workshops build an extraordinary community through story. People realize they’re not alone.” Writing the Heart: 6-Week Workshop Series (Virtual) Each 90-minute session of this four-part series facilitated by Sharon Bray Ed.D. will be conducted in an atmosphere of safety and support with the same participants each week. Sharon will guide the group with specific writing prompts, with time allocated for […]

Do you want to help shape how AI is used in health research — in ways that are fair, safe, and responsive to real people? On November 18th (4:00–5:00 pm EST, virtual), TRANSFORM HF and T-CAIREM are hosting a special workshop for people with lived experience of cardiovascular disease. Participants will explore AI use cases, ethics, and ways patient voices can guide meaningful research. As this is a hands-on session, attendance will be capped at 15 participants. To apply, you should already have some familiarity with health research in Canada, and ideally be either part of or planning to join a research team. Applications close Sunday, November 2, 2025. Bring your voice, your insights—and let’s shape AI in healthcare together. Learn more & apply!

PxP started in 2023 and is being led by an international steering committee of patient partners who have decided on all aspects of the conference, and is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (though the conference is not specific to any disease or research area). This free, virtual event aims to bring you a wealth of knowledge, skills and resources on patient engagement in health research. The conference's primary audience is patients/patient partners, and it is open to anyone who wishes to attend and to learn more about this topic. The overwhelming majority of those who are part of the program identify as patients. The conference is free and most sessions will be recorded for those who can’t join live. Date: September 9 - 12 (depending on where you are in the world). Location: Virtual via Zoom. Registration and additional details: To register for the PxP conference, access the registration link.  Join in September for a free, virtual conference to share resources, mentorship and community with patient partners and others involved in health research. Access the conference agenda to learn more (PDF, 231 KB) Access the poster for the PxP conference (PDF, 380 KB) Follow PxP on social media: LinkedIn: PxP X (formerly Twitter): @PxPHub BlueSky: ‪@pxphub.bsky.social‬ […]

Date & Time Mar 27, 2025 12:30 PM  in  America/Toronto Who should attend? Patients, Informal Caregivers, Community Members/Citizens. Citizens of every province and territory. Thursday March 27th 9:30 – 11:30 PDT 12:30 - 14:30 EDT 13:30 – 15:30 ADT How can patient and caregiver experience best be captured and used to inform health system improvements? Come join us to share your ideas as we explore recent research findings and engage in discussions. This program is supported in part by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research Cafe Scientifique. Register Now

February is Heart Month, a time to bring awareness to heart health and the challenges faced by those living with heart failure. For the first time ever, experts and advocates from India and Canada are coming together to share insights, experiences, and solutions for improving the lives of heart failure patients worldwide.

The Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research invites any Canadian living with heart failure or heart disease, as well as heart transplant recipients, to join our virtual expressive writing workshops. Being diagnosed with heart failure or disease can make you feel as if your world has turned upside down. Powerful emotions come with the diagnosis: fear, anger, sadness, loss—often difficult to express. Writing has been shown to have emotional and physiological benefits to those dealing with life-threatening or chronic conditions, hardship, or trauma. Facilitated by Sharon Bray, Ed.D., author, educator and heart failure patient, the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research is hosting a series of virtual workshops where you can learn why, and how, writing can be healing, whether you write alone or with others. “As patients, I think we learn a lot from each other,” Sharon says. “The workshops build an extraordinary community through story. People realize they’re not alone.” Writing the Heart: 4-Week Workshop Series (Virtual) Each 90-minute session of this four-part series facilitated by Sharon Bray Ed.D. will be conducted in an atmosphere of safety and support with the same participants each week. Sharon will guide the group with specific writing prompts, with time allocated for […]

TRANSFORM HF and The Heart Hub want to build and sustain a vibrant community of local People With Lived Experience (PWLE) who are "research-ready!" This free workshop series was co-developed by PWLE with the goal of training and empowering patients, caregivers, and family members. The three-session series is intended for heart function patients living in the Greater Toronto Area and does require in-person participation. 12 PWLE applicants will be admitted into the course based upon application selection criteria and with consideration to equity, diversity, and inclusion. A mix of theoretical content, experiential learning, and case studies will introduce foundational lessons and skills. Material will be delivered by researchers, health systems experts, and seasoned PWLE partners. The third and final workshop will involve collaborating with UHN Investigators on real-world projects, with the potential to be invited on as a PWLE partner. By the end of the course, graduates will be able to: Identify as a community of knowledgeable people with lived experience of heart disease ready to co-create with researchers. Describe the role of the patient partners in health research, assess its challenges and opportunities and evaluate own strengths and needs as a patient partner. Access and utilize patient-oriented research resources for […]

Always wondered what happens on a research project behind-the-scenes? Wanted to be part of a team interpreting all those results? Join the Heart Hub as we introduce the role of people with lived experience (PWLE) as partners in health research. In this session we will outline frameworks for engagement, provide examples of patient partners in action and share helpful resources and strategies to get involved. Anne Simard, TRANSFORM HF’s Director of Strategy and Translation, will co-present with PWLE partners Rene Adams, Heather Cartwright, and Todd Murray, who will also share their personal experiences with engaging in research. The webinar will conclude with a panel Q&A and information on how to participate in future trainings and research opportunities. REGISTER TODAY

Caregiving can sometimes lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and burnout. In more challenging situations, caregivers may also notice post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from their experiences. How can caregivers find support for their mental health? The OCO welcomes back Dr. Patrick McGrath to answer important questions that caregivers have shared with us. Submit your question about mental health in advance Gain useful tips and strategies on how to manage your mental health Learn what services or tools are available to support your mental health needs Note: We encourage caregivers to share questions when filling out the Eventbrite registration. The OCO endeavors to answer as many questions as possible, but some questions may not be answered due to time limitations. Our Speaker: Dr. Patrick McGrath is a clinical psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University and a scientist at the IWK Health Centre where his research is based. He is an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa and founder and president of 90Second Health Letters. He frequently treats caregivers with anxiety in his private practice. All attendees who complete the webinar survey can enter a draw to win an Ontario Caregiver Organization prize. This draw will be […]