This month, we're saying hello, marking our calendars for Quality Forum 2022, acknowledging the life and legacy of Bill Blackwater Jr. and sharing how PVN patient partners are helping prevent adverse drug events.


#HelloMyNameIs Day Reminds Us to
Start Care Experiences with “Hello”

Originally started in the UK by Kate Granger, a physician who had terminal cancer, #HelloMyNameIs encourages health care professionals to introduce themselves to patients and families. What began as a social media post quickly became a global campaign which peaks every year on July 23.

#hello my name is...The initiative inspires compassionate care through better communication and including patients in decision making. The BC Patient Safety & Quality Council, which administers PVN, has proudly supported #HelloMyNameIs and, if you’ve attended the Quality Forum or one of its workshops, you may have noticed the campaign’s logo on your nametag.

The #HelloMyNameIs website features a number of resources, including logos you can add to your own nametags. Share how you celebrate #HelloMyNameIs Day by using the hashtag on Twitter!

In 2019, we welcomed Kate’s husband, Chris, as a plenary speaker at the Quality Forum where he spoke about the values that ignited the campaign. In the photo above, you can see the event’s participants holding up their #HelloMyNameIs signs with Chris! 

Watch Chris at Quality Forum 2019


Quality Forum 2022’s Engagement Opportunities Are Open

Save the date! Quality Forum 2022 is March 1 - 3.

Each year, the Forum brings together some of the most innovative minds working throughout the health care system. It covers a wide variety of topics related to improving quality across the continuum of care, and features plenary speakers, deep dive sessions, rapid fire presentations, storyboards, field trips and more! Plus, there’s a pre-Forum day with deep dive sessions and the annual evening event, Health Talks.

Here are a few ways you can become involved in the event:

Review Presentation Abstracts
Patient partners are invited to help the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council review abstracts in order to support decisions about which projects are chosen to be presented at the Forum. They will also judge storyboards during a reception which takes place during the event. RSVP by August 11.

Attend the Forum
Plus, the Council sponsors 20 patient partners to attend the Forum so that they can learn about improving quality of care while sharing their knowledge, perspectives and experiences with other participants. RSVP by November 3.

Submit Presentation Abstracts
Patient partners are also encouraged to submit abstracts for consideration, either for work they have undertaken independently or as an engaged patient partner with a health care organization. Submit them by September 10.

Are you considering submitting an abstract but have questions or need more information? We’re hosting information sessions to get you started. Please email us with any additional questions.

Two patient partners are already members of the Forum’s steering committee to provide guidance and advice at each stage of the planning process, including determining the most effective format and flow, identifying key topics and themes, selecting speakers and ensuring a positive participant experience.

Explore All Engagement Opportunities


A Tribute to Bill Blackwater Jr.

With great respect and admiration, we acknowledge the life and legacy of Gitxsan Hereditary Chief Sim’oogit Ma’os, Bill Blackwater Jr., from Kispiox, who passed away in July 2021. As a Patient Voices Network patient partner, Bill encouraged all health care providers, particularly physicians, to learn about the land and culture of the local people, to provide continuity of care and to always listen deeply.

Bill was integral in developing relationships between Indigenous patient partners and the health care system. He was involved in several events that focused on cultural safety and was known to empower others to share their experiences.

We extend deep condolences to the Blackwater family. Bill has unquestionably left his mark on patient engagement and helped us build bridges between Indigenous perspectives and the health care system.

Read More About Bill


Patient Partners are Helping Prevent Adverse Drug Events

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are the harmful and unintended consequences of medication use. Preventing ADEs is a public health priority, and ActionADE is a research project focused on preventing them. Researchers at UBC and SFU designed the project and, in the spring of 2016, they began a collaboration with three patient partners from the Patient Voices Network to provide input on the project’s direction and assist in developing public educational materials.

Read More About this Work


Questions or Suggestions?

Your feedback is very important to us. What kinds of volunteer opportunities are you interested in? What else would you like to see in our newsletters?

Send us an email, phone 604.668.8240 or 1.877.282.1919, or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.


PVN is guided by patient and health care partners and administered by the:

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