REF NO.: 18

SUBJECT: PSA: Virtual conference on improving the well-being of people impacted by cancer

DATE: June 25, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador consistently has the highest rate per capita of cancer in Canada.

Prior to the global pandemic declared in March, the faculties of Medicine and Science at Memorial and a local group of clinicians, researchers and patients planned on hosting the 35th annual conference of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) in St. John’s for the first time in July.

CAPO is a national multidisciplinary organization focused on understanding and addressing the social, psychological, emotional, spiritual and quality-of-life aspects of cancer.

The conference would have attracted roughly 150 national delegates to Newfoundland and Labrador. Now, because of COVID-19, a virtual version of the conference will allow even more people to attend.

The event will be of interest to people who have been impacted by cancer, as well as researchers, clinicians, educators and community-based organizations.

When: July 14-16, 2020

Where: Online

Conference highlights:

• Content specific to Newfoundland and Labrador
• Local speakers
• Important topics including transgender cancer care; Indigenous health; sexual intimacy after cancer; managing grief in health professionals; and cancer nutrition

Registration is open to all. A preliminary program can be found on the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology website.  

For more information, or to inquire about registration, please contact Dr. Sheila Garland, conference chair, and clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology and oncology at Memorial University, at sheila.garland@mun.ca.

For media inquiries, please contact Virginia Middleton, senior communications advisor, Faculty of Medicine, at vmiddleton@mun.ca or 725-8157.