The BC-PHCRN Patient Advisory is composed of 10 volunteer members from across BC. Members review and provide input on research projects based on their personal experience as a patients, share information with their networks, and support and advise the Advisory Committee and the BC-PHCRN leadership. The Patient Advisory engaged in designing a provincial primary health care priority setting project, with leadership from BC-PHCRN research partner Dr. Ruth Lavergne, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University.

Yaron Butterfield (Vancouver) has been a cancer genomics researcher at the BC Cancer Agency’s Genome Sciences Centre for over 17 years. He is also a long term survivor of brain cancer and has volunteered in a number of capacities to help the brain tumour community in BC. Yaron co-chairs the Patient and Family Advisory Committee at the BC Cancer Agency for those living with brain cancer. He has also been a Patient Navigator, meeting newly diagnosed patients and giving them hope at the beginning of their journey.

Regina Cid (Richmond) has more than twenty years’ experience in research and evaluation, first in engineering and later in the health care sector, working on statistical analysis and quality improvement projects. She is an associate member of Winnipeg’s Victoria General Hospital Research & Evaluation Team.

David Durksen (Ashcroft) is a prostate cancer survivor and formerly served as the Chair of the Vancouver Island Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, operating a support group for patients and raising funds for equipment and research. Since moving to Ashcroft, David has added a pacemaker to his life, been involved in physician recruitment for the community, and served as a patient partner on the Ashcroft and Area Community Health Table regional Collaborative Services Committee. He also operates a small artisan coffee roasting company.

Penny Henderson (Victoria) is a former nurse who worked in many roles. She also has experience as a user of the health care system, and wants to help improve the system.

Brenda Jagroop (Vancouver) is a UBC Engineering graduate whose greatest enjoyment is training dogs. Brenda became interested in healthcare subsequent to personal health difficulties. She has been involved in patient partner volunteer activities in a variety of areas, including mental health, healthcare ethics, and complex chronic conditions. Her participation in the UBC Health Mentors program is something she finds particularly rewarding.

Alexandra Le Bret (Vancouver Island) is well travelled and well versed with life. Alexandra is currently working as a traffic controller and self employed doing various small businesses, and is excited to be a part of the team.

Kent Cadogan Loftsgard (Vancouver) contributes his lifelong experience of cerebral palsy and asthma, his endless efforts as a patient advocate and caregiver, and his diverse professional expertise in health media production, health specialty journalism, interdisciplinary health care education, and health research to complement the Network’s collaborative efforts to improve the quality and availability of primary care.

Marilyn Parker (Kelowna) is a retired banker with a varied career that spans Western Canada. Marilyn is an active member of the BC-PHCRN Patient Advisory, BC SPOR SUPPORT Unit and a contributing member of a BC/Quebec research team. She has participated in conferences across Canada as a Patient Partner and speaks actively on connecting researchers and patients to further SPOR activities nationwide.

Catherine Richardson (Port Moody) was a university student working towards a career in health care when she developed an autoimmune disease. Instead of being on the delivery side of the health care equation, she has spent the last decade on the receiving side, trying to navigate a system that isn’t set up for patients who are young and disabled by chronic illness. She is now using everything she has learned as a patient rather than as a student as a member of patient advisory councils across the province.

Bill Blackwater (Kispiox)