Sarah Brown is a clinical nurse specialist with expertise in palliative care and geriatrics. She has a particular interest in pain management and the end of life care needs of the elderly in all clinical settings. As a member of the Canadian Virtual Hospice clinical team, Sarah helps develop and review clinical health information for virtualhospice.ca and answers questions submitted to Ask a Professional.

Romayne Gallagher is a palliative care physician with experience in the field that spans 25 years and includes patient care, teaching and research. Prior to becoming a full time palliative care physician she worked as a family physician for 12 years. She has been involved in collaborative work to improve access to palliative care at both provincial and national levels. Romayne’s other area of interest is pain management in older adults, including adults with cognitive impairment or dementia.

In the field of palliative care, Dr. Mike Harlos is admired in equal measure for his expert medical knowledge and his compassionate care. Dr. Harlos has devoted 18 years to improving end-of-life care and has received national recognition for his work. 

Brenda Hearson is dedicated to palliative care education for patients, families and colleagues. As a member of the Canadian Virtual Hospice health care team, Brenda develops, reviews and updates clinical health information posted on www.virtualhospice.ca. She also answers questions submitted to Ask a Professional and monitors postings on Discussions.

In 2008, the Canadian Virtual Hospice expanded its clinical team to include Rev. Dr. Glen Horst, who is exceptionally qualified to provide leadership on spiritual matters relating to palliative care. Dr. Horst is responsible for spiritual material posted on www.virtualhospice.ca and provides consultation for questions submitted to Ask a Professional.

Pat Murphy works as a Clinical Ethicist with the Health Care Ethics Service at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is engaged in ethics consultation, ethics education, policy development and review for fourteen health care and social service facilities.  

In 2008, the Canadian Virtual Hospice expanded its clinical team to include Fred Nelson. With close to thirty years of experience in the palliative care community as a clinician, consultant, and teacher, Fred has comprehensive knowledge of the issues and challenges facing both individuals and families living with terminal illness.

Dr. Shane Sinclair is the Spiritual Care Coordinator at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta, where he also holds an appointment in the faculty of medicine, dept of oncology at the University of Calgary. He recently completed a Canadian Institutes of Health Research postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Manitoba, Manitoba Palliative Care Research Unit, under the supervision of Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov. His work exploring spirituality at the end of life has been published in the Canadian Medical Journal, British Medical Journal and Oxford University Press.

Simone Stenekes works at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. In this role she focuses exclusively on caring for children and youth with advanced illness in the province of British Columbia.

Lisa Streeter is passionate about reducing disparities in access to palliative care information and resources. As a member of the Canadian Virtual Hospice health care team, Lisa develops, reviews and updates clinical health information posted on www.virtualhospice.ca. She also answers questions submitted to Ask a Professional and monitors postings on Discussions.

George C. Webster works as a Clinical Ethicist with the Health Care Ethics Service at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is engaged in ethics consultation, ethics education, policy review and development, and research ethics with fourteen health care and social service facilities.

Dr. Cornie Woelk is an award-winning rural family practice physician, with more than 20 years of experience in rural palliative and cancer care, and with regional, provincial and national medical organizations. He holds a teaching position at the University of Manitoba medical school, and is a Pallium Educator. Dr. Woelk helps develop information for Virtual Hospice and answers questions at Ask a Professional.