Patient Partners
Ron is an experienced family caregiver to his late father that lived well with Alzheimer’s for over 10+ years while partnering with his senior mother during their journey. He advocates in the dementia and aging communities with expertise in technology, aging in place, caregiving, and patient engagement. Ron is the co-chair for AGE-WELL NCE’s Older Adults and Caregiver Advisory Committee, which is Canada’s aging and technology network where he received their honorary fellows award for 2020.
He is an advisor, presenter, and coach for numerous groups across Canada, such as Alzheimer and Dementia Societies, Healthcare Excellence Canada, and the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence. Ron also consults with the innovation community and is an innovator himself, specifically in the areas of aging in place and caregiving. Ron is a guest lecturer for universities and colleges in programs such as nursing, social work, occupational therapy, and aging. He is also a mentor in residence representing the caregiver and patient voice with University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine’s Translational Research Program.
Further in his past, Ron was the Founder and Executive Director of a Youth Career and Employment Centre that served over 30,000 young people, immigrants, and career seekers in the Toronto area. Ron can be found at www.rb33.com/ron, on LinkedIn @RonBeleno, or at Linktree linktr.ee/ronbeleno
Lois Letcher, M.Ed.
Originally from the Maritimes, Lois has demonstrated a strong commitment to higher education through two decades of post-secondary leadership. As an award-winning practitioner, her passion for initiatives promoting equitable access has significantly shaped her life and perspective. In her role as Assistant Dean of Students, Lois was involved in qualitative research projects and participated in several university committees focused on student success, academic policy, and community engagement.
Lois's journey in healthcare advocacy is deeply personal. After retiring early, she became the primary caregiver for her husband, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body dementia. This experience opened the door to patient advocacy and community engagement through speaking engagements, fundraising for healthcare, and supporting those providing care. Her husband’s passing strengthened her resolve, leading her to pursue a second master’s degree, a stepping stone towards her dream of doctoral studies in thanatology.
Lois is a passionate advocate for innovative research and best practices. Her unwavering commitment to inclusion and accessibility drives her mission to be part of diverse initiatives in rural Ontario healthcare. Serving as a Patient Partner with the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at Western University has been very rewarding. Lois looks forward to continuing to advocate, encourage, and support patient-centered healthcare initiatives and research that will further impact the future of Ontario healthcare.
Sandra MacKenzie, MScN
Sandra is a retired Public Health Nurse with 32 years experience in Public and Community Health. Her philosophy of practice was based on honouring the primacy of the patient and their family. For seven years she worked as the Public Health Nurse at a Teaching Family Medical Centre affiliated with Western University. Using an interdisciplinary team approach to practice, the team provided excellent Primary Health Care to patients and their families.
This experience also focused on the education of medical students and Family Practice Residents. The interdisciplinary approach to patient care provided an excellent teaching and learning opportunity for the residents, medical students and staff. She was involved in Primary Health Care Research and her practice was informed by the transfer of evidence based knowledge into practice.
She also worked as a Clinical instructor in the School of Nursing at Western University. Her teaching focused on the importance of the health care professional's role in developing a relational practice with the patient and their family.
The experience at the Medical Centre and her management experience at the Middlesex London Health Unit provided a strong foundation for her current involvement as a Patient Partner with the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at Western University.
She worked in Ethiopia during the 1985 famine. The Camp was created in response to the famine and had a feeding center, small hospital and large outpatient department, all under tents! This opportunity allowed her to reflect on the importance of providing health care policy, planning and service delivery at the population, group and individual level in the wider context of the community's reality
On a personal note, for the past 7 years I was the primary caregiver for my husband. With great courage, he lived with Advanced Macular Degeneration, a colostomy and dementia. His diseases naturally affected our family and my role as his wife and caregiver. There were many lessons learned. Although this was a stressful time, there were many opportunities for us to develop an even more loving relationship. The importance of the Family Physician and other medical and community services was an invaluable support to help us live independently in our home. Our experience and lessons learned will be an asset to my role as a Patient Partner in the TUTOR PHC Program.
