Presentation schedule

Join the Centre on Aging in person for this year’s 40th Annual Spring Research Symposium. This year's theme is Dialogue on Aging. This year's sessions will be available in a hybrid format, with attendees invited to participate in person or stream sessions live online.

As part of the Spring Research Symposium, attendees are invited to view the poster sessions taking place in the Joe Doupe Concourse. Additional posters will also be available on the Centre's Web site on May 1.

New this year will be a mini exhibit of COVID House of Old project. There is no extra cost to view the exhibit but will be available for viewing throughout May 1.

Michelle Porter, PhD, Director Centre on Aging

Honourable Scott Johnston, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care, Province of Manitoba

Annemieke Farenhorst, PhD, Associate Vice-President (Research) 

As the Centre on Aging celebrates their 40th year at the University of Manitoba, Centre Directors will reflect on some of the highlights at the Centre over the years. 

Daniel Sitar, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba 

Optimizing drug therapy for the treatment of chronic diseases of older adults remains an ongoing research activity. Studies by affiliates of the Centre on Aging have contributed significantly to this process. Today’s presentation provides representative examples of our published studies that demonstrate we are being successful in our efforts to achieve this goal.

Poster session can be viewed in the Joe Doupe Concourse or find virtual posters on the Centre’s Web site on May 1.

Visit the mini exhibit COVID in the House of Old in the Buhler Atrium.

Light refreshments will be served in the Joe Doupe Concourse. Attendees can also visit the food vendors in Brodie Centre, or bring your own reusable bottle to fill up at the water stations on Bannatyne Campus.

Sandra Webber, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba

Being able to move within and between different life spaces like one’s room, one’s home, the neighborhood, and beyond is fundamental for quality of life and health as we age. In this presentation you will hear how a PhD student’s assignment led to the development of a comprehensive framework depicting mobility in older adults that has been used by researchers and policy-makers around the world in clinical contexts, and in areas such as public health (healthy aging), transportation/travel, and city-planning (built-environment).

Jamison Falk, Pharm.D.
Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba

The legalization and availability of cannabis in Canada has resulted in a significant shift in public willingness to explore these products for their potential medical use. Along with this surge in interest exists a great deal of uncertainty about the benefits, harms, and population implications. The heightened interest and exploration is by no means limited to younger populations with reported first-time use among older adults in Canada increasing. This session will explore the many questions around what we expect, what we know, what we don’t know, and where we can look for answers, particularly related to implications of use in older adults. We’ll explore how current research informs our knowledge of proposed benefits, contributions to age-related concerns such as cognition and falls risk, and highlight the importance of engagement in well-informed, open dialogue between patients and clinicians within this new landscape. 

Symposium attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch, or visit any of the restaurants found throughout Bannatyne Campus, Health Sciences Centre, or the surrounding neighbourhood.

Poster session can be viewed in the Joe Doupe Concourse or find virtual posters on the Centre’s Web site on May 1.

Visit the mini exhibit COVID in the House of Old in the Buhler Atrium.

Megan Davies, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Department of Social Science, York University

Dr. Megan Davies will be sharing information about a cross country exhibit called COVID in the House of Old, which provides an opportunity for the public to remember and share stories about all that has happened in the long-term care setting in Canada during the pandemic. This travelling exhibit has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and involves many partners, including the Centre on Aging.

Manitoba PCH situation during the pandemic

Laura Funk, Ph.D.
Professor, Faculty of Arts, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Manitoba
Mary Shariff, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Robson Hall Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba

Following Dr. Davies’ presentation will be two Research Affiliates from the Centre on Aging, Dr. Laura Funk and Dr. Mary Shariff, who will share insights into the Manitoba situation related to personal care homes during the pandemic.

Poster session can be viewed in the Joe Doupe Concourse or find virtual posters on the Centre’s Web site on May 1.

Visit the mini exhibit COVID in the House of Old in the Buhler Atrium.

Stop by one of the food vendors in Brodie Centre for refreshments or bring your own reusable bottle to fill up at the water stations on Bannatyne Campus.

Philip St. John, MD, MPH, CCFP, FRCPC
Professor and Section Head, Max Rady College of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, University of Manitoba

Cohort studies are epidemiological studies that study the health of a population over time. They are important for establishing the rates of diseases, risk factors for disease, and to study changes in health over time. They minimize some biases in understanding disease causation and how health issues progress over time. They require sustained interest and funding over long time horizons. Cohort studies of ageing conducted in Manitoba will be discussed. 
 

Return Symposium evaluation forms and name tags to the front desk.