Mental Health and Cardiovascular Disease
The Heart Institute Patient Alumni held another successful Meet the Expert conference on April 23rd, 2019. Entitled “Mental Health and Cardiovascular Disease’, the conference featured experts of the Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa, as well as former patients, who shared their knowledge and experience on the topic.
Over 75 people attended the session at the Ottawa Ritz Canal restaurant, which cordially hosted us. The informal setting allowed for a vibrant exchange between guests and speakers. For the occasion, a healthy menu vetted by a Heart Institute Dietician was presented to guests, who gathered in the scenic room to listen, learn and ask questions while enjoying the nice view.
The first speaker, Dr. Heather Tulloch, provided an interesting perspective of what is commonly experienced in her practice by heart patients as it relates to mental health, and added an overview of available programs and resources. Dr Tulloch is a Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Psychologist at the Heart Institute, and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of medicine at the University of Ottawa.
L to R: Ms Joan Cassidy, Dr Heather Tulloch, Dr Robert Swanson, Mr Frank Cassidy
Dr. Robert Swanson, psychiatrist at the Ottawa Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa, followed up with an insightful presentation on the impacts of mental health on adults with heart disease, providing statistics and results of the latest research.
Attendees also heard from two former Heart Institute patients who shared their own very personal experience with generosity and emotion. They explained what programs they participated in and what value they got out of them, each citing their own preferences and goals.
For the third time, the event was live on Facebook! This initiative added to the success of the evening as it allowed over 200 additional people to join in the conversation. Our experts responded enthusiastically to questions from the audience both on-site and online. It is to be noted that Ms. Jane Brownrigg, Clinical Manager in Cardiac Rehabilitation at the Heart Institute, was a fantastic facilitator for this session.
Ms Jane Brownrigg
The Patient Alumni thanks members and former patients who took part in the session, as well as volunteers and staff members who helped make the conference a memorable experience.
For more on the event:
- Reach the Patient Alumni at alumni@ottawaheart.ca or at ottawaheartalumni.ca
