26 Sep Regional Perinatal Outreach Program celebrates 40th; Dr. James Makokis gives conference keynote
MNCYN was thrilled to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Regional Perinatal Outreach Program in 2019.The Regional Perinatal Outreach Program was the vision of Dr. Graham Chance, a Neonatologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital, who founded the program in 1979. The program has evolved over the years and is now part of the Maternal Newborn Child and Youth Network. In 2019, the program celebrated its 40th anniversary of regionalized perinatal care in conjunction with the 32nd annual conference at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn.
MNCYN was very pleased to invite Dr. James Makokis to deliver the keynote presentation at the conference in London, ON on October 9, 2019. The keynote, entitled “Connecting Indigenous Communities and Cultural Care”, was sponsored by London Health Sciences Centre.
About James Makokis
Canada’s Two Spirit, Diversity, Indigenous Health and First Nation Expert
Dr. James Makokis is a proud Cree from the Saddle Lake First Nation in Northern Alberta. He is one of Canada’s most accomplished experts in a variety of fields, including those in and outside of the Indigenous culture. Few individuals can offer such a diverse and unique perspective on issues related to First Nation Communities, TRC Calls to Action, Health, Wellness, Medicine, Two Spirit, LGBTQ2, Indigenous Culture, History, Equality and Social Programming. His perspective is one that benefits all Canadians. Dr. James Makokis has maintained his cultural beliefs and spiritual practices in all areas of his life. Dr. Makokis’ strong connections to preventative health, spirituality, and Two-spirit perspective has helped him save lives within the LGBTQ2 and First Nation communities. He also leads one of North America’s most progressive and successful transgender focused medical practices. He is one of the few physicians in Canada who facilitates the wellness of Transgender people through supporting hormone replacement therapy.
Dr. 
Dr. Ojha is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the Western University, Ontario and in 2014 became an Academic Paediatrician at the Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre. He earned his Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical degrees from India. He completed his Fellowship in Paediatrics from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and worked at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia. He served as a lecturer at Sydney Medical School- Nepean (University of Sydney) before moving to Canada. Dr. Ojha has vast clinical and teaching experience in the field of Paediatrics. He has worked as a Paediatric specialist in India and served the Ministry of Health in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Gwen is a Perinatal Professional Practice Consultant with the MNCYN – Regional Perinatal Program. She received her BScN from the University of Western Ontario in 1980. Gwen has dedicated her career to perinatal nursing. She was employed for several years on the antenatal, labour/birth, mother/baby care units and the NICU at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, which was the tertiary perinatal centre for southwestern Ontario at the time. Gwen has been a nurse consultant with the Regional Perinatal Program since 1987. In this role, she has also facilitated a Maternal Newborn Nursing course as a joint venture between the MNCYN and Fanshawe College and has worked alongside her physician colleagues to provide ongoing professional education and consultation regarding the care of mothers and infants.
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