Agenda

FRIDAY MAY 29^th
*Subject to change

9:30 a.m.
Continental breakfast

10:00 a.m.
Welcome
Stephanie Gosselin, Director Programs with Ovarian Cancer Canada

10:05 a.m.
Opening the conversation about sexual health
Speaker:  Dr. Lesa Dawson, Gynecologic Oncologist

10:50 a.m.
TBC
 
11:25 a.m.
Supporting care through food and nutrition
Speaker: Joyce Chow, Registered Dietician with Inspire Health

12:00 p.m.
Stories & Science: A lunch connecting patients and research trainees

1:15 p.m.
Sharing your story
Speaker: Golda Arthur

2:15 p.m.
Break

2:30 p.m.
Off the charts: The story behind the medical record
Speakers: Paula Holmes-Rodman
Medical charts hold vital information—but they rarely tell the whole truth. In this session, Dr. Paula Holmes-Rodman introduces narrative medicine and invites patients and caregivers to explore “parallel charting” as a way to tell the rest of the story: lived experience, backstories and backstage moments, cultural context, caregiving realities, and the voices that don’t always make it into the record. Drawing from her experience supporting her sister through ovarian cancer, and from her advocacy work developing The Self-Advocacy Guide for Cancer Patients on the Autism Spectrum, Paula demonstrates how writing can move from personal expression to meaningful instigation—making the invisible visible and advancing equity, disability justice, and self-advocacy. Participants will leave with a practical writing exercise and a renewed sense of how telling their stories can shift conversations, influence care, and claim their rightful place at the center of the chart.

3:30 p.m.
Conclusion
Share your thoughts about today’s event. Closing remarks.
 
4:00 p.m.
Welcome reception & poster session
The Welcome Reception & Poster Session is the perfect opportunity to mix and mingle with ovarian cancer researchers and research trainees while making new connections. Be sure to visit and exchange with the poster presenters.