In this episode of Arthritis At Home, Ellen Wang, Programs Coordinator, Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE), speaks to Cheryl Koehn, Founder and President, ACE, about her experience on leading the co-development of an Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled Foundations of Originator and Biosimilar Biologics for Patients and Caregivers. They will discuss what the course is about, how people can sign up and what they will learn from the course. 

 Additional learning resources

• Register for the free course for patients and caregivers
• Register for the paid professional certificate course
• About Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto

In this episode of Arthritis At Home, Ellen Wang, Programs Coordinator, Arthritis Consumer Experts, speaks to Drs. Cari Whyne and Johnathan Lex. They have a conversation about how they are combining a database on outcomes and population data to create prediction models. These prediction models have the ability to improve the allocation or time and resources to improve the equity of joint replacement surgery. The research team thanks the Arthritis Society for the grant and patients for their contributions.

Additional learning resources

• Ignite Innovation Grants Summaries
• Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Holland Bone and Joint Program
• myHip&Knee app
• GLA:D™ Canada

In this episode of Arthritis at Home, Mr. Kohle Merry, PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia, member of Arthritis Patient Advisory Board of Arthritis Research Canada, and a person living with osteoarthritis (OA) discusses the profound impact of OA on patients, the healthcare system, the economy, and the launch of ACE’s National Survey on Living with Osteoarthritis. 

The Survey deadline is April 14, 2023. Click here to take the Survey.

In this episode of Arthritis At Home, we are sharing a #CRArthritis interview from the Arthritis Broadcast Network. Cheryl Koehn, Founder and President of Arthritis Consumer Experts, discusses with Dr. Fiona Rawle, Associate Dean, Pedagogical Development and Scholarship, University of Toronto, about the infodemic and pseudoscience. Dr. Rawle shares key takeaways from her presentation at an annual scientific meeting, including a tool she uses to recognize pseudoscience and tips on communicating science to patients while ensuring it is accessible and equitable.

Additional learning resources

• Follow Dr. Rawle on Twitter and check out some of the threads on #pseudoscience: @FiRawle
• Understanding science
• JointHealth™ insight – Are we in an infodemic?

In this episode of Arthritis At Home, we speak to Dr. Sahil Koppikar, MD FRCPC, a rheumatologist at Women's College Hospital and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, and Ms. Chandra Farrer, Quality Specialist at Women’s College Hospital and a C-QuIPS facilitator at the University of Toronto.

As Chair and Vice-Chair of the Northern Ontario Committee of the Ontario Rheumatology Association (ORA), Dr. Koppikar and Ms. Farrer discuss the progress the ORA is making with the Ontario government to develop and implement solutions to improve models of care in Northern Ontario by providing arthritis care that is patient-centred, equitable and accessible.

Additional learning resources

• Ontario Rheumatology Association’s Northern Ontario Committee
• Advanced Clinician Practitioner in Arthritis Care Program
• Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey Report on Arthritis and Health Inequities

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and affects women twice as often as men, striking people in the prime of their lives. February 2, 2023 is the annual Rheumatoid Awareness Day that helps raise awareness of the disease and improve the lives of approximately 380,000 Canadians living with the disease. To mark this special day, Arthritis at Home speaks with Cheryl Koehn, ACE President and a person living with RA, to learn more about the importance of early diagnosis and self-care and the advances in treatment options, medication and non-medication, over the past 25 years.

Additional resources

• JointHealth™ Education: Rheumatoid Arthritis
• ACE Survey Report on Arthritis and Mental Health
• Global RA Network – RA Today: Canada Dashboard

In October 2022, Canada’s Premiers announced the recipients of the Council of the Federation (COF) Award for Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions Care. Presented in each province and territory for innovative initiatives that positively impact mental health and addictions care, the award recognizes individuals and organizations excelling in the field. In this episode of Arthritis At Home, we talk to Dr. Terri-Lynn Fox, Director of the award-winning Kainai Wellness Centre, about the importance of the award, what support and services the Centre offers and how it works, and the connections between intergenerational trauma, pain, mental health and addiction and the arthritis connection.

Additional learning resources

• Canada’s Premiers Announce Recipients of the Award for Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions Care News Release
• Blood Tribe Department of Health: Kainai Wellness Centre
• Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action 18-24 and the Arthritis Community
• The Papal Apology: Dr. Terri-Lynn Fox's Personal Reflection

In this episode of Arthritis at Home, we speak to Cheryl Koehn, President, Arthritis Consumer Experts and Dr. Diane Lacaille, Scientific Director, Arthritis Research Canada to learn more about the re-launch of the Arthritis Broadcast Network (ABN) and new features.

Ms. Koehn and Dr. Lacaille also speak about the value of arthritis education for patients to become equal and active partners with their health care providers and have more satisfying experiences and better conversations on:

• preparing for medical visits
• setting treatment goals and choosing treatment options
• self-managing their overall treatment and care plan

Additional learning resources

• Arthritis Broadcast Network
• Arthritis Consumer Experts
• Arthritis Research Canada

In this episode of Arthritis At Home, Ellen Wang, Programs Coordinator for Arthritis Consumer Experts, speaks to Cheryl Crow, an occupational therapist who’s lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 19 years. The two share an open and honest dialogue about the emotional and mental challenges that individuals living with inflammatory arthritis face. Cheryl makes some suggestions of gadgets that one can use to help to protect their joints and how to overcome the stigma that comes with using assistive devices.

Cheryl started Arthritis Life to educate, empower and inspire people living with inflammatory arthritis. She created the Rheum to THRIVE course and support program to help people with rheumatic disease live full, vibrant and meaningful lives.

Most days, you can find Cheryl creating life hack videos, sharing patient stories on the Arthritis Life Podcast, or spreading the word about ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Additional learning resources

• Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey Report on Arthritis and Mental Health
• Mental Health and arthritis: a complex relationship
• Arthritis Life
• Rheum to THRIVE
• Arthritis Life Podcast

The last #ArthritisAtHome episode of 2022 features ACE President, Cheryl Koehn, and VP of Communications and Public Affairs, Kelly Lendvoy. They provide a year in review of Arthritis Consumer Experts’ activities in 2022. They also share key initiatives for the new year, including:

• new programming on osteoarthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, mental health, and exercise
• advancing work in truth and reconciliation in the arthritis community
• 2023 ACE National Survey topics on health literacy, osteoarthritis, and representation in arthritis care

Additional learning resources:

• ACE National Surveys
• JointHealth™ Education
• Arthritis At Home