Consideration of Spirituality, Faith & Culture in Approach to Palliative Care and MAID: Reference to the Impact of COVID 19 Pandemic
About our Presenters, Dr. Michelle van Walraven and Dr. Anwar Parbtani
Dr. Michelle van Walraven
Michelle grew up in Simcoe County and is happy to return to Barrie where she practices community based family medicine and palliative care at RVH and in the community. She enjoys teaching family medicine as a lecturer and supervisor at the Barrie site for the Family and Community Medicine through the University of Toronto, and is the Educational Lead for Palliative Care for post graduate education here in Barrie. Michelle enjoys spending her time outside doing many activities from skiing to swimming with her two children Having and Bennett, husband Neil and dog Kauri.
Dr. Anwar Parbtani
Dr. Anwar Parbtani comes from a family of 10 in Africa. While completing his undergraduate in India, Dr. Parbtani spent his summers volunteering in remote, rural communities. Earning his Ph.D. from Guy’s Hospital Medical School, University of London and his M.D. from Saba University School of Medicine, Netherlands, Dr. Parbtani’s long list of research acknowledgements and awards are a result of the one patent, 51 papers, and 82 abstracts he has authored. Dr. Parbtani has been awarded many accolades which are a reflection of the love his students have for him; Rural Ontario Medical Program (ROMP) Mentorship Award (2009) with his colleague and friend, Dr. Zahir Poonja, and numerous teaching awards from Saba University School of Medicine, including Most Dedicated Teacher (1998-2000), Students’ Choice (2000), and Outstanding Teacher’s Award (2000). Dr. Parbtani somehow finds time to pursue his own research interests and maintain a busy family practice.