Join us on May 4, 2024 in this first webinar about Pregnancy and Arthritis! In this free webinar, you will hear from people living with or affected by arthritis about their experiences with pregnancy, a rheumatologist specializing in pregnancy in rheumatic diseases, and researchers. This webinar is a unique collaboration between the research and patient communities to better understand the lived experiences of people with arthritis around pregnancy and reproductive health, and to create a forum to discuss what we can do to address the needs of patients and people in their network of support.

This webinar is for people living with arthritis and their partners, health care providers, decision-makers, and researchers. A range of topics will be discussed including:

• Planning for pregnancy and understanding its impact from the viewpoint of people living with arthritis
• How to navigate decisions about arthritis medications during pregnancy
• Diversity and inclusion in pregnancy care and how we can provide person-centred care
• How healthcare is changing to better support pregnancy
• The latest research on pregnancy and arthritis, including arthritis medications

We will be bringing together this amazing line-up of speakers.

Register today and take part in the conversation about pregnancy and arthritis! Can’t make it on May 4th? Sign up anyway and we can send you the link to the recording when it is available. This webinar is supported with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Cristina Montoya is a Registered Dietitian and the owner and founder of Arthritis Dietitian. She has lived with Sjogren’s Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis for the past twenty years. She encourages women with rheumatological conditions to discuss their family plans with healthcare providers openly. 

Nazret Russon is a full time caregiver to their parent, a member of CAPA and active patient partner in research and health care including with Alberta Health Services and Cancer Care Alberta. She is a human rights advocate and an active member of several groups including: John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC), Health Excellence Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC’s)’s National Network of Stakeholders for Advanced Racial Equality, and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.

Dr. Neda Amiri, MD, MHSC, FRCPC, is a clinical associate professor in Dept. of Medicine at University of British Columbia. She is also a rheumatologist with Summit Medical Specialists. Neda started the Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases Clinic, first of its kind in BC, at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre in 2017. 

Dr. Vienna Cheng, PharmD, is a practicing pharmacist who completed her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She is a current Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences candidate at UBC under the supervision of Dr. Mary De Vera.  Her MSc thesis is focused on evaluating the perinatal impact of arthritis medications on neonatal outcomes among females with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Dr. Mary De Vera, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Senior Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada.  She holds a Tier II Canada Research in Health Outcomes and Treatment Adherence and conducts “patient-powered, data-driven research” that combines her expertise in epidemiologic and health services research using various data sources and draws inspiration from lived patient experiences, particularly in arthritis and cancer.

Laurie Proulx has lived with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and disability since she was 14 years old and her experiences led to her involvement in the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance (CAPA), a grass-roots patient driven and managed organization. She currently works part-time for CAPA as managing director and has experienced first-hand the challenges of pregnancy and parenting with rheumatoid arthritis.