At this year’s Living with Wellness Arts Festival we partnered up with Trillium Health Partners, community members gathered not just to celebrate art and wellness, but to engage with leading voices in healthcare. The festival’s featured talks covered a wide spectrum of vital topics -from caring for seniors and managing diabetes to breaking the silence around menstrual health, preventing heart disease, and envisioning the future of healthcare in our community.
These sessions weren’t simply lectures; they were conversations that connected medical expertise with lived experience, giving practical advice while inspiring hope. Together, they created a roadmap for healthier, more resilient communities.
All of these talks can be found on our YouTube playlist, making it easy to revisit or share the valuable insights.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHVmalH9WcScRx8z63EHUU4kadEwKVVl6
Dr. Narayan’s thoughtful presentation spotlights the challenges and rewards of senior care, particularly in helping elderly patients regain independence and quality of life. Drawing from his experience in complex and restorative care at Freeport campus, Dr. Narayan emphasizes empathy, multidisciplinary teamwork, and rehabilitation-driven recovery. Dr. Narayan's approach aligns with broader trends in geriatric care that prioritize functional autonomy and dignity.
This video lays out the practical, compassionate services offered by the Trillium Health Partners Diabetes Management Centre - from group classes to individual counselling, insulin education, and foot care. The comprehensive program underscores that managing diabetes is not just clinical, but deeply human and responsive to individual needs. THP’s holistic model reflects best practices in collaborative care for all types of diabetes and pre-diabetes.
Dr. Murji addresses the persistent societal silence around menstruation. Her message is stark: even in 2025, periods remain stigmatized and under-discussed—a barrier to health equity and emotional well-being. Dr. Murji remarks echo the authors in Nature Medicine, including Dr. Murji , who penned “Ending the taboo on periods and period problems,” spotlighting the urgent need for open conversation and destigmatization.
Dr. Gupta brings an energizing blend of expertise and optimism to cardiac health. Dr. Gupta underscores prevention: early detection, lifestyle shifts, and education can substantially reduce risk of heart attacks and strokes. His mission bridges community outreach with clinical rigor, offering real hope for heart disease prevention.
Steve Silva, drawing from his long-standing involvement with community health foundations, envisions a future where integrated services -such as supportive housing, long-term care, and accessible clinics - form a seamless continuum of care. Steve's role with Providence Foundation highlights the value of collaboration across sectors to better serve vulnerable populations.
Dr. Shalby addresses the growing concern of fatty liver disease, offering accessible lifestyle strategies - like dietary changes and supervised care - to help manage and reverse liver damage. Dr. Shalby's guidance reinforces that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is manageable with proactive, patient-centered interventions.
Kathy Lashley highlights the vital importance of social connection for seniors, especially in community settings. Through programs offered by Partners Community Health - such as those at Wellbrook Place and Camilla Care - Kathy emphasizes compassion, respect, and creativity in designing spaces that nourish emotional, as well as physical, well-being.
Across these presentations, a unifying thread emerges: community health thrives on integration - between medical care, social connection, prevention, and empowerment.
