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UBC Therapeutics Initiative's Bringing Best Evidence to Clinicians Annual Course 2024
The UBC Therapeutics Initiative’s (UBC TI) goal is for drug therapies to be used wisely in the best interests of patients, based on thorough and accurate understanding of scientific evidence. It is the 30th anniversary of the UBC TI and they will be hosting a special version of their annual conference. REGISTRATION is now open. Evaluations by past attendees often say they appreciate “the other side of the story” about prescription drugs – presented and discussed by an unconflicted faculty. Please consider registering for Best Evidence 2024, and let your colleagues or students know about this opportunity:
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Therapeutics Initiative, they will introduce a unique format for this year’s event, with an in-person gathering on Friday, October 18, followed by hybrid (virtual and in-person) sessions on Saturday, October 19. Those who attended in the past know that the audience is as lively and fun to interact with as the speakers. And the conference hotel rate of $169/night (plus taxes, parking) is now a very attractive rate for a visit to Vancouver. But you can also attend online by Zoom.
This year’s course features two internationally renowned guest faculty with rave reviews from past audiences in Vancouver and online:
- Dr. Derelie (Dee) Mangin is a leading research professor in Family Practice, originally from New Zealand and now at McMaster University. She is one of the rare physicians who has run trials of deprescribing. Dee can be as funny as she is friendly, and this is a great opportunity for anyone to meet her during our Friday evening pre-course reception or on Saturday, October 19th.
- Dr. John Mandrola is an experienced cardiac electrophysiologist who has won international appreciation for his communication skills in dissecting and logically analyzing what we know and do not know from clinical trials. He’s as friendly and approachable as Dr. Mangin.
Of course the TI faculty speakers are not easily outdone. They guarantee that this course will make you think – and hopefully re-think some of what you do. But whether you’re a NP, pharmacist, physician, or student/resident, they will provide you with practical trips to improve patient care.
On Friday afternoon, October 18th, they will offer a specialized small-group Practical Deprescribing Workshop. If you face challenges in dealing with polypharmacy, or wonder if you could gain professional satisfaction by sometimes going “where others fear to tread,” this workshop is for you. It’s designed to interest and assist any health professional involved with medications – from student or resident to even a very experienced practitioner.
By working with UBC CPD, they have kept fees to the minimum possible – to promote affordable access. In person registration fees cover lunch and refreshments on Saturday, and a refreshment break on Friday. If you can’t afford the fee, let them know – so we can consider a subsidy.
This year’s course is hosted at UBC Robson Square in downtown Vancouver, a central location that offers convenient access to nearby popular attractions, making it an ideal location for attendees and family members to explore the city’s offerings outside of conference hours. Furthermore, this year’s event offers a variety of social activities, including a Friday evening reception at the Glowbal at Telus Garden (a chance to meet faculty and colleagues in a congenial environment with good food) and a guided gallery tour for family members at the Vancouver Art Gallery, both conveniently located just minutes away from the conference venue. ‘Early bird‘ registration runs until September 4 and we are also running a Portrait Online promotion that offers a 30% discount from the course registration fee to BC family physicians and nurse practitioners who sign up for Portrait Online between June 26 and September 4.
Read more about this year’s course or REGISTER.
The Therapeutics Initiative (TI) was established in 1994 by the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in cooperation with the Department of Family Practice at The University of British Columbia with its mission to provide physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, allied health professionals & the public with up-to-date, independent, evidence-based, practical information on healthcare interventions.
To reduce bias as much as possible the TI is an independent organization, separate from government, pharmaceutical industry and other vested interest groups. We strongly believe in the need for independent assessments of evidence on drug therapy to balance the drug industry sponsored information sources.
Our organization consists of two Co-Managing Directors (Dr. Ken Bassett and Dr. Colin Dormuth), an Oversight Committee, a Scientific Information and Education Committee, the Steering Committee and Working Groups. Learn more about our organization.
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