Faculty of Medicine physicians and researchers traveled to Guangzhou, China in March to participate in a bi-national workshop on diabetes, in partnership with the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The panel discussion, “Diabetes Prevention and Management: Exploratory Workshop through Western and Eastern Medicine,” explored the prevention and treatment of diabetes through the lenses of Western and Eastern medicine.
Each speaker discussed their approach to diabetes prevention and management, and offered case studies to illustrate their points, after which audience members had time for questions and conversation. Over 150 people came from Guangzhou and the surrounding area, including representatives from the Guangzhou School of Public Health, attended the workshop.
Speakers at the event included: Kendall Ho, a Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Director of the Faculty of Medicine’s eHealth Strategy Office; Kwang Yang, a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Practice and founder and president of the Canadian Health Awareness Society; Chuen Ping Lau, internal medicine specialist and former chairman of the Chinese Section for the Canadian Diabetes Association; Johnny Fong, president of the Community Care & Advancement of Canada (CCAA); and Tung Chan, president of the BC Lower Mainland Canada China Friendship Association. In addition, the panel included two physicians from the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Drs. Ling Zhao and Guangjie Fan.
In a written statement released prior to the event, Canada’s Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq, noted the importance of the international workshop and its goals, saying, “Better understanding of this chronic disease is a global priority… This workshop is a good example of how experts from Canada and China can work together to strengthen collaboration between our countries and improve understanding of global health issues of priority.”
The event was sponsored by Health Canada through its International Health Grants program.