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Samantha Borgal, MA, MTA, is the Music Therapist at the Marjorie & Gerald Bronfman Division of Palliative Care at the Jewish General Hospital. She obtained her BA of Music Therapy from the University of Windsor with a special focus on voice and vocal performance as well as a master’s in Creative Arts Therapies in Music Therapy from Concordia University in 2015. In addition to her clinical music therapy work, Samantha supervises interns and students, presents to staff and volunteers, and has been an invited presenter among community and international organizations regarding music therapy. Samantha remains dedicated to ongoing music therapy presentation, advocacy and research. |
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Rifka Hanfling is the Coordinator of Palliative Care for Hope & Cope at the Jewish General Hospital. Since 2013, she has been Hope & Cope's Assistant-Coordinator in Radiation-Oncology and has worked in Palliative Care. She has initiated the "My Story" project. A tool that helps the volunteer team practice by enhancing their knowledge of the person and support the establishment of therapeutic relationships in Palliative Care. As Coordinator, she is the link between patients, volunteers and the medical team. She leads the volunteer team and supervises their work. She offers psychosocial services to patients and their families in their most difficult times of their lives. She has a BA in Administration (France, 1972), DEC in social services (2013) and is presently earning her BSW at the McGill School of Social Work. |
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Vivian Myron, MSW, TSP, Social Worker, Palliative Care Services, Jewish General Hospital (JGH). Vivian is the clinical coordinator of the Jewish General’s oncology social workers, a team of nine workers. She is co-chair of Accreditation CANADA Palliative Care CIUSSS Centre Ouest. She is a participant of the Comité Élargi Soins Palliatif. In addition, she is on the GIST team for CIUSSS Centre Ouest, offering support to staff when a patient requests medical aid in dying (MAID). Vivian teaches an interdisciplinary 7-hour course entitled, “Grief, Loss, Death and Dying, a Palliative Care Workshop” offered at the JGH in English and French to JGH and CIUSSS partners. |
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Nancy Wiseman has certificates in Health and Social Service Management from McGill University; Caring Paws Animal Therapy; and McGill Palliative Care Volunteer Training. She has been volunteering with Hope & Cope at the Jewish General Hospital since 2006. She serves on the Administrative and Executive Boards as Immediate Past President and as chair, co-chair, and committee member of the Annual Cancer Survivorship Day and Volunteer Educational Conference Day. Nancy volunteers weekly in a multifaceted role at the Alvin Segal Cancer Centre with the responsibility to facilitate and expedite the doctors’ performance of their clinic duties, provide patients with resources to assist them through their treatments, and to undertake administrative tasks. Nancy’s collaboration with her dog Lucas as a certified pet therapist in the Palliative Care Unit of the Jewish General Hospital provides the opportunity to deepen contact with patients and bring smiles to the faces of visitors, staff and volunteers. Their presence encourages people to speak and is a helpful and welcome distraction. Nancy helps people from their first diagnosis, through on-going treatments until annual follow-ups |