Patient & Community Advisory Committee (PAC)

Darren Lauscher has been a teacher, mentor, and course facilitator with UBC since 2012. He has served on numerous planning and advisory committees at the university, including the UBC Health Council. Darren is involved in several research projects at the provincial and the national level and serves on behalf of HIV/AIDS organizations with the McLaren Housing Society of BC to provide safe, secure and affordable housing and support services for families and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Janice Barr is CEO for the Community Living Society. She has over 30 years of experience in the Community Living field, advocating and supporting people with intellectual disabilities and their families. She has also worked in government (Ministry of Health), post-secondary education (Instructor), and other community organizations. Her education is in Social Work.

Larry Dawe is the president of the Myalgic Encephalomelitis & Fibromyalgia (MEFM) Society of BC and has prior experience as a board member for a number of organizations including the Alzheimers Society of Canada. He has experience as a caregiver for his wife (a long term breast cancer patient) and his daughter (myalgic encephalomyelitis).

Anja Lanz brings her many years of lived experience to topics such as patient-centred care and navigating the healthcare system and is a strong advocate for better healthcare in BC and beyond.  Her knowledge, perspectives, and insights are helping to shape the healthcare ecosystem, and she aims to empower healthcare professionals and others to be strong advocates for change. Her work since 2012 with the UBC Health Mentors program earned her the 2021 R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award. Anja loves to travel in search of museums and UNESCO World Heritage Sites to learn more about the world’s ancient history, especially early human art such as cave paintings or rock carvings.  She is fascinated by early civilizations and archeology.

Kent Loftsgard has been a mentor and steering committee member with the UBC Health Mentors program for the past 5 years. Kent has participated in a number of advisory committees with Providence Health and was previously a member of the Patient Advisory Group in the College of Health Disciplines. Kent’s work experience is in journalism, media and communications production. He has life-long experience with cerebral palsy and asthma.

Daryl Luster is an educator, advocate and peer programs lead of the BC Hepatitis Network. He has experience as a presenter, peer navigator, blogger and designer of an awareness campaign. He brings a broad understanding of issues faced by people living with HCV. His work as an advocate and educator is focused on HCV and improved quality of life for patients.

Sue Macdonald coordinates Consumer Involvement and Initiatives for Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, in Vancouver. Sue’s work focusses on amplifying the voice of peers, persons with lived/living experience of mental health and substance use issues. A long time advocate of patient and family engagement in health care and health professional education, she is excited to share her experiences in this area as a part of the project team.

Mandy Young is the Provincial Family Support and Projects Manager with Family Support Institute of BC. She is also the president of the BC Prader-Willi Syndrome Association. As a mother of a daughter with this rare genetic disorder and Autism she has first-hand experience managing the complex care of an individual with special needs. Since 2012 she has been a Health Mentor for students in the UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors program and has been a member of the UBC Health Patient Advisory Committee since 2018. She is a contributor to the Living Library Project and developed case studies for postgraduate medical education. In her local community of North Vancouver, Mandy facilitates a support group for families with children aged 0-12 with special needs and works with Partners for Inclusive Education which brings together administration, teachers, EA’s, community members and parents to engage in inclusive education from a place of “power with”.

Jon Collins (2017-2020) is a member of Arthritis Research Canada’s Patient Advisory Board and co-chair of Reaching Out with Arthritis Research (ROAR). He has seen two sons through UBC medical school and has health care experience as a patient with polio, cancer, and arthritis. He has served on many committees and is retired from a 40-year career in the mining industry.