Illuminations Luncheon presented by RBC Wealth Management
Guests joined us on Friday, February 28, 2025 at Westin Bayshore Vancouver for BC Women’s Health Foundation 24th annual Illuminations Luncheon presented by RBC Wealth Management. Illuminations Luncheon is dedicated to leading change in women’s health through research and supporting the work of the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI).
This annual event brings together community, corporate, government and medical research leaders to support and hear from extraordinary women’s health researchers. Guests enjoyed a three-course lunch, and heard from a panel of experts on the latest research happening today and, with your support, in the future.
Fund-A-Need
During the Fund-a-Need portion of the event, attendees had the opportunity to invest in a variety of financial research awards. Offered through the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI), these awards provide a launch pad for the brightest minds and most cutting-edge ideas — improving care and changing lives for decades to come.
Raffle
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Maryam Zeineddin
President for BC Family Doctors
Read Bio
Dr. Zeineddin is a local Northshore family doctor and business owner. She is the current President of BC Family Doctors, the political and economic voice for all family doctors in BC. She is a healthcare leader, a former negotiator for one of the most significant changes in primary care in the last two decades of BC history, and an advocate for gender equity. She believes that bravery and change are possible when individuals access their authentic selves with greater self-awareness and self-compassion.
Fireside Chat
Featuring the perspectives of a doctor, researcher and patient, learn about the world-class Skidmore Goodman PRIME Centre at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre—a new hub for cutting-edge ultrasound research. PRIME (Perinatal Research IMaging and Evaluation) empowers researchers with specialized equipment and dedicated space to drive groundbreaking discoveries in women’s and family health. This unique facility is shaping the future of healthcare through collaboration, innovation and training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Yasser Sabr
Dr. Yasser Sabr
Ambassador to North America for the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG)
Lead, Skidmore Goodman PRIME Centre
Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre
Dr. Yasser Sabr is a clinician, researcher, and academic in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM), specializing in perinatal epidemiology and fetal anomaly diagnosis. He leads the Skidmore Goodman PRIME Centre at BC Women’s Hospital, advancing perinatal imaging and simulation research. Dr. Sabr is also the North American Ambassador for the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG). With a focus on improving pregnancy outcomes, he integrates emerging technologies into clinical practice and educates future specialists, making significant contributions to maternal-fetal health through research, education, and global collaboration.
For more information, visit: https://whri.org/staff/yasser-sabr/
Dr. Robert Rohling
Dr. Robert Rohling
Principal Investigator STIMULUS
Professor in Applied Science
Dr. Rohling is an expert in ultrasound imaging and image-guided interventions. He holds 16 patents and has founded two startups building specialized ultrasound equipment. A Fellow of the IEEE, he received the 2019 NSERC Synergy Award for advancing industry-academia collaboration. Dr. Rohling focuses on fostering a convergent research environment that brings together diverse expertise to tackling difficult research problems, with knowledge translation and impact as key outcomes.
For more information, visit: https://bme.ubc.ca/?directory=robert-rohling
Dr. Chantal Mayer
Dr. Chantal Mayer
Co-Investigator STIMULUS
Medical Lead for BC Women’s Obstetrical Ultrasound Department
Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
Dr. Mayer’s specific areas of expertise and research include fetal physiology, placental insufficiency, fetal echocardiography and as well as obstetrical ultrasound in general. While considering herself primarily a clinician, Dr. Mayer enjoys the process and the opportunity that research brings to address everyday clinical questions.
Dr. Mayer completed the highly competitive Fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at UBC and BC Women’s Hospital in 2008. Dr. Mayer has been working as part of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at BC Women’s Hospital since then and is now the Medical Lead for Ultrasound.
For more information visit: https://whri.org/staff/chantal-mayer/
Jaime Ascher
Jaime Ascher
Executive Director at a Long-term Care Home, Bereaved Mother, Community Based Researcher.
“Stillbirth Happens” Podcast Host
Jaime is passionate about developing resources to support bereaved parents and is driven to create tools for clinicians both in hospital and community settings to better support families through stillbirth. Jaime parents her sons: James who was stillborn in 2010 and Zachary who was stillborn in 2013 through this work. Jaime lives in British Columbia with her husband and daughter.
Fireside Chat
Featuring the perspectives of a doctor, researcher and patient, learn about the world-class Skidmore Goodman PRIME Centre at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre—a new hub for cutting-edge ultrasound research. PRIME (Perinatal Research IMaging and Evaluation) empowers researchers with specialized equipment and dedicated space to drive groundbreaking discoveries in women’s and family health. This unique facility is shaping the future of healthcare through collaboration, innovation and training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Yasser Sabr
Dr. Yasser Sabr
Ambassador to North America for the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG)
Lead, Skidmore Goodman PRIME Centre
Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre
Dr. Yasser Sabr is a clinician, researcher, and academic in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM), specializing in perinatal epidemiology and fetal anomaly diagnosis. He leads the Skidmore Goodman PRIME Centre at BC Women’s Hospital, advancing perinatal imaging and simulation research. Dr. Sabr is also the North American Ambassador for the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG). With a focus on improving pregnancy outcomes, he integrates emerging technologies into clinical practice and educates future specialists, making significant contributions to maternal-fetal health through research, education, and global collaboration.
For more information, visit: https://whri.org/staff/yasser-sabr/
Dr. Robert Rohling
Dr. Robert Rohling
Principal Investigator STIMULUS
Professor in Applied Science
Dr. Rohling is an expert in ultrasound imaging and image-guided interventions. He holds 16 patents and has founded two startups building specialized ultrasound equipment. A Fellow of the IEEE, he received the 2019 NSERC Synergy Award for advancing industry-academia collaboration. Dr. Rohling focuses on fostering a convergent research environment that brings together diverse expertise to tackling difficult research problems, with knowledge translation and impact as key outcomes.
For more information, visit: https://bme.ubc.ca/?directory=robert-rohling
Dr. Chantal Mayer
Dr. Chantal Mayer
Co-Investigator STIMULUS
Medical Lead for BC Women’s Obstetrical Ultrasound Department
Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
Dr. Mayer’s specific areas of expertise and research include fetal physiology, placental insufficiency, fetal echocardiography and as well as obstetrical ultrasound in general. While considering herself primarily a clinician, Dr. Mayer enjoys the process and the opportunity that research brings to address everyday clinical questions.
Dr. Mayer completed the highly competitive Fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at UBC and BC Women’s Hospital in 2008. Dr. Mayer has been working as part of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at BC Women’s Hospital since then and is now the Medical Lead for Ultrasound.
For more information visit: https://whri.org/staff/chantal-mayer/
Jaime Ascher
Jaime Ascher
Executive Director at a Long-term Care Home, Bereaved Mother, Community Based Researcher.
“Stillbirth Happens” Podcast Host
Jaime is passionate about developing resources to support bereaved parents and is driven to create tools for clinicians both in hospital and community settings to better support families through stillbirth. Jaime parents her sons: James who was stillborn in 2010 and Zachary who was stillborn in 2013 through this work. Jaime lives in British Columbia with her husband and daughter.
Research Spotlight
Learn about ground-breaking research underway with investment from BC Women’s Health Foundation donors in this pre-luncheon breakout.
Dr. Katrina Bouchard
Assistant Professor
Registered Psychologist, UBC
Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose
Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Healthy Aging
Professor, UBC
Dr. Natasha Orr
Postdoctoral Fellow
WHRI
Dr. Jeff Wong
Postdoctoral Fellow
WHRI
Emcee
Research Topic:
Understanding Perimenopausal Brain Health
Research Topic:
Chronic Pelvic Pain Educational Videos
Research Topic:
Penicillin Allergy Testing in Pregnancy
Dr. Katrina Bouchard
Assistant Professor
Registered Psychologist, UBC
Emcee
Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose
Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Healthy Aging
Professor, UBC
Research Topic: Understanding Perimenopausal Brain Health
Dr. Natasha Orr
Postdoctoral Fellow, WHRI
Research Topic: Chronic Pelvic Pain Educational Videos
Dr. Jeff Wong
Postdoctoral Fellow, WHRI
Research Topic: Penicillin Allergy Testing in Pregnancy
Presenting
Keynote
Lunch
Gold
Media
Raffle
Silver
Bronze
Audio Visual
Lighting
Photography
Click for 2024 Illuminations Luncheon
We acknowledge that we carry out our work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations.
When we refer to “women”, we are referring to women in all their diversity, inclusive of LGBTQ2SAI+ individuals.
2024 Illuminations Luncheon
We acknowledge that we carry out our work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations.
When we refer to “women”, we are referring to women in all their diversity, inclusive of LGBTQ2SAI+ individuals.