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Blume, The Female Founded Self-care Company Focused on Empowering Girls, Raises $3.3 Million in Series Seed Funding 

Capital from the round will be used to expand product offerings, grow the team, and create more educational contentVANCOUVER, BC - April 1, 2019 - Blume,the only brand dedicated to educating young women and creating safe and sustainable period products, announced a $3.3 million Series Seed funding round today. The round is led by Grace Chou and Victoria Treyger, partners at Felicis Ventures, with participation from Victress Capital. Other notable investor participants include Panache & Eric Reis, author of the Lean Startup. Sisters and co-founders Taran and Bunny Ghatrora, first generation women from Indian descent, are committed to empowering young women. The entrepreneurial duo, both 500 Startups Fellows, hope to instill self-acceptance and confidence in a new generation of young women through a combination of safe products and educational content.  It's clear that the current puberty and self-care options on the market aren't cutting it and with this funding, Blume is able to continue to give women and girls the tools they need to grow into the best version of themselves. Capital from this round will be used to accelerate brand growth through product and employee expansion and increased marketing efforts to produce more educational content. The funding signifies the importance of the brand's mission to empower young women. Round leader, Victoria Treyger, General Partner and Managing Director at Felicis Ventures, is thrilled to lead Blume's seed round and support Blume's mission of re-imagining puberty and personal care for GenZs. "We are impressed by Blume's holistic approach to transforming the category - starting from an expanding line of wellness products, to authentic educational content on physical and mental health, as well as innovative omnichannel concepts that resonate with teens. Moreover, how Blume taps into its loyal community to co-create new products is something incumbent CPG brands cannot do themselves," said Treyger. Suzanne Norris, partner at Victress Capital felt there was a noticeable white space in the $15B personal care market for products that were made for and specifically marketed to Gen Z girls. "Blume is the only brand that is approaching the Gen Z consumers' needs in this cohesive way across both commerce and content, and we believe they will develop the next generation of confident, tenacious and conscious women.  We strongly support Blume's mission and we are honored to partner with their team," said Norris. Taran & Bunny Ghatrora, co-founders of Blume, are excited to use this new funding to continue to build the brand girls grow up with and the supportive community that will help create next generation of thriving, confident and tenacious young women. "We plan to double down on building community and our educational platform. With only 26 States mandating sex ed, and Ontario, Canada reverting back to a pre-1993 sex ed curriculum, we believe there is space for a brand to help girls navigate this time in a meaningful way, with accurate, factual content presented in a voice and tone that is non clinical," said Taran Ghatrora, co-founder and CEO. At a time where less than 2.2% of venture capital goes to women, and even less to women of color, Blume is thankful to build this company with strong partners, and are committed to having a diverse board as the brand continues to grow. "We're honored to be working alongside amazing investors, many of whom, are parents of teens themselves and be part of the journey of the thousands of parents who have told us that their daughters are feeling more confident and opening up to them in ways they never have!" said Bunny Ghatrora, Co-Founder and COO.
You can view brand imagery HERE. 
PRESS CONTACT:Nicole ClarkMichele Marie PRNicole@michelemariepr.com646.863.3923
About Blume:Blume is building young women a safe space to learn, grow, and become their badass selves. A place to celebrate womanhood and give advice on the good, the bad and, yes, even the ugly that comes with it. We provide dependable, high-quality, beautiful content, education, and safe products for your period and just life in general. Most brands carry period products that take centuries to biodegrade and have ingredients you can't pronounce. At Blume, we're different. We believe in products that are not a threat to our bodies or the environment. We offer a subscription box at just $11 a month and a wide range of life products such as organic tampons and pads, fun treats, and comforting remedies for everything PMS. Individual products retail from $11 - $26 and are available at select Nordstrom and Urban Outfitter locations and on www.meetblume.com.

Beyond Legalization: 2nd Medical Cannabis Week highlights importance of continued R&D in the industry

Business of Cannabis Announces Initial Programming and Launch of Medical Cannabis Talks Series to Focus Medical Cannabis Conversation

TORONTO, April 1, 2019 /CNW/ - Business of Cannabis announces that Canada's second annual Medical Cannabis Week will take place from May 6 to May 10, 2019 with programming running in Toronto as well as in other locations across the country.

"Understanding the foundational role that medical cannabis brings to the sector, we wanted to grow the platform across which this conversation will be hosted," said Jay Rosenthal, Co-Founder and President of Business of Cannabis, "This year we are announcing extended programming and a new content series to aggregate and focus on conversations related to the research, innovation, advocacy and regulatory issues."

Current speakers includes leaders from Ample Organics, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, HelloMD, Jamaican Medical Cannabis Corporation, Medicinal My Way, Opportunities New Brunswick and Strainprint Technologies, with more participants and venues to be announced in the coming weeks. The National Post is the official media partner for the week.

Events will kick off with a new content format: Medical Cannabis Talks which will see industry leaders present their impressions on the sector via live stream, as well as being aggregated into a new platform managed by Business of Cannabis.

"One of our key objectives in launching Medical Cannabis Week was to provide a dedicated space to focus on the conversations most important to the medical cannabis sector," said Blaine Pearson, Co-Founder and CEO, Business of Cannabis. "Medical Cannabis Talks will ensure that we continue to shine a light on the important advances in the medical cannabis space all year round."

To learn more about Medical Cannabis Week and to RSVP to specific events, please visit medicalcannabisweek.com.  

About Business of Cannabis
Business of Cannabis is a leading cannabis business media platform connecting industry leaders and investors with business news, specialized event programming and strategic consulting. With the objective of helping the cannabis sector reach maturity faster, Business of Cannabis produces sophisticated digital content, niche events series and creative programs for B2B and B2C audiences. Founded in 2017, Business of Cannabis has earned its place as a respected and trusted voice for the industry and investors in the ever-expanding international cannabis space. For more information, please visit www.businessofcannabis.ca

SOURCE Business of Cannabis

HLS Therapeutics Granted Priority Review Status from Health Canada for Vascepa®

• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally¹
• HLS New Drug Submission (NDS) for Vascepa is supported by data from the REDUCE-IT™ trial, an international, multi-center cardiovascular outcomes study that showed a 25% placebo-controlled risk reduction in the first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)
• HLS NDS filing to occur in April 2019
• Priority review status can reduce review time by more than four-and-a-half months 

TORONTO, March 29, 2019 /CNW/ - HLS Therapeutics Inc. ("HLS" or the "Company") (TSX:HLS), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on central nervous system and cardiovascular markets, announces that Health Canada has granted priority review status for its New Drug Submission ("NDS") for Vascepa®, which seeks to reduce the risk of ischemic cardiovascular events in statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides and other risk factors.

Priority review status may be granted to regulatory filings in Canada for new treatments that potentially address serious, life-threatening conditions for which no drug is currently marketed in Canada, and for which there is substantial evidence of clinical effectiveness of that new treatment. Under priority review the performance target for the screening and review of the original submission is 215 calendar days versus 355 days for a standard review. Therefore, receipt of priority review status could expedite the launch of Vascepa in the Canadian market, if the product is ultimately approved by Health Canada.

In the fall of 2018, results of the REDUCE-IT™ study were presented and published showing that Vascepa achieved the primary endpoint of the study demonstrating a statistically significant 25% placebo-controlled risk reduction in the first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events ("MACE"). REDUCE-IT results also revealed statistically significant relative risk reductions in each component of the MACE composite, consisting of cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, coronary revascularization and hospitalization for unstable angina.

"Cardiovascular disease is the world's number one cause of mortality and many patients with well-managed LDL-cholesterol still remain at high risk for adverse cardiovascular events," said Greg Gubitz, CEO of HLS. "No therapy is currently approved to treat such residual cardiovascular risk in the population studied in the REDUCE-IT trial. We look forward to working with Health Canada to bring this innovative therapy to Canadians who may be at-risk of a major cardiac event."

HLS's filing is supported by data from REDUCE-IT², an 8,179-patient cardiovascular outcomes study that was completed in 2018. REDUCE-IT was the first multinational cardiovascular outcomes study that evaluated the effect of pure and stable EPA therapy as an add-on to statins in patients with high cardiovascular risk who, despite stable statin therapy, had elevated triglyceride levels (at least 135 mg/dL). A large portion of the male and female patients enrolled in this outcomes study were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. REDUCE-IT studied Vascepa at four grams/day as compared to placebo.

More information on the REDUCE-IT study results can be found at www.amarincorp.com. 

ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 
Worldwide, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the #1 cause of mortality of men and women. 

Multiple primary and secondary prevention trials have shown a significant reduction of 25% to 35% in the risk of cardiovascular events with statin therapy, leaving significant persistent residual risk despite the achievement of target LDL-C levels.³

Beyond the cardiovascular risk associated with LDL-C, genetic, epidemiologic, clinical and real-world data suggest that patients with elevated triglycerides (TG) (fats in the blood), and TG-rich lipoproteins, are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. ^{4, 5, 6, 7}

ABOUT VASCEPA (ICOSAPENT ETHYL) CAPSULES 
Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) is derived from fish through a stringent and complex FDA-regulated manufacturing process designed to effectively eliminate impurities and isolate and protect the single molecule active ingredient from degradation. Amarin has been issued multiple patents internationally based on the unique clinical profile of Vascepa, including the drug's ability to lower triglyceride levels in relevant patient populations without raising LDL-cholesterol levels. HLS has in-licensed the exclusive rights to Vascepa for the Canadian market. VASCEPA IS NOT APPROVED IN CANADA. 

ABOUT HLS THERAPEUTICS INC.
Formed in 2015, HLS is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition and commercialization of late stage development, commercial stage promoted and established branded pharmaceutical products in the North American markets. HLS's focus is on products targeting the central nervous system and cardiovascular therapeutic areas. HLS's management team is composed of seasoned pharmaceutical executives with a strong track record of success in these therapeutic areas and at managing products in each of these lifecycle stages. 

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding HLS and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of HLS's management. In some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, including, among others, statements with respect to HLS's pursuit of additional product and pipeline opportunities in certain therapeutic markets, statements regarding growth opportunities and expectations regarding financial performance. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting HLS, including risks relating to the specialty pharmaceutical industry, risks related to the regulatory approval process, economic factors and many other factors beyond the control of HLS. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause HLS's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. A discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with this release can be found in the Company's Annual Information Form dated October 26, 2018, which has been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and HLS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

REFERENCES
¹ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death
²  Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Miller M, Brinton EA, Jacobson TA, Ketchum SB, Doyle RT, Juliano RA, Jiao L, Granowitz C, Tardif JC, Ballantyne CM. Cardiovascular Risk Reduction with Icosapent Ethyl for Hypertriglyceridemia. N Engl J Med 2019;380:11-22.
³ Ganda OP, Bhatt DL, Mason RP, et al. Unmet need for adjunctive dyslipidemia therapy in hypertriglyceridemia management. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;72(3):330-343.
⁴ Budoff M. Triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the causal pathway of cardiovascular disease. Am J Cardiol. 2016;118:138-145.
⁵ Toth PP, Granowitz C, Hull M, et al. High triglycerides are associated with increased cardiovascular events, medical costs, and resource use: A real-world administrative claims analysis of statin-treated patients with high residual cardiovascular risk. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7(15):e008740.
⁶ Nordestgaard BG. Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease - New insights from epidemiology, genetics, and biology. Circ Res. 2016;118:547-563.
⁷ Nordestgaard BG, Varbo A. Triglycerides and cardiovascular disease. Lancet. 2014;384:626–635.

SOURCE HLS Therapeutics Inc.

For further information:

Dave Mason, Investor Relations, HLS Therapeutics Inc., (416) 247-9652, dave.mason@loderockadvisors.com; Gilbert Godin, President and Chief Operating Officer, HLS Therapeutics Inc., (484) 232-3400 ext101, g.godin@hlstherapeutics.com

Are Headlines of Medical Breakthroughs Overstating Actual Science and Research? 

By Joshua Mansour, M.D.

Patients should have as much access to information as possible.  The more they know, the more informed decision about their health and life that can be made.  However, faulty headlines about new therapies are infiltrating news outlets left and right recently.  Many times, this information can be misleading, and it is difficult for patients, their friends, and family members to decipher.      

Lately, there has been a surge in the release of novel cancer diagnostics and therapy leading to an outburst of news coverage.  Understandably, people want to find better ways to detect and treat cancer.  However, it is of utmost importance to go back to the data and review exactly what it is that is being written. 

In just recent weeks very bold statements have been made and are floating around news outlets such as people claiming to have the “cure for cancer within a year” or research finding a new “detection for Alzheimer’s.”   One of these is more likely, while the other makes for a catchy headline.  If proven wrong, there is not a single person that wouldn’t hope that it is more than a catchy headline.  This leads to the question, are many of these early press releases targeting the general population with bold claims without having enough evidence to be supported by the scientific community?

Integrative medicine physician Dr. Eddie Fatakhov explains that “patients sometimes come into the office asking for a treatment that is not approved and has not been properly studied.  Although we would like to do whatever we can to help the first part of the Hippocratic Oath for physicians is to ‘do no harm’.  Not to mention some of the headlines have no evidence supporting them or are released prior to having enough data, which can complicate things.”

The first amendment guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting restriction of the press and individual’s speech.  This is from the United States Constitution and is our right.  It is a blessing to live in a country that provides and respects this right.  However, is this same right that is provided to Americans also a cause of misleading information and facts?  Absolutely.

Information cannot and should not be censored, but it should be looked at closely before jumping to conclusions or assuming it to be true.  In medicine, patients’ lives are at stake. So while headlines may be catchy, a patient turning down therapy because they are waiting on something that they read about on the internet, that is not close to approval, or want to use a special herb because that has never been medically tested can be dangerous. 

Many individuals that are writing these articles and interpreting the data to be released to the general public do not hold a medical degree or have not been trained to interpret the scientific data.  Patients will then come into doctors’ offices not asking questions or having an open dialogue about how they should be treated, but instead proclaiming that this is what they want because it is the “next best thing” that is just released.  It is the responsibility of a physician to be knowledgeable and up to date on different treatments and diagnostic tests.  However, it makes it difficult when physicians may not be up to date on this material that has no evidence and support.  False proclamations of grandeur, if you will.  

Well what are the benefits? Headlines may attract readers, and when properly reviewed may lead to further research and discussion.  It can lead to open dialogue with the patient’s healthcare providers that may not have been initially explored.  It can give hope.  But this same hope the community yearns for may sometimes be premature and/or misleading.  

So, at the end what can be done?  These headlines and false information need to be combated with science and evidence.  Individuals need to be vocal in supporting verified information and fighting against these deceptive claims.  We need to continue to work towards improving these tests, treatments, and our care.  When a breakthrough does occur, it will be meaningful and something to not only talk about but implement to help patients.

About Joshua Mansour, MD:

Dr. Joshua Mansour is a board-certified hematologist/oncologist working and in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular immunotherapy in Stanford, California.  Recently he has managed to have over 10 recent abstracts and over 10 recent manuscripts published in esteemed journals and given countless presentations at conferences and other institutions.  He has helped design and implement clinical studies to evaluate current treatment plans, collaborated on grant proposals, and lead multi-institutional retrospective studies that have been published.

Pharmascience Inc. launches (Pr)pms-PROGESTERONE 200 mg capsule indicated as an adjunct to postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy

MONTREAL, March, 29, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Pharmascience Inc. is proud to launch ^Prpms-PROGESTERONE 200 mg (progestin), the only 200 mg progestin capsule available in Canada for women with an intact uterus as an adjunct to postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy to significantly reduce the risk of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma. ¹

Menopause is a process that takes place over several years and usually begins in the early 50s. Studies show that estrogens, commonly prescribed in menopause, maintain the woman's bone structure and prevent fractures caused by osteoporosis as well as help relieve the symptoms associated with their condition. Progesterone can be added to estrogen replacement therapy to avoid stimulation of the inner lining of the uterus and its cancer. ²

"We are very proud to launch this innovative format. Having ^Prpms-PROGESTERONE 200 mg capsules will greatly enhance patient convenience. We are committed to women's health and look forward to further innovation and increased presence in this very important segment." said Al Moghaddam, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing at Pharmascience Canada.  

Each coated ^Prpms-PROGESTERONE capsule contains 200 mg of micronized progesterone in addition to several non-medicinal ingredients including sunflower oil. ¹

About Pharmascience Inc.

Founded in 1983, Pharmascience Inc. is the largest pharmaceutical employer in Quebec with 1,500 employees proudly headquartered in Montreal. Pharmascience Inc. is a full-service privately owned pharmaceutical company with strong roots in Canada and a growing global reach with product distribution in over 60 countries. Ranked 56^th among Canada's top 100 Research & Development (R&D) investors with over $43 million invested in 2018, Pharmascience Inc. is the 4^th largest manufacturer of over-the-counter generic drugs in the country.

Pharmascience Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of prescription generic, over-the-counter, and behind-the-counter products as well as FDA approved Canadian-made injectables. The company commercializes nearly 300 product families in 20 different dosage forms for over 2,000 products. In Canada alone, more than 45 million prescriptions a year are filled with Pharmascience products.

In 2018, the prestigious Forbes magazine ranked Pharmascience Inc. among its list of top 300 employers. Pharmascience Inc. has strong long-standing philanthropic ties with its communities, both locally and internationally. For more than 20 years, Pharmascience has been working through Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) as a partner of choice to increase access to medicine. Pharmascience's total donations of essential medicine is close to $70 million. 

For more information, please visit www.pharmascience.com. 

References: 1. ^Prpms-PROGESTERONE product monograph. Pharmascience Inc. August 20, 2018. 2. Association des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Québec http://www.gynecoquebec.com/. Consulted: March 27, 2019.

SOURCE Pharmascience Inc.

For further information:

For all media requests, Valérie Piuze, Communications Manager, Tel: 514-340-9800, ext. 7846, mediainquiries@pharmascience.com

Ontario Long Term Care Association echoes its plan to tackle hallway medicine following a landmark letter writing campaign

TORONTO, March 29, 2019 /CNW/ - With the release of the new provincial government's first budget quickly approaching, the Ontario Long Term Care Association wrapped up its advocacy campaign calling for investments in seniors' care. Following a landmark Better Seniors Care campaign — resulting in Ontarians writing more than 80,000 letters to their local MPPs — the Association is committed to assisting with the province's goal of ending hallway medicine.

"We look forward to welcoming the provincial budget and continuing to collaborate with the government to find solutions to Ontario's most pressing health care challenges," said Dan Kaniuk, Chair of the Board for the Ontario Long Term Care Association. "Tens of thousands of Ontarians voiced their support for the Association's plan to help end hallway medicine by hiring more staff, building new long-term care beds and reducing paperwork."

In October 2018, the Association revealed its recommendations to help the province in providing better care environments while also relieving pressure on hospitals and promoting cost savings. Some of the outlined recommendations include:

• Hire more staff for long-term care: Change the requirement for 24/7 registered nurse coverage to 24/7 registered staff coverage when appropriate, and ensure homes can utilize more flexible approaches to staffing. 
• Build and modernize long-term care homes: Focus on adding the government's promised 15,000 new beds to existing homes, making them more economical to redevelop in the future. 
• Focus on care, not on unnecessary government paperwork: Conduct a legislative review of the Long-Term Care Homes Act to limit the unintended administrative burden care staff face on a daily basis.

Ontario's MPPs received a record-breaking 80,560 letters from individuals across the province calling for better seniors' care. The letters were signed by long-term care residents, family members, dedicated staff and concerned Ontarians seeking improvements to the province's long-term care system. 

About the Ontario Long Term Care Association 
The Ontario Long Term Care Association is the largest association of long-term care providers in Ontario and the only association that represents the full mix of long-term care operators — private, not-for-profit, charitable, and municipal. The Association represents nearly 70% of Ontario's 630 long-term care homes, located in communities across the province. Our members provide care and accommodation services to more than 70,000 residents annually.

SOURCE Ontario Long Term Care Association

CADTH Celebrates Health Technology Assessment Leaders

OTTAWA, March 28, 2019 /CNW/ - CADTH is pleased to celebrate outstanding and ongoing achievements in the field of health technology assessment (HTA) by announcing the recipients of the 2019 CADTH Recognition Awards. 

In addition to honouring two individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of HTA in Canada, 10 Anniversary Medals are being awarded this year to mark CADTH's 30th anniversary. CADTH Anniversary Medals are awarded every five years to individuals contributing to the health care system in Canada.

Dr. Deborah Marshall is a professor in the Departments of Community Health Sciences and Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), University of Calgary. She has been a driver behind the advancement of economic methods that consider not only the health technology, but also care pathways, context and constrained resources. At the opening plenary session in front of more than 800 people attending CADTH's annual Symposium, Dr. Marshall will accept the Dr. Jill M. Sanders Award of Excellence in Health Technology Assessment, which recognizes individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to HTA, evidence-based drug reviews, or optimal technology management in Canada.

"I feel honoured and flattered. This recognition has made me reflect on my career and the opening of the Canadian office for HTA back in 1990 and how far the field has come in terms of incorporating a diversity of methods and perspectives. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the evolution of this field." said Marshall in typically humble fashion.

Dr. Marshall is a leader when it comes to incorporating diverse voices into health policy. She is one of the founding co-investigators of the Patient and Community Engagement Research (PaCER) program at the University of Calgary in partnership with Alberta Health Services, and played a major role in the development of several international Good Research Practice guidance reports on innovative simulation modelling methods into practice to improve the quality and sustainability of health systems and measuring patient preferences. She is a member of the O'Brien Institute for Public Health and the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health at the CSM. 

"We owe a great debt to Dr. Deborah Marshall as a pioneer of incorporating patient perspectives into economic modelling," said Dr. Brian O'Rourke, President and CEO of CADTH. "She helped set the stage for a new generation of health economist-researchers, like Dr. Lauren Cipriano, the winner of this year's Dr. Maurice McGregor Award."

The Dr. Maurice McGregor Award, which will also be presented at this year's CADTH Symposium, recognizes rising stars who are emerging as HTA leaders.

Dr. Cipriano is a leader when it comes to applying statistics, economics, operations research, and systems analysis to health policy problems. Her work on screening and treatment policies for hepatitis C, as well as on atrial fibrillation diagnosis and stroke prevention, has been hugely influential. Her recent meta-analysis on stroke risk in individuals with atrial fibrillation was cited by the European Society of Cardiology oral anticoagulant therapy guidelines, and she collaborated on an economic evaluation for CADTH to inform Canadian atrial fibrillation monitoring guidelines.

"I am honoured to receive this award," said Dr. Cipriano, Assistant Professor at the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario. "Having spent a significant portion of my career working directly in the HTA field, I accept this award with great pride and wish to acknowledge the important work done by others, like Dr. Marshall, to get us where we are today."

In addition to the Dr. Jill M. Sanders Award of Excellence in Health Technology Assessment and the Dr. Maurice McGregor Award, 10 Anniversary Medals are being awarded at the 2019 Symposium. Introduced in 2014 to commemorate CADTH's 25th anniversary, the CADTH Anniversary Medal is awarded to individuals whose hard work and dedication have helped develop, support, and expand the use of HTA as a vital component of an effective health care system.

The 30th Anniversary Medal winners are:

• Dr. Stirling Bryan, a highly regarded health economist whose work supports health policy decisions; Dr. Bryan currently acts as Professor at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, and Director at the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Evaluation at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute 
• Dr. Tammy Clifford, a key member of the CADTH Executive Team and CADTH's Chief Scientist for 10 years, who is currently the Vice-President of Research Programs at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and is an internationally recognized contributor to the growth and vitality of HTA globally 
• Dr. Edgar Hunt, who acted as Chair of the CADTH Board of Directors, where he led the transition of the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment to CADTH, oversaw significant growth of the organization, and played a key role in launching CADTH's Liaison Officer program 
• Dr. Arminée Kazanjian, founding director of the British Columbia Office of Health Technology Assessment, who now acts as Professor at the School of Population and Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia 
• Dr. Pascale Lehoux, an early leader in HTA capacity building, who developed and managed the International Master's Program in Health Technology Assessment and Management; Dr. Lehoux is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Health Administration at the University of Montreal 
• Elaine MacPhail, who was instrumental in developing the procedures for the CADTH Common Drug Review and CADTH's optimal use programs; MacPhail spearheaded patient engagement at CADTH and is now retired 
• Dr. Janet Martin, a leading expert in hospital-based HTA, who is currently Director of the Centre for Medical Evidence, Decision Integrity & Clinical Impact (MEDICI), and Associate Professor in the Departments of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine and Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University 
• Dr. Ingrid Sketris, a leader in knowledge translation in Atlantic Canada and trainer of the next generation of HTA producers; Dr. Sketris is currently Professor and Associate Director of Research in the College of Pharmacy at Dalhousie University 
• Dr. Terrence Sullivan, Chair of the CADTH Board of Directors from 2011 to 2018 and former CEO of Cancer Care Ontario; Dr. Sullivan is a staunch advocate for evidence-informed decision-making in health care and currently chairs the quality/safety committee at the Hospital for Sick Children, the governance committee for Exactis Innovation, and the audit/finance committee for Vector A.I. 
• Dr. George Wells, an internationally recognized expert in network meta-analysis and a key contributor to HTA methodology; Dr. Wells is currently Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine at the University of Ottawa.

"Health technology assessment is recognized as an essential part of a vital health system, supporting better health, better patient experience, and better value," said Dr. O'Rourke. "Much of the credit for that belongs to the individuals we are honouring with these awards — all of whom have helped Canada become an internationally recognized leader in HTA. I am proud to congratulate them and thank them for their contributions."

For more about the awards, including further details about the Anniversary Medal winners and past winners, please visit CADTH's Recognition Awards page.

Visit the 2019 CADTH Symposium website to learn more about the event and view the conference program. Follow CADTH on Twitter (@CADTH_ACMTS) and join the Symposium conversation using the hashtag #CADTHSymp.

About CADTH
CADTH is an independent, not-for-profit organization responsible for providing Canada's health care decision-makers with objective evidence to help make informed decisions about the optimal use of drugs and medical devices in our health care system. CADTH receives funding from Canada's federal, provincial, and territorial governments, with the exception of Quebec.

SOURCE Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)

The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College becomes a signatory to the International Clinical and Professional Chiropractic Education Position Statement

TORONTO, March 27, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) Board of Governors today announced that CMCC has become a signatory to the International Clinical and Professional Chiropractic Education Position Statement, joining 12 institutions around the world.

The statement, originally formulated as a collaborative effort among several European chiropractic institutions and one in South Africa was formally released at the 2015 scientific meeting of the World Federation of Chiropractic in Athens, and updated in 2017. The statement was developed as a way to provide a cohesive view of how, in the interest of the welfare of the patient, chiropractic education should be of the highest quality and founded on the principles of evidence-based care, with curricula that is responsive to changing patient, societal and community needs and expectations within a modern health care system.

Dr. Rahim Karim, Chair of the CMCC Board of Governors noted, "The Board of Governors has dedicated considerable thought and deliberation to this issue over the past several years, and the final decision to move forward into joining this collaborative effort was unanimously approved at our October 2018 meeting. We feel it is time to make our educational position clear regarding the alignment of our curriculum, research efforts and model of care with our continued emphasis upon evidence-based and patient-centred care."

Reflecting on this important milestone in the history of CMCC, President Dr. David Wickes commented, "CMCC is committed to continually evolve its programs and realize our vision to create leaders in spinal health. We have undertaken extraordinary efforts over the past few years to emphasize the rapid translation of research into our curriculum and patient care practices, and to forge partnerships with other innovative institutions. Declaring our support for the Position Statement will better enable us to attract the best students and faculty, and to strengthen and build trust with the public, partners and communities we serve."

About CMCC

The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College is recognised for creating leaders in spinal health. With graduates practicing in 37 countries and faculty who are leaders in their fields, CMCC delivers world class chiropractic education, research, and patient care. The campus features modern teaching and laboratory space, including new simulation and biomechanics laboratories, and is extended across Toronto through its network of community based interprofessional clinics that serve diverse patient populations. CMCC offers a four-year undergraduate program leading to a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree. This degree program is offered under the written consent of Ontario's Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for the period from 24/3/11 to 24/3/21. For more information, visit www.cmcc.ca or follow us on Twitter and Facebook and LinkedIn.

Additional Resources: International Education Position Statement, Backgrounder and Questions and Answers

SOURCE Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College