Janet Elizabeth Mcelhaney

With deep gratitude for a life that was so well-lived, it is with great sorrow that we announce the death of Dr. Janet Elizabeth McElhaney (nee Vlasschaert) on October 21, 2021. Married to Marion Briggs for 25 years, Janet was the loving mother of daughter Meghan, son-in-law Devon, and grandmother to Caspian and Luxley. She leaves her five siblings – Paul (Bonnie), Terry (Norm), Carol (Nick), Dan (Jocelyn) and Peter (Wendy), her father Frank (Brenda) and her sister- and brother-in-law (Bill and Bernice Briggs) and their families. She was predeceased by her mother, Millicent Warren. Those who mourn with her family include her many friends; the patients whose lives she touched as a Geriatrician; the students and residents she taught; and the colleagues with whom she worked clinically and in research. For more details about Janet’s life or to leave a memorial message, please visit Earth’s Options at https://earthsoption.com/tribute/details/2904/Janet-McELHANEY/obituary.html#tribute-start Janet will be buried on Tuesday, October 26th in a private ceremony. A video will be available for viewing through the above site. A memorial service will take place with live-streaming in mid-to-late November. Details will be posted through the link above. In lieu of floral tributes, we encourage memorial donations to the Northern Cancer Foundation Indigenous Health Program, or to the HSNRI Research Program in Healthy Aging. Copy and paste this live service link into your web browser to attend proceedings https://lumeraevents.com/janetmcelhaney Today, I wanted to share two things: First, a link to the video of the Internment Service held yesterday at Royal Oak Burial Park in Victoria, BC. https://www.lumeraevents.com/janetmcelhaney The second, is the full text (with his permission) of a blog written by HSN/HSNRI President and CEO Dominic Giroux: Passing of HSNRI Scientific Director Dr. Janet McElhaney It’s with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing [Thursday, October 21, 2021] of Dr. Janet McElhaney at a British Columbia hospice after a courageous and inspiring three-year battle against cancer. Janet was a beloved member of the HSN medical staff, inspiring Scientific Director and Health Sciences North Volunteer Association Research Chair in Healthy Aging at HSNRI. She was also our trailblazing former Vice-President, Research at Health Sciences North / Horizon Santé-Nord and an award-winning Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine—École de médecine du Nord de l'Ontario. On behalf of the Boards of Directors of HSNRI and HSN and of the Senior Leadership Committee, I offer our most sincere condolences to her spouse, Dr. Marion Briggs (whom she would call her “secret weapon”), and to Janet’s children, family, friends and colleagues. Despite her diagnosis a few years ago, Janet continued her work and research. She continued to provide care to patients, kneeling at their bedside to be eye to eye to explain what was happening in terms they would understand. She continued to publish and secure grants. She continued to develop creative ideas to make health services more seniors friendly. She continued to give media interviews to counter COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Earlier this year, Janet won the annual Jonas Salk Award from March Of Dimes Canada created in 1994 to honour a Canadian scientist, physician or researcher who has made a new and outstanding contribution in science or medicine to prevent, alleviate or eliminate a physical disability. To call her an inspiration would not be saying nearly enough. She was an amazing geriatrician and selfless in service to others. We are blessed to have known her. I will never forget Janet’s contagious smile, her genuine appetite to gain new knowledge, and her caring for others. Whenever I hear of a new project or initiative yet to be named, I smile thinking of her and wonder “what fun acronym would Janet come up with for this?” I know that many, many people at HSNRI, HSN and in the community will miss Janet’s smile, intellect, compassion, warmth, positive energy, creativity and “can do attitude”. Janet studied at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine from 1982 to 1986 and received her MD degree with honours, winning the Harry Weinlos Prize in Medicine awarded to a student who demonstrates humanitarianism and an excellent academic record. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine from 1986-1989 and her Fellowship in geriatric medicine from 1989-1991 at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine. From 1991 to 1998, she served as faculty at the University of Alberta where she held a number of positions related to her research and geriatric medicine at the University of Alberta Hospital. Janet was recruited as Associate Professor of Medicine to Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1998, became Director, Office of Research and Faculty Development, Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2000, and completed the Hedwin van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program (from 2001-2002). At the University of Connecticut Health Centre, she was Director of the Clinical Research Interdisciplinary Scholars Program (from 2003- 2005) and held an appointment at the Center on Aging and the Department of Immunology. In 2005, she was appointed as the Allan M. McGavin Chair in Geriatrics Research at the University of British Columbia and was Division Head of Geriatric Medicine until 2011. Janet joined HSNRI and HSN in 2011 and brought with her all the experience of a practising geriatrician, academic physician and scientist, as well as bundles of energy to inspire and lead HSN in being a more evidence-based senior-friendly hospital. She pioneered what we know today as our COACH team and our geriatric outpatient rehabilitation program formerly known as STAT, to enrich inpatient and post-discharge experiences for frail seniors. She also pioneered the 48/5 clinical intervention for hip fracture patients to deliver a multicomponent intervention through interprofessional collaborative practice to address five key areas of care: delirium/cognition; medications; functional mobility; nutrition/hydration; bowel/bladder. When these areas are addressed within the first 48 hours, Dr. McElhaney has shown that functional decline can be reduced and patient outcomes can improve. Patients loved her and continue to benefit from these programs that she established. She led the evolution of HSNRI’s work towards population health, developing research programs in Healthy Aging and Indigenous Health. Since joining us in 2011, she co-authored more than 70 publications, delivered more than 80 presentations worldwide, secured more than $10 million in grants for her personal research programs, supervised more than 80 medical learners, and was an economic development powerhouse of her own with the creation of local jobs to support her research endeavours. In 2017, Janet was appointed to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute Advisory Board on Indigenous Peoples’ Health, and subsequently to the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity, and was recognized by Public Health Sudbury & Districts as Sudbury’s Public Health Champion. She received a Catalyst award from AGE-WELL, Canada’s Technology and Aging Network, for new research that aims to support Indigenous families with dementia through digital storytelling. Before Janet’s passing, I communicated these sentiments to her and Marion. I thanked her for her exceptional service and leadership at HSNRI and HSN, and emphasized how she should be extremely proud of the legacy she has created at HSNRI and HSN, and the talent she brought in. I know I am. At the Senior Leadership Committee meeting on Monday, and at the HSNRI Board meeting on Wednesday, we took the opportunity to reflect on the positive impact that Janet had on each of us and on HSNRI and HSN. This is the third time in 12 years that I witness the loss, because of cancer, of an esteemed senior leadership colleague gone way too soon. It reminds us of the importance of cancer research. I think the best way we can promote Janet’s legacy is to be kind to one another, continue to strengthen our research efforts and improve our approaches to make health care more seniors friendly. She would want us to advance Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and make our organizations more welcoming to LGBTQ2S patients, visitors, employees, medical staff, learners and volunteers. Flags at HSN will be flown at half-mast in Janet’s honour. Please take a moment of reflection today to remember Janet and her life.