Kelly Allison, New Director of Education, UBC Health

Kelly Allison began a 3-year term in September as Director of Education for UBC Health. She takes on the role from Donna Drynan who completed her term last year. Kelly is an Assistant Professor with the UBC School of Social Work and the Chair of the School’s Field Education Program.

“I am excited to continue to work collaboratively with patient and community partners in my role as Director of Education at UBC Health,” says Kelly.

As a medical social worker for over twenty years, Kelly has firsthand experience of facilitating shared decision making with patients and families in their healthcare and advocating for the voices of patients, families and people with lived experience in all aspects of their healthcare. Kelly sat on the Patient and Family Advisory committee at BC Children’s Hospital from 1995-1997 and was a fierce advocate for parent involvement in rounds and meaningful access to their child’s medical records at the bedside while working in the ICU.

As an educator, Kelly has continued including patient and community partner’s voices in her teaching. She has invited individuals with lived experience of disability to speak in her MSW Healthcare class. Last year, PCPE helped Kelly put together a panel of older adult patients and caregivers to speak to her 4th year BSW healthcare class about healthy aging.

We look forward to continuing to work with Kelly in her new role!