UBC Health welcomes Dr. Bonita Sawatzky as the Canfield Distinguished Scholar in Patient Partnerships for an 18-month term effective November 1, 2025.

Dr. Sawatzky is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics, where she is also READI Director (Respect, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion).

As Canfield Distinguished Scholar in Patient Partnerships, Dr. Sawatzky will support research, as well as teaching and outreach initiatives in patient partnerships in health professional education. Her work will be jointly supported by the Centre for Health Education Scholarship and Patient & Community Partnership for Education, UBC Health. 

The Canfield Distinguished Scholar in Patient Partnerships at UBC has been established thanks to a generous donation from Carolyn Canfield, a citizen-patient advocate who works in BC, across Canada, and internationally to expand opportunities for patients, caregivers, and communities to partner with healthcare professionals to improve health services, systems, research, training, and governance.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sawatzky on her appointment.