Best Practice Program
OPEN TO MINT MEMORY CLINICS ONLY
*This activity has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 5.75 Mainpro+ Certified Activity credits.*
There are 2 Best Practice Dates available to accommodate different time zones.
February 18, 2026 from 9am to 4:30pm ET
February 19, 2026 from 11am to 6:30pm ET
Details are tentative and are subject to change, please visit this page for more up-to-date information.
Dr. Linda Lee
Updates in Dementia Care
1. Summarize updates in dementia care that are relevant to MINT Clinics
2. Discuss the role of AD blood biomarkers in MINT Clinics
Learning Objectives
Challenging Cases
Describe challenging cases
Discuss the diagnostic approach and management strategies
Learning Objectives
Dr. Linda Lee is a Care of the Elderly family physician in Ontario, Canada. She is the Schlegel Research Chair in Primary Care for Elders, Schlegel Research Institute for Aging, and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University. She is the founder and Executive Director of MINT Memory Clinic, a non-profit organization helping to establish memory clinics in primary care nationally. In recognition for her leadership in improving care for older adults with dementia, she has been awarded the 2014 Ontario Minister’s Medal Honouring Excellence in Health Quality and Safety, the 2015 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Aging Betty Havens Award for Knowledge Translation in Aging, the 2019 Canadian Medical Association Joule Innovation Access to Care Award, and the 2020 Change Foundation Future Innovator Award. Her research interests focus on improving health care for older adults living with dementia.
About Dr. Linda Lee
Dr. Joey Champigny
Cannabinoids in Dementia Care: An Evidence-Based Update on CBD and THC
1. Review the current evidence on the use of cannabinoids in the prevention and management of dementia.
2. Evaluate the role of cannabinoids within clinical practice, including their application in MINT clinics.
Learning Objectives
From Hype to Health Care: Understanding NAD’s Role in Ageing and Longevity
1. Summarize the biological role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in ageing and cellular function.
2. Review the current evidence for NAD-related therapies in promoting healthy ageing and longevity.
3. Assess the potential applications and limitations of NAD supplementation in clinical practice, including its use in MINT clinics.
Learning Objectives
Dr. Joey Champigny is a clinical pharmacist and the pharmacy lead for MINT memory clinics. He completed his PharmD at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy and went on to complete a primary care residency at the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team. He is currently completing his Masters of Science at the University of Waterloo. In addition to his role in primary care, Dr. Champigny helps manage patients in long term care and is a guest lecturer at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. His areas of interest include chronic disease management and improving medication adherence in older adults via the use of electronic tools and artificial intelligence.
About Dr. Joey Champigny
Dr. Sean Robb
Supporting Patients and Caregivers with the Diagnosis of Dementia and Its Progression
1. Explain common emotional and psychological responses that patients and caregivers may experience when receiving a diagnosis of dementia or recognizing its progression
2. Apply communication strategies to support patients and caregivers in processing and managing these experiences
Learning Objectives
Sean Robb works as an adult and geriatric clinical neuropsychologist in the Niagara Region and Eastern Ontario. He has an academic appointment with McMaster University as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences. He has a special interest in increasing access to neuropsychological services for those outside of motor vehicle collision sector and translating cognitive and emotional data into meaningful therapeutic and rehabilitative strategies.
About Dr. Sean Robb
Dr. Michelle Gagnon
Top Tips for MINT Clinics
1. Discuss practical tips for managing common challenging situations in dementia care, from a geriatrician’s perspective
2. Review common concerns based on referrals from MINT Memory clinics
Learning Objectives
Dr. Gagnon is a Professor of Medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton in the Division of Geriatric Medicine.
Dr. Gagnon completed her medical training at McMaster University and went on to complete fellowships in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine both in Canada and in the United States.
She is the former Chief Examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons specialty examination in Geriatric Medicine and a recent recipient of the McMaster Excellence in Teaching award. She has focused her career on teaching and capacity building of all those involved in the care of our older population.
About Dr. Michelle Gagnon
Arlette Kasongo-Chima
Complex Mental Capacity Concerns
1. Describe common challenges in assessing mental capacity in persons living with dementia
2. Discuss strategies MINT Clinics can use to address these concerns
Learning Objectives
I am a registered occupational therapist with extensive experience in care coordination, supporting a diverse clientele, including individuals with memory and neurocognitive challenges. Later on, I expanded my practice as a designated capacity assessor under the Substitute Decisions Act, determining capacity to make decisions regarding personal care or property, across various populations, including those living with dementia. My work also includes providing ongoing consultation to the public and healthcare partners seeking guidance on mental capacity assessments for the purpose of applying for guardianship.
About Arlette Kasongo-Chima
Dr. Michelle Tsang
Top Tips for MINT Memory Clinics (Feb 18, 2026 ONLY)
1. Discuss practical tips for managing common challenging situations in dementia care, from a cognitive neurologist’s perspective
2. Review common concerns based on referrals from MINT Memory clinics
Learning Objectives
About Dr. Michelle Tsang
TBA
Dr. Alexandrea Peel
Beyond Diagnosis: Practical Pearls for Dementia Follow-Up Visits and Conversations About New Alzheimer’s Therapies (Feb 18, 2026 ONLY)
To provide practical strategies for managing common issues encountered during follow-up visits for people living with dementia and their caregivers
To review practical tips for discussing lecanemab and emerging Alzheimer’s disease diagnostics and treatments with patients and caregivers in clinical practice
Learning Objectives
Dr. Alexandrea Peel is a geriatrician in independent practice serving rural communities in Southwestern Ontario, where she provides clinical support to five local memory clinics. She holds appointments as an Adjunct Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Western Ontario and in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo.
About Dr. Alexandrea Peel
Dr. Alex Henri-Bhargava
AD Blood-Based Biomarkers: What You Need to Know (Feb 19, 2026 ONLY)
1. Review AD blood biomarkers now commercially available in Canada
2. Discuss an approach to the use of AD blood biomarkers in MINT Memory Clinics
Learning Objectives
Dr. Henri-Bhargava is a behavioural neurologist based in Victoria, BC, where his outpatient practice focuses on assessment of patients with cognitive disorders. He is the Medical Director of the Neil and Susan Cognitive Health Initiative, a collaboration between the Vancouver Island Health Authority and Universities of Victoria and BC. He is a clinical trialist in the area of dementia and heavily involved in medical education. He is on the Board of Directors of the Consortium of Canadian Centres for Clinical Cognitive Research and the current Vice-President of the Canadian Neurological Society.
About Dr. Alex Henri-Bhargava
Dr. Joy Liao
Sundowning in Persons with Dementia
Review sundowning definition and common clinical manifestations
Consider key causes and contributing factors
Briefly review strategies for managing sundowning behaviour
Learning Objectives
Dr. Joy Liao (MD, MPH, FRCPC) is a Geriatrician working in Langley and White Rock, BC. She is the Department Head in Geriatrics for Langley Memorial Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Division of Geriatric Medicine at UBC. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at McMaster University and her fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at UBC. She has a Masters of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University. Her interests include delirium, cognitive disorders and managing multicomplexity in frail older adults.