Preventative Medicine Workshop Series

Abbotsford Youth Academic and Athletic Foundation aims to provide ongoing support for youth within our communities by holding various annual health educational workshops. The goal of this series is to empower youth to understand the importance of preventative medicine and the long-term implications of chronic disease.

We hope these sessions will provide the tools and understanding of chronic disease prevention and management. The use of community and population-friendly language will empower a deeper understanding of pathophysiology, symptoms, and complications.

At these events, we often discuss and primarily focus on preventative aspects such as lifestyle modification, exercise, and diet. We also outline resources available within the local community. Additionally, we present the latest guidelines and recommendations of disease management from a perspective that resonates with our youth.

In 2018, we held a workshop titled “Living with Diabetes: What to expect” and in 2019 we did a session on hypertension and management and were awarded the UBC Family Medicine Community Initiative Grant for our efforts. We hope to address depression and the stigma of adolescent mental health in 2021.