Who created and who will be offering Pictou County PEP?
The co-founders of the PEP program are Associate Professors at Dalhousie University (husband wife team). Rob Rutledge, MD, is a Radiation Oncologist who has worked in Halifax for over 25 years treating breast, prostate, and pediatric cancers, and has a strong interest in complementary medicine. Gabriela Ilie, PhD, is the Frank and Debbi Sobey endowed Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine’s Soillse Scientist in Prostate Cancer Quality of Life Research, with a background teaching Psychology to over 25,000 university students, and an established strong international academic track record in chronic disease epidemiology. Drs. Ilie and Rutledge have pioneered an innovative patient empowerment program based on science and engaging patients and partners in the development of their programs. Their work has been published in the best scientific journals. To date more than 550 cancer survivors have taken their six-month program on approved research trials. See nscancer.ca, PCPEP.org and CancerPEP.org, CancerPEP.com.
Dr. Rob Rutledge is a Radiation Oncologist with Nova Scotia Health Authority, and Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center, in Halifax, Nova Scotia who treats Prostate, Breast, and Peadiatric cancers. He is the Clinical Lead for the PC-PEP program. Over the past 27 years, Rob has dedicated himself to delivering numerous free public talks, webinars, and charity-led initiatives. He has organized and led 60 weekend retreats across 30 cities worldwide, as well as conducted dozens of day-long healing seminars for patients and medical professionals. Dr. Rutledge has an established track record of publications with 59 papers (H index 13, i10 index 16; 500+ lifetime citations). His work appeared in highly ranked journals such as the European Urology, Lancet, American Journal of Men’s Health, Psycho-oncology, Cancers, Current Oncology, and others.
Who we are
Dr. Gabriela Ilie is a Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine Endowed Scientist in Prostate Cancer Quality of Life and an Associate Professor in the Departments of Community Health and Epidemiology, Urology, Radiation Oncology and Psychology, and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University. She is Affiliated Scientist with Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center and Scientist with the Beatrice Cancer Research Institute. Gabriela initiated and leads the PC-PEP, CancerPEP and now Pictou County PEP Programs and the scientific and clinical teams behind these programs. Dr. Ilie has an established track record of publications with 99 papers (H index 25, i10 index 45; 4900+ lifetime citations). Her work appeared in highly ranked journals such as the European Urology, JAMA, American Journal of Men’s Health, BMJ Open, Psycho-oncology, and others. Dr. Ilie presents her work regularly at national and world congresses and gives yearly over 30 public talks.
Our Funder
We are genuinely excited about our partnership with the Aberdeen Health Foundation (please visit Aberdeen Health Foundation to find out more). Our mutual dedication to empowering, promoting health, fostering healing, and enhancing the well-being and quality of life for the Pictou County community holds the promise of meaningful change.
As part of Pictou County PEP we already have scheduled a monthly live videoconference, providing a strong platform for engagement with all interested participants from the comfort of their home. These sessions serve as a most valuable opportunities to foster a stronger sense of community. However, we have a wonderful opportunity to extend this connection through our partnership with the Aberdeen Health Foundation team. Together we have the potential to organize live PEP events within the community. For example, arranging group exercise classes, nature walks, or in-person talks with the program leaders. Our team is enthusiastic about our involvement in select hosted events, contributing to community cohesion and enriching the program experience. Therefore, the potential for establishing genuine community bonds and maintaining an authentic atmosphere within the program is substantial.
Our Vision
Our Vision is to stand as the foremost provider of strategic solutions, consistently delivering exceptional and personalized services. Whether you’re starting a new venture, or poised for expansion, our commitment is to collaborate and propel you towards your goals.
Our Commitment
We are genuinely thrilled about this project and eagerly anticipate a close collaboration with the Aberdeen Health Foundation. Our shared commitment holds the promise of positively impacting the well-being and joy of numerous individuals within Pictou County. We firmly believe that our joint efforts can bring about meaningful change.
Our Team
Cody MacDonald is the PC-PEP’s International and National Project Lead Coordinator for the Cancer and Pictou County PEP Programs. Since joining the Soillse Lab in the summer of 2018, Cody has been pivotal in its operations and the rollout of the program both nationally and internationally. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences and an MSc in Epidemiology at Dalhousie University, co-authoring over 11 publications during this time. Originally from Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Cody continues to be instrumental in the management and administration of the Dalhousie Soillse Lab, as well as the opening and supporting operations of our various sites globally. He is a well-loved and respected member of our team. In his free time, Cody loves spending as much time outdoors as possible, whether cycling around the city, hiking by the ocean, or traveling.