Patrick McGowan, PhD
Professor, University of Victoria School of Public Health and Social Policy
Patrick
joined the University of Victoria in January of 2002 and directs
Self-Management BC. His background experience has been in health
promotion research, administration, social planning and consulting.
During the last 30 years, his main focus has been on investigating the
implementation of best practices and effectiveness with health education
programs for persons experiencing chronic health conditions,
particularly self-management programs and strategies.
Email: pmcgowan@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-3574 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Curriculum Vitae
Brenda Gyurkovics
Project Support
Brenda joined the University of Victoria in October of 2019, and provides administrative support to our Program Coordinators. She brings several years experience in the health care sectors.
Email: selfmgmt@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-1273 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Courtney Kang, MD, MPH
Coordinator, Chinese Self-Management Programs
Courtney has been working in this position since September 2010. Her previous training and working experience were mostly around health care, health research and higher education. After years of researching on the measurement of health-related quality of life, Courtney now enjoys implementing self-management programs among Mandarin/Cantonese-speaking people in the Lower Mainland as these evidence-based programs are truly effective in improving people's health and quality of life.
Email: ckang@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-8967 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
David Langer, BA
Coordinator, Vancouver Coastal (Vancouver & Richmond) and Fraser (Delta) Self-Management Programs
David joined the University of Victoria as a volunteer Leader in 2013 and he later became a Master Trainer. In 2019 he took on the role of Coordinator. David has extensive experience in social services, working mostly in supervisory capacities. David's prior experience includes working with at-risk youth in emergency receiving, being a childcare counsellor in the school system, and working with adults who have developmental delays. David has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UBC and he is certified in Reality Therapy.
Email: ddlanger@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-3568
Fran Hensen, RN, BScN, MAL/Ed
Self-Management Health Coach Program Educator
Fran's previous professional and personal experiences consist of working in several Health Authorities in multidisciplinary environments that support Health Prevention and Promotion initiatives (Public Health and Primary Care) and support collaborative team approaches involving interdisciplinary projects and program redesign. Her dedication to involvement in peer coaching for chronic diseases strengthens her ongoing practice and commitment towards initiatives that promote the development of informed and activated patients in managing chronic health conditions on a daily basis.
Email: fhensen@uvic.ca
Phone: Toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Ginette McLennan, BA, BEd
Project Support
Ginette joined the University of Victoria in September 2008 and is primarily responsible for maintaining an inventory of program materials, and all shipping and receiving throughout the province for self-management programs. Ginette brings several years of experience coordinating community volunteer activities throughout the province.
Email: ginettem@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-8924 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Gundeep Sidhu, BSc, MSc
Coordinator, South-Asian Self-Management Programs
Gundeep joined the University of Victoria as a volunteer leader in 2020 and began working as Coordinator, Sout-Asian Self-Management Programs in December of 2021. She is originally from India and has a background in the field of mental health nursing. Gundeep brings several years of health sector experience, including teaching, guidance and counseling, patient education, and skill training.
Email: gundeep@uvic.ca
Phone: (236) 858-9636 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Gurpreet Sandhu, MPH
Frailty Coach Program
Gurpreet started the position in February 2023. With a background in medicine, she brings vast experience of working in charitable hospitals and serving underserved populations. With graduation in public health from Walden University, she brings her experience and passion for working towards health promotion, health education, and research initiatives to address social determinants of health. Sitting as a volunteer member of DEI Committee of the Washington State Public Health Association, she has worked on several Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and hence aims to bring a positive change in the community.
Email: gurpreetsandhu1@uvic.ca or frailtycoach@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 946-0195 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
John Murphy
Coordinator, Fraser (East) Self-Management Programs
John joined the University of Victoria in April 2015 and coordinates programs for the Vancouver Coastal region. His professional background includes 30 years of senior management, business systems, and technology experience with major corporations and consulting firms. John also has 20 years of varied volunteer experience with non-profit organizations that includes 3 years as a volunteer Chronic Pain Self-Management Program Leader and Master Trainer prior to joining the University of Victoria as a staff member.
Email: jamurphy@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 603-8258
Julieta Gerbrandt, MSc
Program Support, Self-Management Health Coach Program
Julieta joined the University of Victoria in September of 2014 and is the Qualitative Researcher. Her graduate thesis focused on human nutrition and food security of people living with disabilities. Her background experience has been in health promotion research projects focusing on gender or economic status as social determinants of health. Julieta is currently providing program support for the Self-Management Health Coach Program.
Email: smhcoach@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-9424 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
June Clearsky, Associate of Arts, Institute of Indigenous Government
Coordinator, Indigenous Provincial & Fraser (North) Self-Management Programs
June
joined the University of Victoria as a volunteer leader in 2009 and
began working as the Indigenous Liaison in July of 2010. She has worked
in Indigenous communities for the past 20 years and has extensive
knowledge of Indigenous peoples in Canada. June has a passion for
achieving wellness through the Lomilomi Massage (Hawaiian Massage) and
is currently pursuing further education.
Email: clearsky@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-6950 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Karen Hannah, BA, BSW
Lead, Pairing and Support, Self-Management Health Coach Program
Karen's initial involvement with the University of Victoria's Self-Management Programs was as a participant, volunteer Leader, and Master Trainer. Her experience includes coordinating the Vancouver Coastal and Northern health regions. As a T-Trainer for self-management programs, she has delivered trainings across Canada and in the US. Her previous experience includes 20 years of community resource development and delivering health and social service programs in remote and culturally diverse communities.
Email: klhannah@uvic.ca and smhcoach@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-3573 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Leah Otsig, Diploma - Financial Mgmt, BA, BEd, GCID
Coordinator, Interior Self-Management Programs, Interim Coordinator, Vancouver Island Self-Management Programs
Leah joined Self-Management BC in January 2020 as Coordinator for the Vancouver Island region and became the Interior Coordinator in April, 2025. She trained as a Health Coach in 2019 so that she could spread the word to others about positive health via self-management and has a passion for life-long learning as well as helping others through community service. Leah has a background in Accounting/Finance/Instructional Design as well as Adult and Public Education teaching K-12 students in the areas of ESL, French Immersion and Special Education.
Email: lotsig@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-3580 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Lisa Herriot, BA
Program Support, Self-Management Health Coach Program
Lisa joined the University of Victoria in 2013. She provides administrative support to the Self-Management Health Coach Program. Lisa brings to this role many years of experience working in a non-profit environment. She is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning.
Email: smhcoach@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-8973 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Margaret Chernaske
Project Support
Margaret joined the University of Victoria in January 2022, and provides administrative support to our Program Coordinators. She has worked in the non-profit sector as administrative support for many years and brings a great deal of knowledge to her role as project support.
Email: selfmgmt@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-1273 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Naida Khan, BBA, MBA
Office Manager
Naida joined the University of Victoria in June 2017 and works as the Office Manager. Her background in the non-profit sector includes resource development and coordination for social service and health promotion organizations. Naida has volunteered with legal, sport and education organizations and enjoys working with others who are passionate about creating positive change.
Email: nkhan@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-9796 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Navah Jacobs, CDA, DipDH, BScDH
Research Assistant and Data Coordinator
Navah's experience in the health science field over the past 30 years has included clinical practice and teaching undergraduate students. Navah's degree included a focus on statistics, epidemiology, and public health programs. Previous volunteer experience includes a focus on the geriatric sector where Navah provided cognitive support and music therapy to non-ambulatory patients in care.
Email: navahj@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 940-8926 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767
Roy Thaller, PhD
Coordinator, Surrey and White Rock Self-Management Programs
Roy joined the University of Victoria as a volunteer leader in 2019, then became a master trainer in 2021
and now as a coordinator in 2025. Roy has a background in microbiology and pharmaceutical sciences from
The University of British Columbia. He has experience in the manufacture of radioactive drugs, quality of
blood components and the government regulation of health products. He has always had a keen interest in holistic heath and health education. Roy is certified as a metabolic balance coach, and as practitioner/trainer in nutrition, hypnosis and NLP.
Email: rthaller@uvic.ca
Phone: (604) 946-0521
Sherry Lynch, BA, MSW
Research Associate
Sherry joined the University of Victoria in September 2003 and works as a Research Associate. Her background experience is in psychology and social work. Before joining the University of Victoria, she had 14 years of experience with non-profit societies and healthcare agencies, specifically in volunteer management. Her involvement in self-management programs began in 1989 with the implementation of the Arthritis Self-Management Program in Canada.
Email: slynch@uvic.ca
Phone: (236) 638-9011 or toll-free 1-866-902-3767