Past & Present
Initiatives & Projects
South Asian Health Institute at Fraser Health
A major recommendation of CINI 2010 included the recognition of the large South Asian population, which Fraser Health serves. The focused population-based approach has led to the establishment of the South Asian Health Institute within Fraser Health. A first of its kind, this institute provides an opportunity to strengthen Fraser Health’s Programs. The projects enhance health care for all citizens Fraser Health serves with a vision of better health and the best in health care.
UBC Greetings
Stephen Harper
South Asian Health Institute
Leona Aglukkaq
Joint Project Partnerships
- Developing integrative medicine through integrative thinking in collaboration with Dr. Victoria Lee (January 2026)
- With Inspire health to support develop capacity and knowledge transfer of cancer care for South Asian population (July 2025)
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: In collaboration with IHSTS, building capacity to reduce the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes. Educates, Empowers, and Engages individuals and communities. Partners include the Division of Family Practice Surrey-North Delta, Fraser Health Chronic Disease
- Leadership Development with Global Partners: Partnering with Leads Global (www.leadsglobal.ca) and the Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (CAHO) (www.caho.in) in India. We have developed a on line course: Hero’s Journey . The course is available through CAHO’ s continuing education program. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance healthcare leadership globally. Over 85 physicians have taken the course ( July 2024)
- Woman’s health in India project includes creation of workshops and outreach to workplaces and community through yoga and increasing the awareness of woman’s health issues (July 2025) India Director Pryanka Garg.
- Art – Artist as a Healer – Joint project with The Banish Network The Healing & Arts Initiative (THAI) . Provide healing-arts opportunities that enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing (September 2025)
- Collaborative Partnership with Institute of Health System Transformation and Sustainability on lowering the burden of Diabetes through South Asian Lens; A recommendation of CINI 2020 and CINI 2021 ( July 2021- contd )
Collaborative Project Partnerships
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- Partner with Kwantln Polytenchic Univesity to develop a capacity in integrative CDM (2019 – current)
- Development and support for 50 years legacy South Asian Fund at Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation to support Community Health Launch Jan 2023
Supportive Project Partnerships
- Collaborative partnership with the Stigma-Free Society – Creating Culturally Effective Resources for Mental Health (2021– Cont)
- Support South Asian Institute Health at Fraser Health Authority (July 2015- Cont)
- Member of BC Type 2 Diabetes Network joint initiative of Institute of Health System (IHSTS) (July 2020 – current)
MOU with other organizations
- MOU with The Banish Network (September 2025)
- MOU with SVYASA Swami Vivekananda Anusandhana Samsthana to support Integrative Medicine 2022
- MOU with Surrey board of trade and BC India network on supporting health capacity and trade initiatives (2018)
- MOU with IC-IMPACTS (India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability) Health/Technology Project
(2014 ) - MOU with SANSAR (South Asian Network Supporting Awareness and Research
(2010) - MOU with PROOF (2010)
- MOU with the University of Fraser Vally and India Initiative (2010)
Past Initiatives & Projects
2024
- Addressing gynecologic oncology and barriers faced by South Asian population in screening programs, and follow up care: Together with UBC and co-collaborator Dr. Lesa Dawson and Dr. Arun Garg. This program is partially funded by the UBC Community Fund and supported by the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation for fund administration.
- Round Table project lowering burden of Diabetes 2 in collaboration with Institute of health System Transformation and sustainability- exploring barriers and solutions from various members of the community, academic , leaders . The project explore barriers and solutions and recommend possible solutions 2023 cont.
- Round Table project Barriers in Women Health – Lowering burden of Cancer in collaboration with Dr Lesa Dawson Faculty of Medicine University of British Colombia 2023
2023
- Collaborative workshop on Leadership for new world of Health Care ,Medical Education and Disaster reduction , organized by Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital New Deli April 2023
- Standing Supporter of Patient Engagement-Innovation-Technology in Sustainability of Universal Health Care Modes as Civil Society – Participant on FH/SAHI on the project SEHAT (December 2015 – Current)
- Canada India conference on Leadership in collaboration with LEADS Clonal and , Quality Council of India, April 2023
- Canada India collaboration conference with Global Association of Physicians of Indian origin ,LEADS and health care Hyderabad February 2023
2021
- Community partner of the Culture Lab: Artist as healer is a new multi-year initiative by Indian Summer Arts Society (2021 – current)
- Co-hosted 4th Annual South Asian Health Conference 2021 (SAHC) with the theme of mental health, Keynote speaker Dr Darshan Mehta of Mind Body and Medicine center Harvard (September 2021)
- Partnership with Naturality – Food Thy Medicine: Eating to Heal with Dr. Jivasu MD and Dr. Arun Garg – July 17, 2021
- Workshop conference on Leadership with Amethi University – April 2021
- Launched LEADS International Certificate Program in Leadership – partnership with CAHO – April 2021
- Partnership with Naturality – Food Thy Medicine: Eating to Heal with Dr. Jivasu MD and Dr. Arun Garg – July 17, 2021
- International Partner with GAPIO for their virtual medical series conferences (2020 – current)
2020
- South Asian Health Conference on Women’s Health co-host with West Coast Cardiology and Canadian Physicians with interest in South Asia (2020)
- Participant in S-VYASA India Conference on integrative Medicine (2020)
- Participant in VBVS (Vaissvik Bhartiya Vaigvank Summit) Niti Aayog Government of India – JNU (2020)
- Gandhi Jayanti 2020 Gandhi@150 virtual conference in partnership with Council General of India Vancouver (2020)
- Participated in several virtual conferences on Integrative medicine during COVID (2020)
- Collaborated with GAPIO for international series on COVID conferences (2020)
2019
- South Asian Health Conference Neurology co-host with West Coast Cardiology and Canadian Physicians with interest in South Asia (2019)
- Sponsor of pre-conference workshop with LEADS Glowbal on Leadership in conjunction with CAHO (2019)
2018
- South Asian Health Conference – Cardiovascular co-host with West Coast Cardiology and Canadian Physicians with interest in South Asia (2018)
- Comunity with BC Palliative of Care (2018)
- Participant in Community Conference on Chronic Diseases with ICON – UBC (2018)
2017
- Community Partner – Diabetes-Peer Leaders – Dr. Tricia Tang, UBC
(2011 – 2017) - Participation in Canada India Summit New Deli – Project of Canada India Foundation (2017)
2016
- Participant in York University sponsored symposium, Global Health
- Participant in IIT Alumni Canada, Toronto Symposium on Innovation, Sustainability and Prosperity (October 2016)
- CINS-PISA-CAPIH CME – Building Healthy South Asian Society (December 2016)
- Community Partner – Innovations in Primary Care – Division of General Practice South Surrey and Fraser Health Primary Care Program
(2012 – 2016)
2014
- Chronic Disease Prevention & Maternal Newborn and Child Health Reception(October 2014)
- Partner Healthcare Experts Join Senator Asha Seth to Protect Mothers and Children Against Chronic Diseases
- Community Engagement Initiative – Managing Your Diabetes, Burnaby Hindu Temple Health Presentation (November 2014)
- BC-INDIA Trade Mission – Health and Education, Closing the Gap (October 2014)
- Participant in Canada India Foundation Symposium on Canada-India and Health, Toronto (June 2014)
- Organized CINI 2014 – Health and Civil Society, Building Links Between Canada and India (June 2014)
- Summary: Closing the Gap – Global Networking Workshop on South Asian Health Research
- Community Partner – BCIT-PHFI [Public Health Foundation of India] to establish regional Allied Health Training in India
(2011 – 2014)
2013
- CINS-PISA CME – Yoga and You: Its Role In Health (October 2013)
- South Asian Yoga Education Study (SAWYES) – Dr. Amandah Hoogbruin, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- CINS-PISA CME – Technology and Economy in Health Symposium (May 2013)
- Community Partner – Indian Hypertension Society
(2011 – 2013)
2012
- CINS-PISA CME – Role of Ayurvedic Medicine in Health Symposium (December 2012)
2011
- Centre for Innovations in Primary Care (October 2011 – March 2015)
- CINS-PISA CME – Cardiovascular and Chronic Disease Management (October 2011)
- Salt in Indian Diet Project – Prof. Yamouri, Dr. Chidambaram, Annamali University, 2011
2010
- Organized CINI 2010 – Cardiovascular Health in Canada and India, co-hosted by Fraser Health and SFU
- Community Partner – Prevent India (2010-2014)