FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5th, 2024
Calgary, Alberta – The Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence is pleased to welcome an esteemed group of medical professionals to assist CoRE in the first phase of its development of withdrawal management (detox) and bed-based addiction treatment standards for Albertans.
Under the leadership of CoRE’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Nathaniel Day, Dr. Mark Weiss, Dr. Alvis Yu, Dr. Meldon Kahan, Dr. Derek Borowka and Katie Dunham, NP will form a Quality Standards Group to provide their expertise and specialized clinical guidance to inform standards and best practices pertaining to the safety and quality of withdrawal management and bed-based care.
There are many pathways to recovery, often including detox or bed-based treatment. Patients suffering from addiction at this stage are at a vulnerable point in their recovery journey and should receive consistent standards of care regardless of where they are receiving services.
“Addiction and mental health services must innovate, track outcomes and evaluate programs to ensure those who need help get the best care possible,” said Dr. Day. “I look forward to working with these distinguished experts to ensure Albertans are receiving the high-quality care in their recovery journey.”
The members of the Quality Standards Group will support CoRE’s mission to find the most effective ways to support recovery. Their specific mandate is to provide advice on the clinical and administrative requirements to improve withdrawal management protocols delivered within the Alberta Recovery Model for the scope and duration of this project.
The next phase of this project will see CoRE engage with treatment providers and other relevant stakeholders to gain insight and reach consensus on identifiable gaps and industry best practices for bed-based addiction treatment. The expert’s advice will be shared with the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction to ensure quality, effective services are delivered across the province.
The Quality Standards Group biographies are included in a backgrounder. For interviews with Dr. Day, please contact the communications lead below.
About CoRE
The Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence (CoRE) is a Crown corporation established by the Alberta government and based in Calgary that empowers decision-makers with data and evidence to support people with mental illness or addiction in their pursuit of recovery. CoRE advances its work through system level applied research and evaluation; comprehensive data and analytics; expert advice and clinical guidance; and leadership and collaboration to enable the best possible outcomes for Albertans. With objectivity and a commitment to real-world impact, CoRE guides government, healthcare communities, and global leaders toward effective recovery-focused mental health and addiction services.
Media Contact:
Katy Merrifield
Executive Director, Communications and Engagement
Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence
Phone: (604) 868-0424
Email: katy.merrifield@recoveryexcellence.org
BACKGROUNDER
Dr. Nathaniel Day, MD CCFP Dip. ABAM CHE QSG Chair
Dr. Nathaniel Day is the Chief Scientific Officer at the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence, providing expert guidance on program evaluation and development. Dr. Day is an addiction medicine specialist with a medical degree from the University of Alberta, serving as the Medical Director of Addiction with Recovery Alberta. He also served as the medical director for the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury, and Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VOPD). With his team at Alberta Health Services, he conceptualized and developed the innovative Virtual Opioid Dependency Program. Dr. Day also served on the Minister’s Opioid Emergency Response Commission and co-chaired the Recovery Expert Advisory Panel. His work has been recognized by provincial and national bodies.
Dr. Mark Weiss, MD MCFP (AM)
Dr. Mark Weiss is the Medical Director at Bellwood Health Services, where he leads addiction treatment programs with a focus on empowering clients in their recovery. With over 20 years in addiction medicine, Dr. Weiss has served as Medical Director at Renascent Treatment Centre and Chief of Addiction Medicine at Homewood Health Services. At Bellwood, he developed a specialized six-week program for healthcare professionals and implemented electronic medical records to enhance care. Dr. Weiss has consulted for major organizations, including Air Canada and the College of Nurses of Ontario, providing assessments and treatment recommendations. He is also a coauthor of Recommendations for Opioid Agonist Therapy in Ontario’s Residential Addiction Centers, and a frequent speaker on addiction and resilience.
Dr. Alvis Yu, MD CCFP (AM) CISAM CCSAM
Dr. Alvis Yu is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary and serves as the Clinical Medical Director for the Calgary Opioid Dependency Program. An addiction medicine specialist, Dr. Yu previously co-directed the Enhanced Skills in Addiction Medicine Program at the University of Calgary from 2019 to 2022. In addition to his academic role, Dr. Yu provides specialized care at the Renfrew Recovery Center, where he supports inpatient detoxification, and at the Claresholm Mental Health and Addictions Treatment Centre. His work combines clinical practice with educational leadership, advancing addiction treatment through both direct patient care and training future practitioners. Dr. Yu remains dedicated to improving addiction care and expanding access to treatment for individuals and communities.
Dr. Meldon Kahan, MD
Dr. Meldon Kahan is the Medical Director of META:PHI (Mentoring, Education, and Clinical Tools for Addiction: Partners in Health Integration), funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Health to support Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinics across the province. An addiction clinician since 1984, Dr. Kahan’s experience spans various settings, including the Donwood Institute and the Salvation Army’s Harbour Light residential program. Dr. Kahan founded the Substance Use Service at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, supporting its Withdrawal Management Service, and established an addiction medicine program at Women’s College Hospital to aid Women’s Own Withdrawal Management Service. Under his leadership, META:PHI has become essential to addiction care in Ontario, providing tools and education for RAAM clinics, primary care, and emergency departments. Partnering with AMHO, META:PHI produced guidance for withdrawal management and bed-based programs. Dr. Kahan also serves on the Substance Use Advisory Panel for Ontario’s Addiction and Mental Health Center of Excellence, helping to shape clinical standards for addiction services province-wide.
Dr. Derek Borowka, BSc, MD, CCFP
Dr. Borowka is the Medical Lead at the Addiction Recovery Centre (ARC) at Alberta Hospital Edmonton, overseeing inpatient medical management for individuals experiencing substance use disorders. With nearly 30 years of experience, he has guided ARC’s growth into Western Canada’s largest inpatient detox center, offering specialized medical support for alcohol, opioid, and stimulant withdrawal. Dr. Borowka’s team employs scientific protocols, such as CIWA and COWS, and provides Opioid Agonist Therapy alongside comprehensive support from nurses, addiction counselors, and psychiatrists. Previously, Dr. Borowka held a long-term primary care practice in Edmonton, which he maintained while serving as the sole physician for the Henwood Treatment Centre for over two decades. He has also contributed significantly to medical education, supervising addiction fellows and other healthcare trainees. Dr. Borowka remains dedicated to enhancing ARC’s services, integrating community supports, and fostering continuity of care for patients at critical stages in their recovery journey.
Katie Dunham, BSc Hons BScN MN NP-PHC
Katie Dunham is a primary care nurse practitioner with a background in global humanitarian aid, emergency nursing, primary-care, rapid access addiction medicine, withdrawal management in a community based live-in setting, and virtual addictions care through the Digital Front Door platform. She is the Nurse Educator for META:PHI, an Ontario-based organization that provides mentoring, education, and clinical tools to those working in the field of addictions. Here she coordinates the NP listserv, monthly provider call, and is involved with various projects, including leading the withdrawal management manual, and toolkit for alcohol-related presentations in the Emergency Department. She leads the Nurse Practitioners for Stonehenge Therapeutic Community and is faculty at the University of Toronto Bloomberg School of Nursing. She is passionate about expanding access to substance-related care through education and optimizing existing care pathways through community partnerships.
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