Dr. Melissa Lem.
What: UBC Okanagan’s Distinguished Speaker Series—PaRx: A Prescription for Personal and Planetary Health
Who: Dr. Melissa Lem, Director of PaRx
When: Thursday, October 12, 7 pm
Where: Kelowna Community Theatre, 1375 Water St.
Two hours is all it takes. According to Dr. Melissa Lem, people who spend two hours per week in nature are not only happier, but healthier.
Lem is to present the findings on October 12 at the UBC Okanagan Distinguished Speaker Series, presented by the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Dr. Lem is a family physician, widely published writer and serves as CBC Vancouver’s in-house medical columnist as well as a climate change panelist on CBC Radio’s Early Edition.
She also serves as the President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, and Director of PaRx, Canada’s first national, evidence-based nature prescription program to improve mental health.
In November 2020, the BC Parks Foundation launched PaRx, and in less than two years it has spread to all 10 provinces.
From improved blood pressure and immune function, to reduced stress and ADHD symptoms, the evidence is growing about the health benefits of green time.
In her talk, Dr. Lem will discuss highlights from the wide-ranging body of knowledge on nature and health, present an overview of PaRx—including its significant national and international influence—and reveal how prescribing nature can improve both patient and planetary health.
The Distinguished Speaker Series brings compelling speakers to the Okanagan to share their unique perspectives on issues that affect our region, our country and our world.
This community event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.
For more information and to register, please visit: theatre.kelowna.ca/upcoming-events/ubco-distinguished-speaker-series-0
