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TPS Knowledge Exchange - Speaker Information
Maxine Brown
Maxine Brown is a mixed First Nations and settler Research Coordinator at Ganawishkadawe the Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health at Women’s College Hospital. Maxine is originally from Peterborough, Ontario, and has lived in the Toronto area for 7 years. She is a critical social scientist and holds a BA and MA in Social Anthropology from York University where her thesis focused on institutional policy, procedure, and discourse in academic institutions and settings. In her work, Maxine largely focuses on Indigenous data sovereignty and governance, and its operationalization in research settings and applies a rights and strength-based, anti-colonial approach to her work. Her other interests are Indigenous health and wellness, education, policy, and institutional systems. Maxine is now focused on exploring and upholding the importance of collaborative research projects with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island, ensuring that community wants and needs are at the forefront of all research design and implementation.
Hance Clarke
Dr. Hance Clarke is the Director of Pain Services, the GoodHope Ehlers Danlos Clinic and the Pain Research Unit at the Toronto General Hospital. He is the Knowledge Translation Chair for the University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain and an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto and holds the GoodHope Ehlers Danlos Chair in Translational Medicine. He has authored over 180 peer reviewed publications and has been invited to speak on pain control, cannabis and the opioid crisis to the House of Commons in Ottawa, Canada and elsewhere around the world. He is currently the president-elect of the Canadian Pain Society and the president of the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids.
Darlene Curci
Darlene was born and raised on the Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation in Northwest Ontario which is located on Treaty #3 territory of the Anishinaabeg. Developing connections and relationships is the premise and foundation of everything Darlene does in her walk of life, both professionally and personally. Her education began early in life as she grew up learning the traditional Anishinaabe ways of her ancestors to prepare her for her responsibility in life. She furthered her knowledge by studying Psychology at the University of Manitoba which helped her balance out the education. Outside of her professional role, Darlene keeps connected with her Anishinaabe culture, for she is a strong believer in bridging Traditional knowledge with western academics. Having this kind of background provides Darlene a well-rounded world view to articulate well in both worlds, as she continues to promote the seven teachings, health initiatives and internal wellness campaigns to assist family, friends and colleagues with effective well-being techniques.
Tania Di Renna
Dr. Tania Di Renna, BSc., FRCPC., Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, completed her medical school and Anesthesiology residency training in Ottawa. She obtained a chronic pain fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and has spinal cord stimulation training from Montreal Neurological Institute. She is currently the Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI). TAPMI is the comprehensive interdisciplinary academic pain program serving as the hub for chronic pain care in Toronto. She practices anesthesiology and chronic pelvic pain at Women’s College Hospital. She served as the co-chair of the HQO Guidelines for Chronic Pain, is currently the co-chair of the Ontario Chronic Pain Network and Ontario Representative for Pain Canada.
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