Training in science is built on theory and evidence. The hope is that scientific theory turns into reproduceable results. In the case of medicine, finding evidence is the search for the holy grail. Bu the ivory towers of academic practice often do not sit easily in the muddy waters of the world of day to day clinical medicine. Our guests today found a different way of helping people with life limiting illness through finding ways of communicating outside of the clinical setting.  Dr Sammy Winemaker, Associate Clinical Professor in Family Medicine at McMaster University, Canada. She is a practicing palliative care clinician, educator and podcaster, having started the Waiting Room Revolution, along with our second guest, Professor Hsien Seow.  

Hsien is a distinguished academic in the field of palliative care research. He is Chair of the Canada Palliative Care and Health System Innovation and Professor in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University. Dissatisfied with the pace of influence of research findings being translated into clinical care, he joined Sammy to use the Waiting Room Revolution as a tool for public engagement, helping people to be more prepared when receiving a life limiting illness diagnosis. Together, Hsien and Sammy have written their excellent book Hope For the Best, Plan for the Rest. They also run an excellent podcast – The Waiting Room Revolution https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com