Reconnecting at the End: The Healing Power of Nature in Hospice and Palliative Care

When I think about comfort at the end of life, I picture difficult moments buffered by a sense of softness. Small moments that remind us that we’re part of something bigger. One of the most profound sources of comfort is nature. The feeling of sunlight warming our skin, the sound of birds outside a window, or that first breath of fresh air. In hospice and palliative care, every moment is important, and these connections to the world around us offer something no medicine or machine can.

HealthcareDr. Owen WisemanAugust 18, 2026palliative, healthcare, nature therapyComment

From Parks to Prevention: Positioning Nature as Core Public Health Infrastructure in Canada’s Next Budget Cycle

While parks and recreation have traditionally been viewed as community amenities, a growing body of evidence suggests they function as critical public health infrastructure.

Urban Design, HealthcareDr. Owen WisemanJune 16, 2026technology, economics, cost-benefit, environmentalComment

Managing Stress and Burnout: Ending Self-Sabotage

When our inner dialogue involves a lot of "shoulds", there is a perception that we have done something wrong. In turn, we start to believe that there is something wrong with us. We start believing that we're not good enough. When this belief becomes ingrained, the brain automatically searches for more evidence of this to support our belief. As a result, we have more things to beat ourselves up about.

HealthcareShawna LettroyAugust 23, 2022burnout, stress Comment

Why We Need to Stand Up Against Ageism in Healthcare

One of the biggest problems with ageism in healthcare is that it leads to a lack of proper care for elderly patients. Many times, these patients are not seen as worth investing in, and as a result, their health can suffer greatly.

HealthcareDr. Owen WisemanJuly 5, 2022ageism, discrimination, health disparity, prejudiceComment

Should We Lease Our Bodies?

Prompting this opinion piece was the deluge of patients I see who feel invisible in the health system. Stories of being talked over, dismissed, rejected and downright scorned for voicing another opinion are distressingly common. When did we conflate the idea of healthcare professionals with being divine, and in doing so, give away our own autonomy?

HealthcareDr. Owen WisemanMarch 1, 2022autonomy, informed consent, health disparityComment

Excluded from the North American Dream: The Black Experience in Healthcare

My own reflection during Black History Month reminded me of a discussion we had in one of my third year classes where we discussed bias in medicine. Specifically, the egregious myth in hospitals and clinics around the world that black people experience less pain. The statistics were no less shocking…

HealthcareDr. Owen WisemanFebruary 18, 2022Black, racism, inequity, inequality, health disparity Comment