Meet Marie-Elssa Morency
Role: UBC Okanagan Health Partnership Manager
Marie-Elssa Morency joined the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic in February 2025, bringing a wide range of experience in the public health sector, with a strong focus on health systems transformation and strategic planning with BC Cancer. She has managed the development of new clinical programs and research initiatives such as Team-Based Care, a new gynecological oncology surgical program and the BC Cancer Kelowna Research Hub. She also specialized in facilitating strategic planning with various health partners regionally, provincially and internationally. Marie-Elssa holds a BSc (Honors) in Neuroscience from Dalhousie University and a MSc in Nutritional Epidemiology from the University of Toronto.
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO IN THE OFFICE OF THE PROVOST.
I joined the UBC Okanagan campus as the Okanagan Health Partnership Manager earlier this year. In this role, I lead the coordination of new strategic collaborative and interprofessional education and research initiatives, support existing initiatives and identify shared priorities and strategic partnership opportunities. Additionally, I drive key strategic activities and facilitate the development, integration and delivery of UBC Health education, research and systems initiatives at UBCO. This position reports jointly to the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and UBC Health.
WHAT UPCOMING PROJECTS OR CURRENT INITIATIVES ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?
Currently, my efforts have begun with conducting a comprehensive landscape analysis, followed by the creation of a campus-wide health strategy that will inform health-related research and teaching across all Faculties and Schools at UBCO. I am also intentionally building connections and collaborations across campus and in the community to strengthen existing and new health partnerships with the hope of helping bridging existing gaps in our systems.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO WORK AT UBC OKANAGAN?
The existing silos across the health sector and their implications are very real. There is such a need to help bring people, ideas and knowledge together to increase learning and impact and transform health systems. I worked as a health researcher and as a health program manager directly witnessing the impacts of silos on our patients, staff and community. I felt the stars align with this opportunity to join UBC Okanagan as the Okanagan Health Partnership Manager where I can now focus my efforts on convening, facilitating and enabling people to come together to bridge existing health system gaps.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE OKANAGAN ACTIVITY OR SPOT AND WHY?
My happy place is going for a sunset paddle board on a calm, warm summer night on the Okanagan Lake and simply floating there taking in the golden glow across the valley. Next best would be hiking in the Glenmore Highlands trails in the spring, admiring the abundance of Arrowleaf Balsamroot flowers. I feel very blessed and grateful to live, work and play on these sacred lands cared for by the Syilx Okanagan Nation and its people.
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