Importance of Respite

Dr. Joanna Humphreys is a pediatric palliative care physician with the Quality of Life and Advanced Care Team at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Joanna completed her pediatric residency, community paediatrics fellowship and palliative care fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children, where she worked as a staff physician on the palliative care team before transitioning to McMaster. Joanna's interests include physician wellness, pediatric palliative care education, advanced care planning and childhood grief.

Sarah Van Meer is a Registered Nurse with over ten years of paediatric nursing experience. in January 2023, Sarah joined the Quality of Life and Advanced Care Program at McMaster Children’s Hospital as a Paediatric Palliative Care Clinical Specialist. Sarah is passionate about compassionate, family-centered care; creating space to carefully listen to each child’s unique story; and weaving grief support into the whole illness journey.