Building Connections Around Perimenopause in the Workplace
- May 22, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM MDT
- The Bell in Scona, 10416 80 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 5T7
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Join us on May 22 for the Western Canada launch of a groundbreaking movement that’s changing the way we talk about and understand (peri)menopause in the workplace.
Researchers Jennifer Jennings and Madeline Toubiana have spent years talking and working with women about their (peri)menopause experiences at work. They are now ready to share their findings and insights to help create change.
The evening will include:
- The viewing of a video illustrating the realities of navigating this critical life stage at work
- directed by Firdaus Kharas, OC, of Chocolate Moose Media
- received a Silver MUSE Creative Award in the Workplace Culture category
- A panelist discussion featuring leading scholars and practitioners in women’s health
- Dr. Sofia Ahmed - Professor of Medicine, University of Alberta; Academic Lead for Women’s Health Research at the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI)
- Dr. Shafeena Premji - Physician and Women’s Health Specialist; Board Member, Canadian Menopause Society and the Menopause Foundation of Canada
- Margaret Wurzer - Director of Benefit Plan and Product Management, Alberta Blue Cross
- Interactive stations where you can share your experiences and help imagine what more supportive workplaces could look like
- Networking opportunities with fellow attendees over hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar
Together, with you, we will explore creative solutions to challenges faced by women navigating this critical life stage in their careers.
What to Expect
5:30 p.m. - Doors open, registration, interactive stations, networking, food and drink
6:00 p.m. - Opening remarks and video viewing
6:15 p.m. - Panel discussion and Q&A
7:00 p.m. - Interactive stations and networkingThis event is generously funded by the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation through the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) and the Kule Institute of Advanced Study (KIAS) at the University of Alberta.Our Panelists
Dr. Sofia Ahmed, MD, MSc
Dr. Ahmed is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta and the Academic Lead for Women’s Health Research at the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI). She is a nephrologist and clinical scientist with a research focus on sex and gender differences in kidney and cardiovascular health. Dr. Ahmed holds leadership roles as Chair of the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health Advisory Board, Chair of the CMAJ Governing Council, and President of the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences.
Dr. Shafeena Premji, MD, MHA, CCFP, FCFP, MSCP
Dr. Shafeena Premji is a nationally recognized family physician and menopause care leader dedicated to advancing women's health through compassionate, evidence-based, and individualized care. With over a decade of experience, she has built an impactful career as the Founder and Medical Director of three women’s health–focused clinics, including the flagship Milestone – Menopause Centre of Southern Alberta, a visionary center created to provide comprehensive, community-based menopause care rooted in validation, education, and empowerment. A Certified Menopause Society Practitioner since 2015 and Board Member of the Canadian Menopause Society since 2020, Dr. Premji is committed to reshaping how menopause is understood, treated, and experienced in Canada. She also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the Menopause Foundation of Canada, where she contributes to national advocacy, policy development, and public education.
Margaret Wurzer, BSc(Pharm), MSc
Margaret is a licensed clinical pharmacist with more than 30 years of experience at Alberta Blue Cross. In her current role as Director of Benefit Plan and Product Management, one of her main responsibilities is to oversee the development of new products within the organization. Margaret also leads a team of benefit experts who provide customers with innovative benefit-plan management solutions and education regarding industry trends and best practices. One such trend is the increased interest in women’s health—an issue that Margaret and her colleagues at Alberta Blue Cross take very seriously.
The Perimenopause Project Team
- Dr. Jennifer Jennings, Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Entrepreneurship, Gender and Family Business, Alberta School of Business at the University of Alberta
- Dr. Madeline Toubiana, Professor of Strategy and Organization and the Desmarais Chair in Entrepreneurship, Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa
- Dr. Trish Ruebottom, Associate Professor of HR and Management at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University
- Mikaila Ortynsky, PhD Candidate in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa
- Yaqi Yu, Research Assistant with an Honours degree in Business Commerce, specializing in Business Technology Management from the University of Ottawa
- The viewing of a video illustrating the realities of navigating this critical life stage at work
- Audience
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Alumni
Faculty, Staff - Category
- Alumni Health Wellness, Recreation Lectures, Seminars