What Now? Live at the Threshold

Meet the Speakers:

Dr. John Beamish has been a pioneering force in palliative and community healthcare in Peterborough for more than four decades. A founding member of Hospice Peterborough in 1988, he has served the organization as a board member, mentor, and Medical Director. Known for his compassionate approach, deep knowledge, good humour, and commitment to empowering patients in their care decisions, Dr. Beamish has helped shape the growth of palliative care. He has also played a key role in initiatives including Ontario’s Community Palliative On-call Physician group and the 360 Clinic. His contributions have been recognized with the Dr. S. Lawrence Librach Award for Palliative Medicine in the Community and a Paul Harris Fellow for community service.

Since his ‘retirement’ in 2023 Dr. Beamish helped establish Peterborough Street Medicine, an initiative which aims to deliver primary care services to those in the community who are homeless and underhoused.

Dr. Jonathan Mallory has been practicing medicine for 30 years, currently as a palliative care and family doctor in Peterborough and Curve Lake First Nation. His career began with rural family practice in northern Ontario, followed by a move with his family back to their home town of Peterborough where he practiced as an ER physician at PRHC and Ross Memorial Hospitals. He transitioned to family medicine with practices in Buckhorn and Curve Lake, both just north of Peterborough. Other sidelines along the way have included long term care and a consultancy role for Veterans affairs Canada. In 2014 Dr. Mallory discovered his passion for palliative care, and this has since become his main focus. He provides care for patients approaching end of life at PRHC, Hospice Peterborough, and whenever possible in clients' own homes. He resides in Buckhorn and therefore he has become the 'cottage country' palliative doc for the region. He also continues his work with Curve Lake First Nation, where for over 20 years he has been the palliative care and family doctor for Curve Lake Band members.

As retirement approaches, Dr. Mallory is enjoying his work as board member for Kindred Foundation, which supports childhood cancer research, youth mental and physical health and community support organizations. He is active at Tecasy Ranch, an outdoor venue and forest, focused on providing space for groups and charitable organizations to connect with nature. Tecasy has developed a close association with Hospice Peterborough which now holds outdoor events and grief support groups in the forest.

Dr. Christopher Kerr is the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer for Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo. Dr. Kerr has overseen the integration and expansion of palliative care into local hospitals and developed one of the nation’s largest home-based palliative care programs, His background in research has evolved from bench science towards the human experience of illness as witnessed from the bedside, specifically patient’s dreams and visions at the end of life. The results of his studies generated enormous response in the non-medical community, both nationally and internationally,

Dr. Kerr has given a TEDx talk, has a published book ‘Death is But A Dream’, and was recently featured on The Oprah podcast.

Steve Joordens is a psychologist and professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough  and a leading voice on the use of AI in education and beyond. As a global advocate for educational transformation, Steve focuses on how artificial intelligence can drive positive, system-level change in education and business. He inspires audiences to embrace the science of learning, innovation, and well-being while preparing for the future of work in the age of AI.

Steve appeared on the What Now On the threshold of life, death and grief, exploring the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in the world of grief and bereavement. From practical applications to emerging ethical questions, AI is already shaping the ways we learn, connect, remember, and mourn.