[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/shapiro.jpg” caption=”Marla Shapiro”]Dr. Marla Shapiro, will share her experiences and expertise to help others in the quest for “Finding Balance” at the eighth annual Carl Moore Lecture in Primary Care, on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at Liuna Station in Hamilton.

Shapiro draws from her life experiences as a woman who has been juggling her roles as a family doctor running a full time practice, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, host for her international television show “Balance” airing in Canada, Korea, and Israel, columnist for the Globe and Mail, medical consultant for CTV, Canada AM, and Newsnet, as well as wife, mother-of-three, daughter, sister, and friend. In addition to these experiences, she shares her experiences from a patient's perspective. Shapiro states “it is clear that unless we can balance our work and family, we are cheating our patients, our family and most importantly, ourselves.”

Shapiro's lecture will provide evidence and information about the effects of stress, as well as offer inspiration and practical tools to empower you to define and live balanced lives today and forever. In addition, she will address the art and science behind family physician decision-making, which leads to understanding and overcoming the challenges doctors face in their journey to find balance.

This annual lecture series is held in honour of Dr. Carl Moore, former chair for McMaster's Department of Family Medicine (1975 to 1985) and a leader in innovation in primary care throughout his career. Moore was in the forefront of innovation in primary care service, education, research, and policy development. He was a leader at all levels, international, national, and provincial, but always maintained a local focus. This annual event brings timely and provocative topics with local, national, and international significance to a forum that welcomes the McMaster, Hamilton, and wider community to better understand and respond to issues in primary care. Carl Moore lecturers provide inspiration to reflect on complex issues, create new curriculum, initiate academic work, and engage with others to further the development of primary care.

The Department of Family Medicine is working toward a fundraising goal of $100,000 to ensure that the lectureship will continue in perpetuity as an occasion for world-class speakers to provide a global perspective on the development of our discipline.

This free, public lecture takes place March 29 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Central ballroom at Liuna Station on James Street South, with free parking available nearby. Inquiries may be made to (905)521-2100 extension 76195.