Webinar Wednesday - Virtual care is the future

This webinar will offer an overview of the deployment of Virtual Care Technologies for healthcare delivery in Saskatchewan.

Presented by:

Dr. Ivar Mendez is a Professor of Surgery and the Director of the Virtual Care and Remote Presence Robotics Program at the University of Saskatchewan. 

As a Clinician/Scientist, Dr. Mendez’ research focus is on functional neurosurgery, brain repair, stem cells, and remote presence robotic technology. His laboratory research has been supported by peer-reviewed funding from several sources including the Canada National Centers of Excellence, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Canada Foundation for Innovation. 

Dr. Mendez has focused on, and significantly advanced, the use of remote-presence robots for medical care in neurosurgery and primary health care. In 2002, Dr. Mendez and his team performed the first long distance telementoring neurosurgery in the world. In 2010, his team established the first remote presence robotic program in the Canadian North to provide access to primary and specialized medical care to underserviced First Nations communities. Since 2013, he has been working with First Nation communities in Saskatchewan using advanced robotic technology for healthcare delivery. In 2019, Dr. Mendez’s team deployed the first telerobotic ultrasonography system in North America to three northern Saskatchewan communities. This technology was crucial in providing prenatal sonography to indigenous communities during the COVID pandemic. 

For his innovative work in the use of remote presence devices to deliver health care to underserviced populations, Dr. Mendez received the 2011 Health Canada Award for Contribution to the Improvement of the Health of Canadians. In 2022, he was appointed an Officer of Canada for his pioneering work in the use of remote telemedicine and robotics to revolutionize the delivery of health and patient care in Canada and worldwide

Webinar Wednesday attendance is one of the benefits of Digital Health Canada Membership. Not a member yet? Join Digital Health Canada to enjoy Webinar Wednesdays and other benefits of membership.