Biographies

Dr. Rob Rutledge, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Rob Rutledge is a Radiation Oncologist in Halifax, Nova Scotia, specializing in breast, prostate and pediatric cancers. He is also an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University.

In1999, Rob co-created the 'Skills for Healing' Cancer Weekend Retreats. These weekend support groups teach a powerful and integrated approach to the cancer diagnosis and ways to heal at levels of body, mind and spirit. To date, more than 1,200 people have attended the retreats in over 20 cities across Canada and abroad.

Rob also leads the Healing and Cancer Foundation, a Registered Charity, that freely offers educational videos, documentaries, and webcasting seminars - and he is co-author of a book called The Healing Circle, which captures the teachings and inspirational stories from the weekend retreats.

In 2010, Rob received Cancer Care Nova Scotia’s Award for Excellence in Patient Care and, in 2006 Doctors Nova Scotia presented him with the Health Promotion Award in recognition of his contribution to physician health and health promotion in cancer patients.

Timothy R Walker, Ph.D., CCC, NSRPC – Co-Founder, Director and Chief Spiritual Advisor

Tim is founder of the EastWind Stress Reduction Clinic and has more than 25 years’ experience integrating Mindfulness into counselling, education and healthcare. He has taught at Dalhousie University, Acadia University, and the Halifax Counselor Training Institute. In 1999, with Dr. Rob Rutledge of the Nova Scotia Cancer Centre, Tim co-founded the Skills for Healing Weekend Retreats and in 2003 the Skills for Wellness Programs for healthcare providers. In his private practice, The Healing Circle, Tim sees individuals, couples and families. He has also held numerous volunteer positions with Shambhala International and has taught meditation seminars through Shambhala Buddhism and the Shambhala Training Program in Canada and the United states since 1984. Graduating with a Ph.D. in 1995 from Dalhousie University Timothy researched spiritual development of adults within the context of training teachers in meditation exercises to help them transform stress, anxiety and negative emotions into intuitive wisdom and an empathic awareness of personality types and learning styles. His Masters degree (1982) from Naropa University was in Clinical Psychology from both Buddhist and Western perspectives. He is also trained in Systems Family Therapy, Transactional Analysis and for the last ten years has studied and practiced Integrated Spiritual Healing.

Boyd Sharpe, B.A., B. Ed., AIT – Independent Director, Director of Operations

Boyd is a senior systems analyst with Health Information Technology Services – Nova Scotia, Atlantic Canada’s largest healthcare IT support organization. In his current position he is responsible for designing and delivering web based IT solutions to more than thirty Nova Scotia based hospitals. Before joining HITS-NS, he spent 6 years teaching English and information technology in high schools throughout Atlantic Canada, as well as 2 years teaching English as a second language in South Korea. For the last three years he has been an active member of the Atlantic Film Co-Op. He has spent much of this time acquiring the knowledge and skills required to produce and direct documentaries in the Canadian film industry. Driven by a deep desire to succeed, he approaches every project with passion and dedication. Above all, he is motivated by a deep desire to bring happiness to those around him.

Kathy McLaughlin - Independent Director

Kathy McLaughlin was introduced to Dr. Rob Rutledge in 2006, when the Healing and Cancer Foundation was an inspirational concept based on the success of Dr. Rob and Dr. Tim’s transformational work on the Skills for Healing weekends. A two-time survivor of cancer (Hodgkin’s Disease 1996 and 2005), and now healing end stage liver disease caused by a viral autoimmune infection, Kathy is no stranger to the medical system. She has spent nearly a decade practicing self-empowered complementary healing options while pursuing a spiritual path to healing. In that first serendipitous meeting, Rob and Kathy were wearing the same unusual colour of green (the colour of love, compassion and growth). Dr. Rutledge and Dr. Walker’s inspired vision of harnessing the mind, body and spirit benefits of ancient wisdom to support people through the cancer journey immediately resonated with her. She enthusiastically joined forces with Rob and Tim as a member of the founding advisory board, and is now honoured to serve HCF and the cancer travelers we touch, as a member of the Board of Directors.

Kathy is an independent management consultant and Certified Executive Coach specializing in strategic planning, marketing and business development, leadership development, governance and board development. Before establishing her practice, Kathy spent 15 years in executive roles in the Canadian telecommunications sector with Rogers Communications and Fido Wireless (later sold to Rogers). She then spent 4 years as a partner with Odgers Berndtson, a top five global executive search firm, before being recruited to Robeez Footwear Ltd. as VP, Sales & Marketing. She started her consulting firm in 2007 after Robeez was purchased by Stride Rite Shoes. She has held numerous directorships, including Governor of the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company and Director of InspireHealth of Vancouver.

Rita Thompson, B.A. - Independent Director, Vice - Chair

Rita is a financial consultant with a private practice specializing in retirement and life planning.

Rita gained her extensive financial experience through 25 years working with one of Canada’s ‘big five’ banks. In the Toronto marketplace, she worked for 15 years managing increasingly larger branches before moving to Ottawa in 1993, where Rita assumed responsibilities with the same bank as a Retirement Specialist in charge of 15 branches in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley.

In her spare time, throughout her career in Toronto and Ottawa, Rita has been a director and executive officer of numerous boards of various Not-for-Profit organizations with diverse interests, primarily serving as Treasurer or President. Most recently in Ottawa, some of these organizations include a women’s international singing organization, and the John Howard Society–Ottawa where, after serving as treasurer for 9 years, Rita has been President for the last 5 years. Rita is also an invited lay member of the Academic Family Health Team Community Advisory Committee of a large multi-site continuing care hospital.

In 2002, Rita reduced her consulting practice significantly, in order to devote most of her time and effort to philanthropic endeavours. Meeting Rob and Tim at a Retreat in May, 2003, Rita became an avid supporter and shared their vision. Involved since 2006 in the earliest planning stages of creating what developed into the Healing and Cancer Foundation (HCF) in 2009, Rita was a member of the advisory board from its inception. Rita is a founding Director of HCF, serving almost three years as its Secretary-Treasurer with an active role in its on-going administrative operations. Effective October 2011, Rita has assumed the role of Vice-Chair.