On June 28, 2008, Dr. Lynn Farrales, a Filipino-Canadian physician based in Vancouver led a community forum on the Philippine health and medical mission at the University of Toronto’s Bahen Centre.

The Philippine health and medical mission provides the opportunity for community organizers and Canadian health professionals to work together as Dr. Farrales plans a medical mission with other professionals who are interested in supporting community-based initiatives. Working with community organizations, this mission stresses the need to develop medical initiatives in the Philippines at the grassroots level.

Dr. Farrales completed medical school at Queen’s University and Family Practice training at the University of British Columbia. She also holds a Master’s degree in Human and Nutritional Sciences from the University of British Columbia. Just recently, she has completed extra residency training in the field of International Health and has worked in the areas of refugee health, HIV/AIDS, and mental health

Last year, Dr. Farrales traveled to rural Kenya to work on an HIV/AIDS project. She has recently returned from the Philippines where she worked with community based organization Citizens Disaster Response Centre (CDRC).