The following individuals make up the Advisory Board for Multiple Births Canada. This Board is available to the MBC Board of Directors in a consulting capacity. The MBC Board appreciates their guidance, knowledge and support in the work that we do.

Our sincere thanks to...

Dr. Fiona Bamforth, MBBS, MSc, FRCPC, Zygosity Testing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Dr. Cathy Barr, Ph.D., Director of Research, Imagine Canada, Toronto, ON

Dr. Jon Barrett, MBBch, MD, MRCOG, RFCS(C), Multiple Births Clinic, Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences, Toronto, ON

Dr. Alan Bocking, MD, FRCSC, Department of OB & GYN, University of Toronto, ON

Laura Crouse, RN, BScN, IBCLC, Registered Nurse, Mount Sinai Hospital , Toronto, ON

Jane Denton, Director Multiple Births Foundation in UK

Dr. Audrey Huberman, Ed.D., Curriculum, Teaching & Learning, Private Practice in Toronto, ON

Dr. Kerry Jang, Ph.D., Psychologist at the UBC Department of Psychiatry - specializing in Multiple Birth Studies, Vancouver, BC

Dr. Louis Keith, MD, Professor of OB & GYN, Northwestern University, Centre for the Study of Multiple Births, Chicago

Jean Kollantai, Founder, Center for Loss in Multiple Births (CLIMB)

Linda G. Leonard, RN, MSN, Twin & Triplet Specialist, UBC, Vancouver, BC

Patricia Malmstrom, MA, Twins Services Consulting, Berkley, CA

Pat Preedy, Ph.D., Education Specialist in UK

Cheryl Wadasinghe, Government Advisor, Nepean, ON

Former Advisory Board Member Passes

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dr. Elizabeth Bryan. Elizabeth was a very special friend to Multiple Births Canada and the Canadian multiple-birth community. Many of you will recall her amazing talks on multiple birth topics to Canadian parents, professionals, governments and other service providers. Elizabeth was the founder of the Twins and Multiple Births Association (TAMBA – UK) and The Multiple Births Foundation (UK). She served on MBC’s Advisory Board for many years and made several trips across the pond to help us raise awareness of multiple birth issues.

Donna Launslager, MBC Health/Education Committee Chair

Her obituary can be accessed on the following websites:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/23/db2302.xml

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dr-elizabeth-bryan-pioneer-in-twin-studies-786129.html

The following message was sent to us by her husband last Thursday, February 21st, 2008:

“I write with great sadness to tell you that Elizabeth/Libby died on Thursday, 21st February 2008. As most of you will know, Libby was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2005. Initially she made a good recovery but the cancer recurred last Spring. Despite some very happy times and superb medical care, she has been going gently downhill for some weeks and died peacefully at home as she had hoped, looking out at the Black Mountains.

For family and local friends, a funeral with burial will be held at the little village church of St Bartholomew’s, Vowchurch at 2.30 pm on Wednesday, 5th March. Family flowers only please.

For her wider circle of friends and colleagues, a Thanksgiving Service for her life will be held at St. James’s Piccadilly in London at noon on Thursday, 15th May.

Donations in Libby’s memory at the funeral will be given to St Bartholomew’s (cheques made payable to Vowchurch PCC) c/o Oak Tree Funeral Services, 6 Castle Close, Eardisley, HR3 6N1). Thanksgiving Service donations will be shared between the Multiple Births Foundation and TAMBA (cheques made payable to Elizabeth Bryan Memorial Fund c/o Judy Gowing, 51 Westmoreland Road, Barnes, London SW13 9RZ). For on-line payment details, please email Judy (judygowing@blueyonder.co.uk).

Ronald Higgins

Quercwm

Vowchurch Common