FLA OHT hosts free community event offering practical tools for living well with heart failure and COPD

April 7, 2026. 

The Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team (FLA OHT) is hosting a free community event on April 22, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston. The Living Well Together event is open to patients, caregivers and community members who want to connect with local services, hear from experts, and learn practical strategies for managing heart failure and COPD.

Community Fair

The evening opens with a community fair from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., where more than 20 local organizations will be on hand, including community paramedicine and oxygen suppliers to transportation services, fitness programs, and chronic disease educators. The fair gives attendees a chance to explore what’s available in the region to help them better manage their conditions.

Expert Panel Discussion

At 6:30 PM, a panel discussion will bring together leading regional voices on heart failure and COPD, including Dr. Aws Almufleh, cardiologist and physician specialist lead for the Chronic Heart Failure Integrated Care Pathway, and Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, respirologist, Chief of Staff at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC). Joining them will also be Dr. Ani Garg, family physician and lead for the COPD Integrated Care Pathway and an Indigenous health leader, Nurse Practitioner Lynn Brant, sharing her lived experience. 

“At the FLA OHT, we are taking to heart the very real challenges that come with living with a life-limiting chronic condition: the fatigue, the emotional weight, and the moments when it is hard to find motivation. And yet, what many patients don't often realize is people with lived experience and those that support them alike continue to show us that living well with a chronic illness is entirely possible. This event is an opportunity for residents across our region to meet the services and the people who can help them in their day-to-day life while living with a chronic condition," says Dr. Kim Morrison, Executive Lead at FLA OHT.

Dr. Fitzpatrick, a respirologist, echoes this sentiment: 

"COPD is a very common and often silent disease. It is often said that when you can't breathe, nothing else matters, but there is now a great deal of support available that can truly transform the lives of people living with COPD."

For his part, cardiologist Dr. Aws Almufleh sees this event as an opportunity to help people feel more confident managing their health and knowing where to turn for support. In his view, the right information and care can make a real difference for those living with heart failure.

Registration Required

Attendance is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required, space is limited and walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

• To register, visit the FLA OHT Eventbrite page.
• For more information, contact FLA OHT at flaoht.ca or email info@flaoht.ca.

Note: This is an educational event to support living well with COPD and heart failure. It is not intended for acute treatment or emergency care.