David Black
In 2021, David joined the MSSU – Maritime SPOR (Strategy for Patient Oriented Research) Support Unit where he completed his training as a Patient Partner. He was a member of the MSSU Patient/Public Partner Committee where he worked on a number of governance issues in support of Patient Partners to be collaborative team members of health research studies.
In 2023, he was a Patient Partner member of UNBSJ CRIC (Centre for Research in Integrated Care) Navigating Dementia NB research study tasked with the setup, monitoring and evaluation of a Navigation Service in support of persons with dementia and their caregiver. In 2023, he co-presented at CHNC 2023 in relation to the work of Patient Partners with the study. In 2024, David presented in-person at the Healthy Senior Pilot Project (HSPP) Symposium held in Fredericton, NB as an advocate for a Peer Navigation Service to be established in New Brunswick.
David currently works as the Patient Partner Advisor to the Allied Health Dept of the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC). The college is working on establishing Patient Partner experiences in their yearly operational teaching plan.
In 2024, David became a member of the CCNA EPLED Advisory Group. Through his affiliation with this group he’s now working as a PWLE (Patient Partner) team member on various dementia related health research studies including the BHCare Platform and The Reminder Project.
David is a retired Cabinetmaker and lives in Moncton, NB. For seventeen years (2005–2022) he was the primary caregiver for both his parents who lived with him during that time. In 2005, David’s father was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer to his liver and kidneys. Shortly after that, his mother suffered a major stroke that left her requiring the use of a rollator. Later in 2005, his mother was officially diagnosed with vascular dementia. David’s father passed in 2018, followed by his mom in 2022.
David realized two things as a result of those 17 years as caregiver. One was a deep appreciation for his parent’s extraordinary resilience, Grace and sense of humor amidst intense battles with life-threatening and debilitating illnesses. The other realization was a tremendous gratitude that he was able to care for his parents in such a way that they could live in familiar surroundings with family.
David is a strong advocate for homecare (aging in place) and has considerable experience with regards to how to safely set up, maintain & adapt this form of care.
In his spare time, David enjoys renovating his home as well as building custom furniture & cabinetry as a hobby. He’s also an avid walker and is currently learning how to cook (beyond boiling water), both in an effort to manage his type 2 Diabetes.