Baycrest

Jordan and Faith Banks: Talking tech, brain health and family T ake a moment to think about social media in Canada and your mind will probably conjure up one name: Jordan Banks. Jordan is managing director of Facebook and Instagram Canada and the man previously named one of Canada's 50 Most Powerful Business People as well as one of the 25 Most Influential Innovators in Canada. He and his wife, veterinarian Dr. Faith Banks, along with the rest of the Banks family, are dedicated to the fight against dementia, the promotion of brain health and dignified aging for everyone, and the marriage of technology to scientific advancement. Between them, Faith and Jordan saw all their grandparents live with dementia. Two of them received treatment at Baycrest. The experience was formative. "The fight against this disease is near and dear to my heart," Jordan says. "When I look at the way Baycrest operates, it is a terrific example of the future model for integrated health. It really is one-of-a-kind when it comes to giving clinicians, researchers, nurses and families a one-stop shop to ensure their loved ones are being treated and cared for properly – with dignity." Faith agrees, recalling her experience on the campus as "a wonderful place to visit my Bubby. I have fond memories of her there." "The brain is the true final frontier in medical science" But beyond the care, Jordan, a member of the Baycrest board, notes the brain is the true final frontier in medical science. "And it's the most complicated frontier," he adds. "How does one get to know and become more intimate with that frontier? The answer is technology. Whether it's the improved ability to scan the brain or to use 'big data,' or to connect researchers from different locations around the world, technology is the most important tool in helping us address the management and care of aging brains." Which is where collaborations between Facebook and organizations like Baycrest can produce unlimited results and add to the greater good for people everywhere, Jordan says. "If you think about the plight of the caregiver, we're very fortunate to live in Toronto and have access to places like Baycrest. As a caregiver, you have access to the support, education, information and the training you need to provide an amazing array of care services for your loved ones. But if you live in remote parts of the world, you are faced with a vastly different set of realities. Facebook's mission is to make the world more open and connected. It can play an important role and be the connective tissue that brings caregivers together, so nobody feels alone when it comes to caring for and supporting their loved ones. To that end, last year Jordan organized Dementiahack – the world's largest "hackathon" for the aging brain. Lasting over 30 consecutive hours, it gathered some 350 experts in the fields of engineering, computer science and neuroscience to figure out how to create technologies that can create solutions for caregivers, clinicians and researchers alike. Baycrest experts 8 BrainMatters SPRING 2016

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