ABOUT US
![harm-reduction-team_1](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/harm-reduction-team_1.jpg)
HaRT is a group of people working throughout the Okanagan, including UBCO, to reduce the harms of substance use and related policies.
HaRT is an initiative of UBCO’s Campus Wellness and Education Unit. We provide resources to campus and community members. HaRT is a collective of students, health and social workers, researchers, and harm reduction experts – this group includes people who use drugs. We work with communities to create, deliver, research, and promote harm reduction interventions (e.g., toxic drug response training, naloxone training, drug-checking, smoking/vaping cessation).
HaRT was formed in 2020 in response to a lack of harm reduction resources. Interior Health and the BC Centre on Substance Use came alongside HaRT to provide training and resources for drug-checking. Now, Interior Health funds HaRT to operate 4 days/week in Kelowna, UBC funds HaRT’s work on campus, and we receive numerous operational and research grants each year. We continue to work closely with the BC Centre on Substance Use and other drug-checking programs.
Everything we do is informed by and prioritizes the lived experience of people who use drugs.
Meet The Team
![Melissa-Feddersen Melissa Feddersen](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Melissa-Feddersen.jpg)
Melissa Feddersen (she/her)
Manager Campus Wellness and Education
![elana](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/elana.jpg)
Elana Wood (she/her)
Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering student
![JordyCates Jordy Cates](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/JordyCates.jpg)
Jordy Cates (She/Her) BSc
Drug Checking Technician, M.A. Clinical Psychology student
![captain-lo](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/captain-lo.jpg)
Lauren Airth (she/her) RN BSN MSN
Campus Health Specialist, Doctoral Student in Nursing
![Sage](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Sage-3-scaled.jpg)
Sage Thomas (he/him)
Master of Science in Nursing student
![lisa Lisa Knox](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/lisa.jpg)
Lisa Knox (she/her) RN BSN MA
Campus Health Specialist, Doctoral Student in Nursing
Want to Join the Team?
Send us an e-mail and let us know how you want to partner with HaRT!
Former HaRT Members
![sean2](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sean2.jpg)
Sean Garden (he/him) BSN RN
Masters of Science in Nursing student
![Thomas Pool 708 x 708](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-Pool-708-x-708.jpg)
Thomas Pool (he/him)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing student
![tori](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/tori.jpg)
Tori Bester (she/her)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing student
![becky](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/becky.jpg)
Becky Underhill (she/her) BA
Masters of Social Work student
![Lucas 864 x 864](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Lucas-864-x-864.jpg)
Lucas Standing (they/them)
Bachelor of Psychology student – graduation spring 2022
![fall2020_11](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/fall2020_11.jpg)
David Byres (he/him)
Bachelors of International Relations student
![jon-fire](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/jon-fire.jpg)
Jon Kirsch (he/him)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing student
![Sonali Jordy Cates](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Sonali.jpg)
Sonali Kuber
Bachelor of Arts Psychology
![adrian](https://hart.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/adrian.jpg)