Esther Lee, MD FRCPC
Investigator and pediatrician and palliative care specialist
Dr. Esther Lee is a pediatrician with the Complex Care Program at BC Children’s Hospital and a palliative medicine specialist at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. She also serves as the Lead for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety in Postgraduate Medical Education at the University of British Columbia and is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics. Nationally, she is the President of the Complex Care Section of the Canadian Paediatric Society. She also volunteers as a surveyor with Accreditation Canada and is part of the medical advisory committee for Make-A-Wish Canada.
Esther recently completed a Master in Christian Studies, reflecting her deep interest in the intersection of faith, ethics, and care. Her professional passions include advocating for families of children with medical complexity, improving communication during serious illness and crisis, advancing health improvement science, and promoting humanity in medicine.
When not working, Esther enjoys wandering every aisle at Costco and identifying birds — finding joy in the little things and inspiration in the everyday.
Last updated 2025
Mimi Kuan
Research Coordinator
Cynthia Vallance
Cynthia Vallance has served as the Patient and Family Engagement Advisor for Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children since 2020. As a parent of a medically complex child and survivor of breast cancer, Cynthia brings deep lived experience and a clear understanding of the multitude of challenges caregivers face while navigating complex systems of care. Previously, Cynthia managed Victim Service programs and understands the meaning of trauma-informed care. She is passionate about amplifying the family voice and advocates collaborative, holistic, and accessible care. She is dedicated to educating medical staff about family-centred care and addressing ableism in healthcare.
When not enjoying the beauty of the outdoors with her family, Cynthia is coaching her breast cancer dragon boat team and volunteering with the CIBC Run for the Cure and Aspire Richmond. She can also be found wandering the halls at BC Children’s, helping families with directions or connecting with friends from the Pet Therapy team whom she led for many years.
Judy So
Lisa Zhang
Jenna Lew Cooke
Jenna is a medical student at UBC with research interests in pediatric complex care, health systems gaps, and family-partnered education. Her current work includes qualitative and mixed-methods studies examining resident preparedness in caring for children with medical complexity. She is particularly interested in translating research into curriculum development and policy-relevant interventions.