PaRx is an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation, driven by health-care professionals who want to improve their patients’ health by connecting them to nature. Featuring practical resources like quick tips and patient handouts, its goal is to make prescribing time in nature simple, fun and effective.
Each prescriber who registers with PaRx will receive a nature prescription file customized with a unique provider code, and instructions for how to prescribe and log nature prescriptions.
Parks Prescriptions began as a grassroots movement in the United States over a decade ago, and have now spread to countries around the world. We are proud to be Canada’s first national, evidence-based nature prescription program.
Key Staff
Dr. Melissa Lem, MD, CCFP, FCFP
PaRx Director
Dr. Melissa Lem is a Vancouver family physician who also works in rural and northern communities within Canada. President-elect of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, she has been researching, writing and speaking about the nature-health connection for over a decade. A widely published writer, she was the resident medical expert on CBC TV’s hit lifestyle show Steven and Chris for four seasons and continues to appear on air as a regular contributor to CTV News. Dr. Lem is a 2020 Joule Innovation Grant recipient and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia.
Emma Griggs
PaRx Web Developer and Program Manager at the BC Parks Foundation
Emma Griggs completed her BSc in 2019 at the University of British Columbia, where she also worked part-time in the Faculty of Forestry researching differences in international park management. Through university, she worked as an administrative assistant in government-to-government facilitation and now works with BCPF managing multiple successful projects. Following her love of nature’s diverse landscapes, Emma has studied conservation in Australia and Namibia, and strongly believes in the importance of nature and fresh air in mental health support, and that having accessible green space should be a priority for urban planning. Growing up in Vancouver, Emma's weekends have always been filled with muddy hiking boots and well-loved raingear.
Prama Rahman, MA
Healthy by Nature Program Coordinator
Prama Rahman is the Healthy By Nature Program Coordinator for the BC Parks Foundation, and has supported PaRx since 2019. Prama has an academic background in International Relations and English Literature. Her research interests include international organizations, development, global health, and the role of language and narratives in public policy. Most recently, she completed an MA in International Studies where her research focused on exploring international cooperation during global health crises. Prama enjoys creating art inspired by nature and landscapes.
Partners and Collaborators
PaRx is grateful to UBC medical students Jennifer Brazeau, Mitchell Figura, Ola Lemanowicz, Peter Singh and Xuan Zhao for their work to create evidence-based resources for PaRx, as well as science educator Jennie McCaffrey for her valuable contributions.
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