
The Canadian Hepatitis B Peer Support Group (CanHepB PSG) is a national patient group initiated in 2025 under the leadership of Dr. Hin Hin Ko and retired Nurse Practitioner Colina Yim.
The main purpose of this initiative is to improve the well-being and experience of individuals living with chronic hepatitis B, along with their family members and care givers. We are a non-registered group that is driven and managed by a passionate team of volunteers across the country.

Clinical Professor with the University of British Columbia Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
A clinical team member of the Digestive Health Centre of BC
Staff physician at St. Paul’ Hospital and Mount St. Joseph Hospital in Vancouver
Research interests include viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver diseases and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

A nurse practitioner from the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease Liver Clinic where she had worked for 38 years, retired in Sept 2024
Had clinical expertise on viral hepatitis B and C, and cirrhosis
Spearheaded numerous innovative and leadership initiatives for both nurse and patients, including the founding of the Canadian Association of He
A nurse practitioner from the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease Liver Clinic where she had worked for 38 years, retired in Sept 2024
Had clinical expertise on viral hepatitis B and C, and cirrhosis
Spearheaded numerous innovative and leadership initiatives for both nurse and patients, including the founding of the Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses and the Chinese Hepatitis B Peer Support Group
Recipient of many awards including the most prestigious Queen Elizabth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Award in 2012, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2024, for the decades of dedicated work to the liver community
To establish a nationwide platform that enables patients with hepatitis B and their families to connect and access essential support
To enhance the understanding of hepatitis B among patients and their families through educational programs
To empower patients to proactively manage their health by disseminating knowledge and resources
To provide opportunities for patients to engage in advisory and advocacy activities that amplify their voices

The Toronto General Hospital Liver Clinic Chinese Hepatitis B Peer Support Group
The Toronto Chinese Hepatitis B Peer Support Group was formally established by Colina Yim, nurse practitioner at the Liver Clinic, in early 2010 with the help of several dedicated patients.
The original mandate of the group was to create a platform for patients with hepatitis B to connect, to support each other, and to enhance their understanding of hepatitis B related disease. The group’s activities over the years have included liver health seminars, Tai Chi classes, community outreach events, and the publication of a twice-yearly newsletter.
The operation of this group is made possible through funding support from the Hospital’s Chinese Community Development Fund, which is raised by the yearly Fairchild Radiothon campaign.
Please visit their website at the link below.
September 20, 2025
The Inaugural Canadian Hepatitis B Patient Forum
This Patient Forum successfully brought together over 200 patients and family members, hepatologists, and clinicians from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal. It aimed to raise awareness about hepatitis B within the community and provided patients with a platform to share their experiences with the condition.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated Toronto Chinese Hep B PSG committee members for their efforts in hosting the event, as well as all our clinician and patient speakers. We also express our appreciation to our industry sponsors and the Toronto University Health Network (UHN) Chinese Community Development Fund for their financial support. We hope that this national patient forum will now become an annual event.
Email Address: canhepbpsg@gmail.com