Dr. Rob Rutledge is a Radiation Oncologist in Halifax, Nova Scotia, specializing in breast, prostate and pediatric cancers and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University. He is also the Clinical Lead of two cancer patients empowerment programs pcpep.org and cancer pep.org.
How did an Oncologist become interested in Enlightened Relationships? The short answer is the Universe (God, destiny, however you think of it) brought Gabriela into my life. In 2016, when we met, I had been delivering public talks and running weekend retreats for people affected by cancer for over 20 years. My focus was always on how you, as an individual, could empower yourself at levels of body, mind and spirit. For the cancer world, this would give you the best chance of recovery, and help you heal both physically and otherwise. I was integrating the world of science, and especially brain science, with wisdom-based traditions to offer advice and teach healing techniques which can have a profound effect on your health. This spanned the spectrum from body based healthy habits (exercise, diet, sleep, etc.) to the psychological mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation, cognitive reframing, and visualization. I am particularly interested in the ‘spiritual’ aspect of our humanity and how, , in the midst of great challenges, we can bring love into this world. But it was all teaching from the perspective of the individual (my Y chromosome tends to dominate the teaching).
Gabriela was hired as a Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation Soillse Scientist in Prostate Cancer Quality of Life Research in 2016. As a Radiation Oncologist who had treated prostate cancer and was interested in quality of life, it was an instant fit that we should work together. The first major life lesson Gabriela taught me was that the men I had treated were actually suffering much higher levels of loneliness and mental distress than I could have imagined. The men I was seeing in follow up were putting on a brave face (or happy mask) whenever I saw them. It wasn’t until Gabriela sent them questionnaires for them to fill out at home, did the true picture emerge. The levels of anxiety and depression were much higher than in men treated for other types of cancer. Through a number of co-incidences (think divine intervention) it became obvious that we were meant to be together – we fell in love. Then the teaching on enlightened relationships really began. Gabriela had taught 86 courses to over 25,000 students at the University of Toronto alone. During that time, she was nominated twice TVO’s Best Lecturer. She created courses, like one solely on forgiveness, for students who wanted to learn more from her. Her background on aging, sexuality, cross cultural psychology is very impressive. It didn’t take long between identifying the epidemic of silently suffering prostate cancer survivors and Gabriela wanting to create programming to address their needs directly. We ran our first day-long support group for men/partners affected by prostate cancer in 2018 in Ottawa Patients Empowerment Seminar. We had 33 participants that day. The image that is etched in my mind was in the afternoon when Gabriela gave a presentation on healthy sexuality to a group of men who mostly suffered from erectile dysfunction. The audience was completely frozen in rapt attention – it was as if they weren’t even breathing. About 20 minutes into her talk, I had everyone stand up and stretch, as I was worried someone would get a blood clot.
Since then we’ve run six other day-long seminars for prostate cancer, and one for all types of cancer, addressing relationships/ connection / intimacy – all with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Gabriela and I have also done four retreats with young adult brain tumour survivors and their partners. Her teaching about connection and intimacy is pertinent to such diverse audiences. She draws on the scientific studies which show there are ways to improve the depth and breadth of connection with our loved ones, to find more happiness in our closest relationships, and to facilitate the expression of love in our human community. I feel so blessed to now she is now my wife, and I learn from her every day. I so much want to share her wisdom and loving spirit with the world. To learn more about our day to day work please visit pcpep.org, cancerpep.org, PictouCountyPEP.org, or cancerPEP.com
What We Offer
Our workshops and seminars focus on breaking cycles of disconnection and empowering individuals with proven tools to enhance their relationships. These programs are designed to help participants strengthen bonds with their partners, children, colleagues, and communities.
Key topics include:
- Understanding roles, beliefs, and love languages
- Effective communication strategies
- Forgiveness and relationship vision
- Tools for rewiring beliefs and breaking harmful patterns
- The science of love from biological, psychological, and spiritual perspectives
Through these workshops, participants gain practical techniques to foster trust, intimacy, and mutual respect in their relationships.
Our Philosophy
Our journey as facilitators began with a shared commitment to creating purpose-driven, enlightened relationships. For us, true connection comes from recognizing that love and growth start within. Relationships should not complete or change us, but rather bring two whole individuals together to share a path of mutual support and respect.
We believe that through relationships, we gain self-awareness and grow spiritually. By learning to question our assumptions and see the world through the lens of love, we can become better partners, parents, and community members.
Our work is grounded in wisdom from science, psychology, and A Course in Miracles, a book that deeply shaped my perspective on love, forgiveness, and the transformative power of relationships.
Join Us
Whether you’re seeking to strengthen your intimate relationships or improve connections in other areas of your life, our comprehensive programs offer the structure and tools you need to succeed. We hope you’ll feel as inspired by this work as we are and take the first step toward building healthier, happier relationships.