The IHRTP is pleased to announce Interprofessional Health Research Day 2011. This event has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 16th, 2011, 2:00pm – 6:00pm. Location TBA.
If you are currently in an undergraduate or pre-professional program and undertaking health research, you are invited to present your research as a poster or platform presentation. Cash prizes will be awarded.
Abstract submission deadline – Friday, October 21st, 2011. For further information, visit the IHRTP website.
Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy (Bruce Bottomley photo)
As co-lead of a team with Ivy Bourgeault of the University of Ottawa and Morris Barer of the University of British Columbia, Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy (Nursing) secured $600,000 over the next three years for the Pan Canadian Health Human Resources Network (CHHRN); one of only two networks funded under the most recent Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Network Catalyst Grant competition. To learn more, read the DalNews story.
Over the past five years, NELS ICE has carried out research to improve access to care for persons at end of life. An Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement (ICE) grant of $820,000 from CIHR provided support for nine end of life research project streams. To celebrate the success of the NELS ICE, an event is being held:
“Highlighting NELS ICE Successes”
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Bethune Ballroom, VG Site
The event will feature poster and oral presentations that showcase NELS ICE Projects:
· Heather Castleden – “Aboriginal People at the End of Life.”
· Judith Fisher – “NS Prescription Monitoring Program”
· Alix Carter and Rebecca Earle – “Pediatric Advanced Care Directives”
· Fred Burge and Bev Lawson – “Mortality Follow Back Study”
· Jan Jensen – “A Novel Paramedic Long Term Care Program.”
· Graeme Rocker – “INSPIRED”
· “Ideas for Further Development and Sustainability” facilitated by Allan Kellehear
For further details, please visit the NELS ICE Website.
Dr. Jean Hughes
Dr. Jean Hughes (Nursing) in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Nova Scotia Division, was recently awarded 3.1 million dollars to support a mental health project for school-aged children. The funding will be used in further developing, implementing and evaluating the CMHA’s “Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATH)” Program. As part of the “Improving the Emotional and Social Health of Children in their Community: Implications for Population Health” project, this school-based initiative aims to help children improve their social relations, problem solving skills and academic performance. The project targets children aged 6 to 12, as well as parents, teachers and community partners and will be implemented in schools across Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Alberta.
“Helping to equip children with the ability to deal with difficult situations goes a long way toward improving their mental health” said Dr. Hughes. “It is also important that we help increase awareness among parents, teachers and caregivers about children’s mental health issues and give them the ability to respond appropriately to emotional issues.” Through the Declaration on Prevention and Promotion, Canada’s Ministers of Health have agreed to make health promotion a priority for action. The Government of Canada is committed to working with partners, within and outside the health sector, to design and implement new approaches to promote the health and well-being of Canada’s children and youth.
In June, Dr. Ingrid Sketris (College of Pharmacy) will complete a 10 year position as Chair in Health Services Research funded by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and co-sponsored by the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation (NSHRF). Ingrid’s chair is one of 12 created across Canada, but is the only one in Atlantic Canada and the only one in pharmaceutical policy. Through the Inititative for Medication Management, Policy Analysis, Research and Training (IMPART) which she founded in 1993 and her CHSRF/CIHR Chair, along with ongoing support from NSHRF and the College of Pharmacy, Ingrid established the Drug Use Management Policy and Residency Program that embedded its trainees in decision maker organizations (often government) to work jointly on negotiated projects. Cheryl Doiron, who was Associate Deputy and then Deputy Minister of Health in Nova Scotia – a former member of Ingrid’s advisory board who now serves with Ingrid on the Health Council of Canada said of Ingrid: “I never met an academic/researcher who has been more effective at forming excellent relationships at all levels: colleagues, student, administration, government, etc…She has an uncanny ability to facilitate the translation of research and knowledge into workable public policy.” Ingrid launched her Chair report at Dalhousie on March 31, 2011 following the annual conference on the Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research held in Halifax (May 9-12), which she co-chaired. On Thursday, May 12, 2011 – a motion was read in the House by the Honorable Maureen MacDonald, Minister of Health and Wellness, recognizing the contribution of Health Services Research at Dalhousie and thanking Dr. Ingrid Sketris for her committment and leadership in this area for the past 10 years.
Congratulations and thank you Ingrid from all of us on your truly outstanding accomplishments!
From top: Anne Marie Whelan, David Jakeman and Lois Jackson being presented with their awards by Dean Will Webster
At the Full Faculty meeting held on May 19, 2011, three of our faculty members were recognized with awards.
Dr. Anne Marie Whelan of the College of Pharmacy was presented with the Teaching Excellence Award. This annual award recognizes the critical role that teaching plays in the Faculty of Health Professions and honours an outstanding teacher who embodies the finest aspects of exemplary teaching.
This year, two awards were established in recognition of outstanding research leading to significant progress in the understanding and/or management of a health related problem. The Research Excellence Award was open to all faculty members and the Junior Research Award was open to faculty members within ten years of their initial appointment. Dr. Lois Jackson, Acting Director of the AHPRC and Professor in the School of Health and Human Performance received the Research Excellence Award and Dr. David Jakeman, College of Pharmacy, was given the Junior Research Award.
Congratulations to all of our award winners!
The LINC Project Team - First Row (L-R) - Beth McDougall, Chanh Stevens, Joan Versnel, Grace Warner, Leslie Penner, Kerstin Roger. Second Row - Michelle Villeneuve, Susan Hutchinson, Jocelyn Brown, Lori Weeks. Third Row (L-R) - Diane MacKenzie, Sharmila Vas, George Kephart, Robin Stadnyk. Missing from photo - Tanya Packer, Marshall Godwin.
Congratulations to Tanya Packer and Joan Versnel, co-principal investigators from the School of Occupational Therapy who were awarded $813,424 over three years from the Public Health Agency of Canada for their research project “The Everyday Experience of Living with and Managing a Neurological Condition (The LINC Study).”
This research project seeks to understand the everyday lives of people with neurological conditions who strive to go to work, go to school, raise families and participate in their communities. The support and resources that make everyday life possible and meaningful for people with a neurological condition will be explored. It is anticpated that the findings of this research project will inform service and policy development for people with neurological conditions across Canada.
Co-investigators and research associcates for this project (all from Dalhousie, unless otherwise indicated) include:
AAHRP Grant Recipients: Carla Moore, Heather Castleden, Fred Wien and Debbie Martin
Congratulations to Fred Wien (Social Work) the nominated principal applicant on a project receiving $9,280,961 for the next two years for the CIHR Network Environments for Aboriginal Health Research. The network comprises 9 centres across the country as well as a national office. Their mandate is to build health research capacity in Aboriginal health research, support and conduct community-based research, engage in knowledge translation and develop a national network for Aboriginal health research.
One of the centres is the Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program (AAHRP) based at Dalhousie University and the Millbrook First Nation. In addition to Fred Wien, the team of principal investigators and co-applicants includes Charlotte Reading (University of Victoria), Cheryl Bartlett (Cape Breton University) and from Dalhousie University Debbie Martin (Health and Human Performance), Heather Castleden (School for Resource and Environmental Studies), Tuma Young (Law) and Carla Moore (AAHRP).
Congratulations to Becky Spencer (School of Health Administration and School of Health and Human Performance MA HPRO Candidate) who was awarded first prize at the Integrated Health Research Training Program (IHRTP) Health Research Trainee Day. Held on February 2, 2011; the event brought together students from Medicine, Dentistry and Health Professions to present their research. Becky’s winning project “The role of peer mentors in enhancing school-based physical activity: Phase 1” evaluates the effectiveness of peer mentoring in increasing the activity levels of children. Becky is supervised by Dr. Sara Kirk of the School of Health Administration.
We are pleased to announce the launch of the annual Faculty of Health Professions Research Awards. Two awards are available – The Faculty of Health Professions’ Junior Award and The Faculty of Health Professions’ Research Excellence Award. These awards recognize outstanding research that leads to significant progress in the understanding and/or management of a health-related problem. Nominations are now open, and will close on November 30, 2010 at 4:00 pm. For further information, see the Call for Nominations.
