Want to better understand how the health and social systems work and how you can better advocate for changes that would improve these systems for you and your family? Enhance your knowledge with one of our free courses for citizens:
Finding and using research evidence: A guide for citizens
In this free online course, you’ll be provided with solutions to overcome the most commonly cited frustrations people have when trying to access research evidence. Prepared by the McMaster Health Forum with support from the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit, the course is now available online as a set of eight videos:
Here are helpful resources that are drawn on in the course:
- Definitions for word and phrases used in the modules
- How to make sure health information is trustworthy
- Links to online sources mentioned in the modules
Don’t miss the most important resource for citizen-targeted evidence about healthy aging:
Understanding how to navigate the health system
Knowing how your health system works will better you to navigate the system, identify opportunities to make things better, and advocate for changes that you’d like to see. This free online course describes the 'building blocks' of Ontario’s health system as well as how those building blocks are used to provide care in the province in different ways (e.g., by sector, condition, treatment, population). While Ontario is the example, these principles are useful to understanding health systems other jurisdictions in Canada and internationally.
Prepared by the McMaster Health Forum with support from the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit, the course is now available online as a set of six videos:
Here are helpful resources that are drawn on in the course:
- Free download of chapters from Ontario’s Health System: Key Insights for Engaged Citizens, Professional and Policymakers. The Ontario book is also helpful in understanding other health systems
Don’t miss the most important resource for citizen-targeted evidence about healthy aging:
Masterclass on patient-oriented research
The Forum’s masterclass was designed to prepare future champions for the conduct and use of patient-oriented research and future mentors to others becoming involved in the conduct and use of patient-oriented research. While we are not currently planning any sessions for the masterclass on patient-oriented research, you can access all of the course material to learn more about patient-oriented research.
Forum’s Queen Elizabeth Scholars in Strengthening Health Systems: Australia 2016
The McMaster Health Forum is pleased to announce its second group of recipients of Queen Elizabeth Scholarships in Strengthening Health Systems: Ben Li, Christopher Galano, and Alexandra Kilian. All three will be travelling to Australia to complete their internships and build on their knowledge of health systems and policy.
Outgoing Intern: Ben Li
As part of this scholarship, Li will complete an internship with the New South Wales Ministry of Health in Sydney, Australia where he will learn more about, and contribute to, health policy decision-making and implementation. His work with the Forum will allow him to better understand how to analyze the impact of health policies on populations and find ways to optimize their ability to improve health outcomes. Li is currently an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University.
Outgoing Interns: Christopher Galano and Alexandra Kilian
Both Galano and Kilian will be travelling to Sydney, Australia this May to begin their internships at the Sax Institute – an Australian leader in promoting the use of research evidence in health policy.
“We are excited to continue our collaboration with the McMaster Health Forum and to be part of this effort to build a network of young leaders committed to driving the use of research in policies, programs and services,” said Sax Institute CEO Professor Sally Redman. “We look forward to welcoming Christopher and Alexandra.”
Galano hopes to integrate and build upon knowledge from his previous experiences to contribute to health systems strengthening abroad and he is excited to learn more about, and be involved with, knowledge translation and the use of research evidence to inform policy decision-making. Galano is currently an MSc student in the Global Health program at McMaster University.
Kilian is eager to learn about the advocacy and research methods related to health systems strengthening, and to consider the challenges and processes of knowledge translation between disciplines that work within and outside of health systems. She is currently an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University.
Through the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship program, the Forum will participate in activating a dynamic community of young global leaders across the Commonwealth to create lasting impacts on health systems both at home and abroad through cross-cultural exchanges encompassing international education, discovery and inquiry, and professional experiences.
The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) is managed through a unique partnership of Universities Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF), Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) and Canadian universities. This program is made possible with financial support from the Government of Canada, provincial governments and the private sector.
To stay connected with our QEScholars, follow @MacHealthForum on Twitter and visit the #QEScholars tagboard page.
Read more about the QES Scholarship in Strengthening Health Systems offered by the Forum.
Read more about the QES program at Universities Canada
- McMaster Forum
