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: Summer 2018
The McMaster Health Forum is pleased to announce the latest set of recipients for the Queen Elizabeth Scholarships in Strengthening Health Systems. Bounded for Commonwealth destinations in Africa, the recipients will represent the Forum aboard during their cross-cultural exchange. These scholars, whose experiences and placements represent a diverse range of opportunities, include: Mijia Murong who will be based in Uganda, Peter Youssef and Steven Chen who will be based in South Africa, and Sabrina Lin who will be based in Malawi.
Outgoing Intern: Mijia Murong
Mijia will be traveling to Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda to complete an internship with the Regional East African Community Health (REACH) Policy Initiative. She will be evaluating the attributes and impact of a capacity building program in knowledge translation, through qualitative methodology.
Outgoing Interns: Peter Youssef and Steven Chen
Peter will be travelling to Johannesburg, South Africa to work with the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DMPE) and the Africa Centre for Evidence (ACE). He will be working on a data map of the National Spatial Planning Framework, understanding how evidence mapping works together with rapid response services, and a landscape map of the different mechanisms that evidence is used in Africa.
Steven will also be travelling to Johannesburg, South Africa to work with the African Centre for Evidence (ACE). He will be working on a project for the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) that will entail producing various products on environmental topics decided with various DEA units.
Outgoing Intern: Sabrina Lin
Sabrina will be traveling to Zomba, Malawi for an internship at Dignitas International. She will be working on the Malawi Building Research capacity, Implementation, and Translation Expertise (NCD BRITE) capacity building program, which includes a trans-disciplinary team led by the University of Malawi College of Medicine, the University of North Carolina, and Dignitas International.
Through the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship program, McMaster University 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 @McMasterForum on Twitter and visit the #QEScholar tagboard page.
Read more about the QES Scholarship in Strengthening Health Systems offered by the Forum.
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