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 Latest Queen Elizabeth Scholars in Strengthening Health and Social Systems
The McMaster Health Forum is pleased to announce five new recipients of our Queen Elizabeth Scholarship in Strengthening Health and Social Systems: Rana Saleh, Adam F. El-Kadi, Maiura Muralitharan, Shraddha Mishra and Tushar Sood.
The Forum is pleased to welcome Rana to the Forum as an incoming scholar from Lebanon. Rana holds a Master of Public Health from the American University of Beirut and is working on her PhD in health policy, which will focus on her interest in the role of public participation in knowledge uptake and policy implementation in developing countries.
Our other four scholars will be travelling internationally to work with and learn from partner organizations.
Adam will be travelling to Lebanon to intern at the Knowledge to Policy Centre at the American University of Beirut where he will be reviewing available evidence and systematically eliciting citizen and stakeholder insights to bridge the gap between research, policy, and politics for evidence-informed policymaking.
Maiura will be travelling to South Africa to work with the Africa Centre for Evidence (ACE) located at the University of Johannesburg. During her time with ACE, Maiura will support a scoping project on evidence-informed end-of-life services by working to map what evidence is available in this broad area from palliative care through to registration of deaths and funeral practices.
Shraddha and Tushar will both be travelling to India to intern at the George Institute for Global Health. Through this experience, Shraddha hopes to better understand the structure of India’s health system, the health needs within rural India, and strategies for centering community members’ voices in the evaluation of engagement efforts. Tushar hopes to further develop his skills in evidence synthesis, and support health policy and systems research initiatives, in whatever ways he can.
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 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 and Social Systems offered by the Forum.
- McMaster Forum
