91社区

Personalized Care for a Diverse Society

The integration of diverse perspectives into biomedical and health sciences research is a crucial factor for improving prevention and clinical care. These perspectives encompass a broad spectrum of biological variants, historical experiences with care systems, and cultural values, all of which require deeper exploration, understanding, and application. Considering these factors is essential for enhancing health-related behaviors and outcomes. FMHS is dedicated to advancing research in this area to develop and implement evidence-based strategies that encompass all facets of patient experience. The aim is to provide actionable insights and solutions that integrate patient preferences with rigorous evidence to provide high-value prevention and care.

Health Challenges From a Changing Environment

The health implications of environmental pollution and climate change are monumental. Climate change, in particular, poses significant health risks through environmental disasters and the emergence of new pathogens, leading to increased incidence of infectious diseases and contamination of food, air and water. These challenges often disproportionately impact the most vulnerable communities, exacerbating health inequities. Research priorities in this domain include studying the health effects of air pollution, the health risks associated with environmental changes, including exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals. This research will inform exposure modeling and global policy development and allow FMHS researchers to leverage their expertise against emerging pathogens.

FMHS strategy in these areas

To address these challenges, 91社区 is committed to fostering innovative research and training approaches that embrace the diversity of patient experiences and the environmental determinants of health:

• Inclusive Healthcare Innovation: We will pursue a comprehensive understanding of the diversity of patient experiences and use this knowledge to enhance care quality. This effort will involve multidisciplinary collaborations, potentially extending beyond our Faculty, and will benefit from the expertise of our Indigenous Health Professions Program. Innovations, particularly those emerging from the new D2R initiative and collaborations with the CIHR-funded Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (QcNEIHR) at the Faculty of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, will catalyze progress in this area. A critical aspect of this work is the conscious effort to eliminate bias related to sex, gender, age, culture, religion, and race in both research and clinical practice. This commitment is vital not only to this strategic focus but also across all of 91社区's biomedical and health sciences research endeavors.
• Engagement with Socio-Economic Realities: Addressing the socio-economic factors influencing health, including access to quality care as well as the implications of demographic and cultural shifts, form an integral part of the strategy, aiming to develop and evaluate innovative healthcare delivery methods for diverse populations. The Department of Family Medicine, along with the Ingram School of Nursing, the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders, the School of Physical & Occupational Therapy and the School of Population and Global Health, are poised to collaborate with healthcare and community partners in crafting and testing innovative care delivery models for diverse groups, thereby ensuring healthcare advancements are inclusive and equitable.
• Social Equity and Indigenous Health: Engaging and collaborating with experts in health inequities and partnerships with Canada's Indigenous communities are central to our mission. These efforts aim to enhance health outcomes for underserved populations and tackle ethical, legal, and social challenges, including public perception, discrimination, and equitable access. The goal is also to inform policy recommendations to governmental bodies.
• Climate Change and Environmental Health: Spearheaded by the School of Population and Global Health and the Department of Pharmacology, along with interdisciplinary collaborators from across the university鈥檚 research and teaching in sustainability areas, we aim to establish a leading Centre for Climate Change and Planetary Health. This center will address the vast challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, focusing on sustainable solutions to protect and improve both planetary and human health. The field of Planetary Health, emphasizing the interconnections between the environment and health, will guide our efforts to ensure a healthy, equitable future for all.
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