2021 Health System Impact (HSI) fellows

Health Research BC is pleased to be partnering with CIHR’s Institute of Health Services and Policy Research to co-fund four 2021 Health System Impact fellows, enabling a total of nine fellows to be awarded in BC, supporting the development of BC’s health policy talent while addressing pressing policy issues in our province.

Partnering with CIHR allows Health Research BC to support more BC fellows through partnership, reduce duplication in the system, and build capacity for the integration of policy research into decision-making, one of the goals of our Health Policy Fellowship Program.

The successful 2021 recipients include four fellows co-funded by Health Research BC, bringing the total number of fellows in BC to nine. These researchers are part of a national cohort of over 50 individuals based throughout Canada.

Post-doctoral Fellows

Health Research BC co-funded

Host partner organization

BC Centre for Disease Control

Academic institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Identifying leverage points for strengthening coordinated intersectoral action for health promotion in British Columbia

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Host partner organization

First Nations Health Authority

Academic institution

Simon Fraser University

Project title

Healing Indicators: Research in Indigenous health impact assessment and self-determination

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Host partner organization

BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer

Academic institution

University of Victoria

Project title

Honouring all our relations: Advancing health and wellness of uncounted Indigenous peoples in BC through addressing gaps in population health and wellness reporting

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Other funded researchers

Michael Branion-Calles

Host partner organization

BC Ministry of Health


Academic institution

University of British Columbia


Project title

Analyzing linked safety data to improve active transport safety in BC

Corey McAuliffe

Host partner organization

Canadian Mental Health Association


Academic institution

University of British Columbia


Project title

Building capacity for campus suicide prevention: A policy practice partnership

Vidhi Thakkar

Host partner organization

Victoria Hospice Society


Academic institution

University of Victoria


Project title

Patient-oriented research in the BC learning health system: Supporting caregivers for palliative and end of life patients at home

PhD Fellows

Health Research BC co-funded

Host partner organization

BC Ministry of Health

Academic institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Qualitative analysis and integration of stakeholder engagement into provincial policy roll out of free prescription contraception: Application of gender-based analysis plus (GBA+)

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Other funded researchers

Amber Bourgeois

Host partner organization

BC Cancer


Academic institution

University of Victoria


Project title

Advancing equitable access to cancer treatment and care for vulnerable and marginalized populations in British Columbia

Mallory Flynn

Host partner organization

Public Health Agency of Canada


Academic institution

University of British Columbia


Project title

A Bayesian evidence synthesis approach to an adaptable model for estimating the number of overdose events in a population over a given calendar period of time