How Trinity Western University is expanding its research impact

Across British Columbia, growing research hubs are making their mark — driving innovation and advancing solutions that improve health locally and beyond.

Trinity Western University (TWU) in Langley is a small liberal arts university, but its research culture and infrastructure are growing. Michael Smith Health Research BC has supported this momentum by investing in the university’s research talent. Together, we’re ensuring that bold ideas can take root and create lasting impact.

Giving people with lived experience a stronger voice in their care

When people living with mental health or substance use challenges are asked how they’re doing, it matters. Their answers can guide care towards stronger recovery and better health.

Unlike tests or doctor observations, tools for collecting a person’s view of their health and quality of life give a fuller picture of their wellbeing. Healthcare providers can use this information to track progress over time, adjust treatments to better meet individual needs, and ensure care is truly person-centred.

TWU researcher Dr. Angela Wolff has been working with Fraser Health in community mental health and substance use services. This includes collaborating on a project with clinical director Anthony Neptune and his team to support person-centred care for psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery.

Angela and the team used an established guideline and created clinical decision tools to help health professionals routinely gather and use patient input about their quality of life for treatment and recovery planning. The team also hosted learning events for clinicians, leaders, and educators in Fraser Health to build their confidence in using these approaches.

“Persons with lived experience have a sense of what they need. We must provide the space to have these conversations,” says Angela. “Attendees [of the events] shared that it’s about listening and responding to individuals as how to best support their needs, goals, and outcomes. This work has led to more recovery-focused care that reflects what matters most to the people receiving it — now and in the future.”

Dr. Angela Wolff is Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Trinity Western University. Angela has been supported by Health Research BC to lead this work through two Reach awards.

One size doesn’t fit all for measuring what matters

Collecting patient-reported health measures to improve care isn’t new. But it’s essential to consider how patients may interpret and respond differently to questions about their health and healthcare experiences.

TWU researcher Dr. Richard Sawatzky and University of Victoria researcher Dr. Jae-Yung Kwon co-led a team to create a series of resources for healthcare providers to better understand and consider these differences in decisions about their patients’ care. Created for Fraser Health, the resources have also been accessed by health professionals and researchers across Canada and internationally.

As a recipient of multiple Health Research BC funding awards, Richard feels the support contributed substantially to his role as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Equitable People-Centred Health Measurement. He leads a team of patients, healthcare providers, and researchers to advance new approaches for measuring diverse people’s perspectives of their healthcare needs, outcomes, and experiences.

“Health isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every person’s experience is shaped by their unique background, context, and care journey,” says Richard. “By integrating diverse perspectives into health measurement, we can ensure more accurate, meaningful assessments that lead to better, fairer care for everyone.”

Dr. Richard Sawatzky, a registered nurse with a background in palliative care, is Professor of Nursing in the School of Nursing at Trinity Western University. He holds the CIHR Canada Research Chair in Equitable People-Centred Health Measurement and leads the Patient-Reported Outcomes Program at the Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes. Richard has been supported by Health Research BC through two Research Trainee awards, a Research Project award, and a Reach award.   Dr. Jae-Yung Kwon is Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria. He is supported through a Health Research BC Scholar award to help clinicians translate patient-reported data into meaningful health stories that improve care.

Shaping the future: Impact in motion

Early-career researchers at TWU are also setting the stage for future change. Their work holds the potential to inform policy, shape better healthcare, and improve the lives of people in Fraser Health and beyond.

Dr. Ava Mehdipour is a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Nursing. Supported through a Health Research BC Research Trainee award, Ava is studying how to better measure the health and quality of life of older adults in diverse populations. She’s working with people with lived experiences to learn how to best support evaluation of quality of life in age-friendly communities. Her findings will aim to make age-friendly initiatives more inclusive and effective.

Dr. Kendra Rieger is a registered nurse and Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing. A Health Research BC Scholar award recipient, Kendra is working together with a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to co-create more meaningful paths towards reconciliation and equitable healthcare through the arts. The team is using arts-based and storytelling approaches to listen deeply to Indigenous peoples’ views and transform the healthcare system to better meet their priorities.

By supporting research talent at Trinity Western University, Health Research BC is helping to grow a strong, diverse research landscape across the province. With every collaboration, we’re amplifying local expertise to elevate patient voices and shape a more inclusive, responsive health system informed by the people it serves.

Learn more

Access the resources developed by Richard and his team on how patient-reported outcome measures can be used to improve healthcare.

Learn more about Kendra and her team’s research to collaboratively explore arts for equity and reconciliation in healthcare at artsforequity.ca.

Explore Health Research BC’s funding programs.

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