More than 110 researchers across Niagara and Hamilton participated in Niagara Health’s second Annual Research Day. The day highlighted current healthcare research, community partnerships and collaborative ideas for research growth that will make a positive impact.
“We want research to become integral to our identity where research is done by, with and for our community, and radiates outward to inform care and research in Niagara and beyond,” says Elaina Orlando, Research Manager at Niagara Health. “We’re focused on the valuable lessons we’ve learned as a community research hospital that positions us to move forward as a learning health system. We’re enthusiastic and well-positioned to begin our transformation into a national leader for community hospital research, embracing a learning health system culture to guide us there and set us apart.”
The virtual event included keynote speakers, more than 50 research presentations, research updates from Niagara Health programs and more. In addition to Niagara Health researchers, participants included student, faculty, physician and staff researchers from Brock University, Niagara College, McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine - Niagara Regional Campus and Niagara Region Public Health.
The program also included the announcement of the inaugural staff and physician research award recipients.
Dr. Mohammad Refaei, a hematologist at the St. Catharines Site, was named the inaugural recipient of the physician research award. Dr. Refaei is involved in several research projects at Niagara Health, many of which are focused on using quality improvement methods to optimize utilization of different types of resources.
Nathan Hann, a pharmacist at the St. Catharines Site, was named the inaugural recipient of the staff research award. Nathan was recognized for his efforts in creating an education and mentoring program for clinical pharmacists that would support them in writing clinical case reports for medical literature.
Niagara Health’s Research Office works to strengthen our research and academic partnerships and conduct research that would inform care, inspire innovation and create environments of collaborative learning. Our team’s focus is to become a national leader in community hospital research as we recognize the benefits to patients and patient care, as well as the positive impact research opportunities have on recruiting top medical professionals to Niagara Health.
There are currently more than 50 studies underway at Niagara Health involving Cardiology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Interventional Radiology, Oncology, Pediatrics and Surgery.
In addition, the Emergency Medicine Researchers of Niagara (EMRoN) program is an initiative taken by a group of physician researchers in the Emergency Department at Niagara Health. EMRoN is an evolving research incubator with the McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine - Niagara Regional Campus and Niagara Health. The program is committed to advancing local community healthcare standards and sharing best practices with provincial and national peers.
Learn more about research at Niagara Health.
