News

Working Together to Find Health Solutions

There have been so many good news stories coming from our Faculty recently, it’s sometimes difficult to keep up with all our student, faculty, staff and alumni successes! In this edition of Mosaic, we are pleased to bring you just a few examples of these achievements.

In this issue, you’ll read about our researchers receiving significant funding through flagship programs like the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). We shine a spotlight on members of our Dal Health community who are making innovative academic and research contributions to meet health and health care needs in our communities. You’ll also read about how our Faculty has been giving back to these communities in a significant way for almost 40 years with the annual, student-run For the Health of It event, which has raised tens of thousands for local charities.

One theme that can be found throughout many of our successes is that of collaboration. In the Faculty of Health, we have a multi-faceted approach to meeting complex health and wellness needs, and we understand that solutions to these challenges often require strong and strategic partnerships.

Nova Scotia Integrated Health Research and Innovation Strategy  (NS IHRIS)

A perfect example of innovative partnerships is that of the NS IHRIS, a new pan-provincial network supporting Nova Scotia’s health priorities. Dalhousie is a member of the NS IHRIS, along with the provincial government, industry, the health authorities, other post-secondary institutions and the public. The goal of this network is to bring the combined research and expertise of key health leaders to the table to address critical health issues.

The NS IHRIS is moving ahead with important foundational work in key areas.  First, the Faculty of Health and the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation are collaborating on a pilot project aimed at establishing a framework for identifying the health research assets across the province. Second, there is a goal to merge and link existing health data to enhance access and evidence-informed decision making.   Finally efforts are on their way to develop a common approach to research ethics for the province, in order to facilitate more collaborative research across the Network. Together these efforts are going toward developing a pan-provincial academic health research network and a strong health ecosystem. For more information, visit the IHRIS website.

Here in the Faculty of Health, Cultivating Partnerships is a key strategic direction, so our work with IHRIS is one example. We continue to make good progress in instituting our Strategic Plan, a comprehensive framework where we are striving to improve well-being through our research and educational programs.  

I hope that you enjoy this issue of Mosaic, and this brief snapshot of the exceptional research, teaching, partnerships, community outreach and innovation happening within our Faculty every day. There is much to be proud of, and much more success that lies ahead.