Health Sciences North Research Institute announces…

Thursday, November 24, 2016

SUDBURY, ON – Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI) is growing and adding a new member to their research team. Dr. Carrie Bourassa was recently appointed as the new Chair in Northern and Indigenous Health. Dr. Bourassa is an Indigenous community based researcher from Regina, Saskatchewan specializing in working with Indigenous communities to examine culturally safe health care practices.

“I am excited to learn about the health research priorities that are important to Indigenous communities in this territory and how I might be able to serve Indigenous communities in my capacity as Chair of Northern & Indigenous Health. My family and I are looking forward to being in Sudbury and building partnerships in the community”, says Dr. Bourassa.

Dr. Bourassa brings a diverse research portfolio as she works and undertakes research with, by and for Indigenous communities. Dr. Bourassa’s current research projects include culturally safe care in health service delivery; end of life care with Indigenous people; dementia among Indigenous people; HIV and AIDS among Indigenous women, Indigenous ethics, Indigenous water co-governance, and Indigenous women’s health.

“We are excited to have Dr. Bourassa join our team at HSNRI. Her diverse research portfolio is an asset to this organization. Community-based research is directed by the community and will satisfy a priority need and create positive change. We are looking forward to continued relationships with our community partners in Northern Ontario to deliver the health research that is needed”, says Dr. McElhaney, Vice President Research and Scientific Director at HSNRI.

Community members are thrilled HSNRI is taking a lead in Northern and Indigenous health research. “It is with great pride that we celebrate the inclusion of a Chair in Northern and Indigenous Health within HSNRI. In this time of reconciliation, it is vital to incorporate action to the commitments of building healthy partnerships. HSNRI’s efforts in expanding relationships with communities through a number of initiatives will support a collective effort to reconciliation. It is believed that a Chair in Northern and Indigenous Health will further support these relationships, ensuring a respectful shared approach to research for Indigenous people by Indigenous people”, says Angela Recollet, the Executive Director of Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre.

Dr. Bourassa has successfully received a Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) grant that funded the Indigenous Community-based Health Research Lab and the Cultural Safety Evaluation and Training Lab in Saskatchewan. HSNRI is pleased that Dr. Bourassa will be bringing the funding to build the Cultural Safety, Evaluation and Training Lab with her and is proud to support such an important and relevant initiative that will bring community members and researchers to study culturally safe accessible health care in the north.

“Dr. Bourassa brings new opportunities for the communities in the north. The development of a Cultural Safety Evaluation, Training and Research Lab with a mentorship model will bring new and unique training opportunities for researchers and community members. The Research Institute is filling a gap for patients in the North by looking at improving how we can better serve Indigenous and Northern people within the health care system”, says Dr. Roy, CEO of HSNRI.

Northern and Indigenous health research is a priority that is helping to shape and change the way care is delivered in the north.

Dr. Bourassa brings national experience as she is also an Institute Advisory Board Member, Institute of Indigenous People’s Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; a public member of the Royal College Council, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is a member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada. She also serves on the Community Advisory Council (CAC) of the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at the University of Toronto.

NT5