Bridging Research and Reality: 21st Annual Research and Impact Day Highlights Innovation and Collaboration

Students came together to showcase their solutions-driven research at the 21st Annual Research and Impact Day, highlighting their potential to shape the future of healthcare through innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact.

By: Marielle Boutin

Centered on the theme “Bridging the Gap Between Research and Reality,” the event focused on translating research into real-world improvements in healthcare delivery, policy, and patient outcomes.

Programming kicked off with an engaging panel discussion, “From Evidence to Action: Implementing Research for Real World Impact,” featuring speakers Dr. Monika Kastner, Research Chair in Knowledge Translation and Implementation at North York General Hospital, Dr. Harindra Wijeysundera, Chief of the Schulich Heart Program and Head of the Division of Cardiology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, and Corey Bernard, Director of Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Racism at Ontario Health. The panel, which was moderated by Karen Born – Director of the Health Administration Program at IHPME – centered on how to make health research more accessible in real-world settings, stressing the need for more collaboration and alignment to urgent policy needs.

Oral and Poster presentations covered a wide range of pressing topics, including advancing equity (e.g., Indigenous health and racial disparities), improving outcomes through digital health (e.g. predictive analytics and AI use), and enhancing health system performance using patient-centered care models. Projects emphasized the intersection of research and real-world application with the goal of better decision-making and system improvement.

Keynote speaker Dr. Lianne Jeffs, Chief Scientific Officer at the Science of Care Institute, Research and Innovation Lead and Senior Clinician Scientist with the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health, delivered an impactful address on how scientific advances can be leveraged to close the gap between knowledge and healthcare practice.

Dr. Jeffs’ talk led into the awards ceremony, where attendees joined in recognizing recipients of various awards for their excellence in research, mentorship, and contributions to health equity and social justice. Notable awards included the Dr. Jack V. Tu Memorial Award for Excellence, the Claire Bombardier Awards for MSc and PhD students, and the Health Equity and Social Justice Award in Honour of Diana Moeser. Additionally, oral and poster presentation awards were given to student presenters in categories such as epidemiology, health economics, and health systems research.

Award Winners

2024 Awards

• Dr. Jack V. Tu Memorial Award for Excellence: Julian Zada
• The Rhonda Cockerill Award: Massoma Jafari
• The Malcolm Moffat Health Care System Mentorship Award: Tristan Wellings

2025 Awards

• Claire Bombardier Award – MSc: Calvin Diep
• Claire Bombardier Award – PhD Gold: Cal Robinson
• Claire Bombardier Award – PhD Platinum: Armaan Malhotra
• Kevin J. Leonard Award: Kathleen Bissonette
• Dr. Ted Goldberg Scholarship: Luma Samawi and Emily Hamovitch
• Comparative Health Systems Award in Honour of Les Boehm: Whiwon Lee
• Esta Wall Award of Excellence in Gerontology: Gabrielle Jacob
• Health Equity and Social Justice Award in Honour of Diana Moeser: Anais Ouedraogo
• Outstanding Leadership Award: Helen Zhang
• Thomas & Edna Naylor Award: Erika Lee

Themed Awards

• Maureen Dixon Award (Community Based, Consumer or Caregiver Group): Batool AlMousawi
• Robert Duff Barron Award (Public Health Policy): Matthew Tracey
• Leong Centre Award (Child Health Equity): Alastair Fung

Oral Presentation Awards – Morning

• Bridging Reality and Research: Eliott Yee
• Epidemiology: Darby Little
• Equity and Social Determinants of Health: Intekhab Hossain
• Global Health: Alastair Fung
• Health Economics: Chris Lozano

Oral Presentation Awards – Afternoon

• Bridging Reality and Research: Charlotte Calvez
• Epidemiology: Katherine Sawicka
• Health Policy: Emily Hamovitch
• Health Systems Research: Chloe Wong
• Health Informatics: Joseph Saliba/Celine Liu

Poster Awards

• HSLI / MHI, G.B. Rosenfeld Poster Award: Haneen AlTurki
• MSc HSR & QIPS, IHPME GSU Poster Award: Jinfan Dong
• PhD HSR / HPER, Eugene Vayda Poster Award: Joyce Tsang
• PhD CEHCR, Gillian Hawker Poster Award: Giulia Mesaroli

People’s Choice Awards

• Morning: Shangjucta Das Pooja, Kush Patel, Awlad Hussain, Hripsime Daniyelyan – Bridging the gaps in adolescent mental health: from silos to synergy in the Canadian healthcare system
• Afternoon: Hemn Khdr – Predicting stroke risk using machine learning: the role of anxiety and depression

Thank you all for joining us in this celebration of the fantastic work that the IHPME community has done this year. I want to thank everyone who contributed to making the event a success including my planning committee, our wonderful expert speakers, student presenters, volunteers, judges, staff, and faculty. We hope to see you all next year at IHPME’s 22nd Annual Research Day!

Marie Lan, Chair of the Student Planning Committee

Thank you to this year’s Research and Impact Day Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors

• IHPME Graduate Students’ Union
• Canadian Centre for Health Economics

Silver Sponsors

• Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children
• Closing the Gap Healthcare
• Science of Care Institute

Bronze Sponsors

• Digital Health Canada