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.

A collage of images from the 21st Annual Research and Impact Day. The images include various scenes such as people receiving awards, attendees engaging in discussions, a keynote speaker presenting, and a display table with informational materials. — Highlights from 21st Annual Research and Impact Day, capturing moments that brought this year’s theme—Bridging the Gap Between Research and Reality—to life.

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.

The 21st Annual Research and Impact Day expert panel discussion with a screen displaying the session title "From Evidence to Action: Implementing Research for Real-World Impact. — Karen Born moderates the panel discussion with speakers Dr. Monika Kastner, Dr. Harindra Wijeysundera, and Corey Bernard.

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.

Dr. Lianne Jeffs, the keynote speaker for the 21st Annual Research and Impact Day, speaking at a podium at the front of a room of people.

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 and Yukiko Mihashi

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