Two programs funded by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC are currtently accepting applications from rural physicians for 1-year projects. Awards up to $10,000 are available.
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The Rural Physician Research Grant Program empowers rural physicians to advance rural health through innovative research projects.
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The Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative supports physicians and trainees to partner on a project with an underserved community in British Columbia, Canada, or internationally.
Interested in applying?
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The next intake closes on October 31, 2024.
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Reach out to Douglas.Andrusiek@islandhealth.ca, Rural Health Research Associate, for support with your application.
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Get Inspired: Recent Award-WinnerWho: Dr. Caitlin Blewett is a locum family physician working on the Island and West Coast. Dr. Sallie Skinner is a resident family physician graduating in April. She's working in the Comox Valley and plans to remain upon completing her program.
The Study: Doctors Blewett, Skinner, T. Fyfe and P. Haberstock explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternity care providers in BC, highlighting the experiences of maternity care providers during a time of rapid change in healthcare delivery.
The Results: Key findings include the ways in which healthcare providers adapted to new care models and the issues they faced, such as inconsistent or conflicting information during the early stages of the pandemic. Findings also reveal how interdisciplinary teamwork and communication improved, strengthening collaboration across various healthcare sectors.
The Impact: While data analysis is ongoing, the study offers important insights into the resilience of BC’s maternity care systems, showing the flexibility and innovation of frontline maternity care providers during a time of significant disruption. These findings will help shape future healthcare strategies, providing guidance on how to maintain high standards of care under crisis conditions and how to better integrate virtual care options.