The Rural Physician Research Grant Program empowers rural physicians to advance rural health through innovative research projects.
- The program is funded by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC.
- Awards of up to $10,000 are available for 1-year projects.
Interested in applying?
- The next intake closes on October 31, 2024.
- Grant details are available here
- Reach out to Douglas.Andrusiek@islandhealth.ca, Rural Health Research Associate, for support with your application.
Get Inspired! Two Recent Winners:
Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Kask and Dr. Ava Butler, who have both received grants for their projects:
Progesterone for the Prevention of Spontaneous Preterm Birth
Who: Dr. Jennifer Kask and Dr. Kirsten Duckitt (Family Physician and Obstetrician in Campbell River).
The Problem: Preterm birth (before 37 weeks) is the leading cause of newborn morbidity and mortality in BC and worldwide. Indigenous and rural communities across BC face higher rates of preterm birth and are disproportionately affected by its impacts, including the need to travel for care.
The Solution: Guidelines recommend vaginal progesterone for pregnant women at risk for preterm birth. Prescribing vaginal progesterone can reduce the risk by 50%, and it can be self-administered at home.
The Project: This cohort study will determine whether pregnant women in rural or remote communities are less likely to be prescribed vaginal progesterone. Ensuring that people in rural communities receive prescriptions at the same rates as in urban centres can reduce risk.
Exploring Best Practices for Engaging Indigenous Standardized Patients in Rural Medical Education
Who: Dr. Ava Butler (Emergency Physician, Cowichan District Hospital)
The Problem:Standardized Patients (SP) are healthy volunteers who portray real patient symptoms and histories, and play an essential role in medical education. However, there are very few local Indigenous SPs, especially in rural medical education.
The Solution: Our research seeks to enhance the safety, sustainability, and reciprocity of engaging local Indigenous SPs in rural medical education.
The Project: The project will investigate best practices in supporting Indigenous SPs in rural medical education. The team aims to ensure that cultural safety education is locally relevant and responsive to the unique needs of rural Indigenous communities.