In November 2016, CMVHR hosted the 7th Annual Military and Veteran Health Research Forum in Vancouver. Lieutenant-General Christine Whitecross delivers her keynote address during the Morning Plenary on November 22, 2016. In November 2016, Whitecross was appointed Commandant of the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy.
(Volume 24-01)
By CIMVHR Communications
Photos by Mark Galloway
Since 2010, the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) has hosted seven annual forums showcasing 970 research presentations to over 3,000 attendees. CIMVHR has grown to be the hub for 42 Canadian universities and seven global affiliates dedicated to improving the health of military personnel, veterans and their families.
Colonel Scott McLeod, Deputy Surgeon General, presents the Banting Award to Mr. James Baylis accepting on behalf of Dr. Christian Kastrup, professor at UBC, for his research on self-propelled particles.
This past November, CMVHR hosted the 7th Annual Military and Veteran Health Research Forum in collaboration with the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. Forum 2016, which took place in Vancouver, showcased 175 presentations to 600 delegates from across academia, military, government, philanthropy and industry. Forum would not be possible without the generosity and support of its sponsors!
At Forum 2016, exceptional members of the CIMVHR community were recognized for their contributions to the enhancement of research capacity on military, veteran and family health across Canada. During the opening plenary, hosted by the Interim Co-Scientific Directors Drs. Stéphanie Bélanger and Heidi Cramm, Dr. Alice Aiken of Dalhousie University was presented with the inaugural Certificate of Fellowship for her visionary leadership to CIMVHR and continued ambassadorship for the Institute. Furthermore, Lieutenant-Colonel Rob Poisson, Canadian Forces Health Services Group, was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for his visionary guidance and meritorious dedication to CIMVHR.
Dr. Deniz Fikertoglu, of Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), delivers the Featured Banting Award Talk with her presentation titled “Mental Health Service Use in the Canadian Armed Forces: The Past, The Present, and the Future.”
With the continued support of Wounded Warriors Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion, CIMVHR was able to present two prestigious scholarships to help support the next generation of researchers. This year, Ms. Linna Tam-Seto, of Queen’s University, was awarded the Wounded Warriors Doctoral Scholarship in Military and Veteran Health Research and Mr. Jeremiah Buhler, University of Manitoba, was awarded The Royal Canadian Legion Masters Scholarship in Veteran Health Research. Best of luck!
Each year, the Major Sir Frederick Banting Award for Military Health Research, sponsored by the True Patriot Love Foundation, is awarded by the Surgeon General to the researcher whose presentation is deemed to be of the greatest overall value to military health. Dr. Christian Kastrup of the University of British Columbia received the 2016 Banting Award for his research titled Self-propelling Particles that Stop Severe Haemorrhage in Swine by Transporting Tranexamic Acid and Thrombin through Flowing Blood.
Dr. Deniz Fikertoglu, of Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), delivers the Featured Banting Award Talk with her presentation titled “Mental Health Service Use in the Canadian Armed Forces: The Past, The Present, and the Future.”
Four additional awards were also presented at Forum 2016: Ms. Rachael Gribble of King’s College London received the VIA Rail Student Research Award; Dr. Allison Feduccia of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies received the Homewood Mental Health Treatment Award; Dr. Heidi Cramm of Queen’s University received the Colonel Russell Mann, Military Family Health Research Award sponsored by The Vanier Institute of the Family; and Ms. Alyson Mahar of Queen’s University/King’s College London received the Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health Editors’ Choice Award.
Looking ahead, CIMVHR will host its 8th Annual Forum in partnership with Invictus Games Toronto 2017 from September 25–27. Taking place at the Allstream Centre in Toronto, Forum 2017 will be the preeminent gathering dedicated to improving the health of military personnel and their families, past, present and future.