The 9th Annual Military and Veteran Health Research Forum was held in Regina from October 15-17, 2018. Our co-host, the University of Regina, is home to the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment. Given this collaboration, CIMVHR Forum 2018 featured over 200 research presentations on health research for military, Veterans, public safety personnel and their families.
Our 2018 conference kicked off with a warm welcome from Regina-Wascana MP and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness The Honourable Ralph Goodale as well as an address from Mr. Stephane Lauzon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. The very first scientific presentation was presented as a Panel on Advanced Analytics moderated by Ms. Nora Spinks and featuring panelists Dr. Lisa Patton, Dr. Alex Singer and Dr. Cathy Boscarino. Over the course of the 3 days, we also heard from remarkable keynote and featured speakers, in order of appearance: RAdm H.C. Edmundson, Dr. Benjamin Dunkley, Dr. James MacKillop and Dr. Andrew Cap.
Our annual Forum is where delegates from all around the world gather to hear top research in the field of military, Veteran and family health. Each year, CIMVHR brings together academia, government, industry, philanthropy, clinicians, and decision-makers to improve the lives of our serving members and their families. Forum also offers workshops designed to engage and develop emerging research fields. CIMVHR Forum is the premier event bringing the latest military, Veteran and family health research to those who develop practices, policies and programs.
CIMVHR Forum 2018 celebrated emerging scholars in the field of military, Veteran and family heath at the 2nd Annual Student and Post-Doctoral Engagement Committee Networking Event sponsored by Wounded Warriors Canada. Two students in particular were highlighted at Forum: Stephanie Houle-Johnson, PhD Cand., University of Ottawa and Mr. Massimo Cau, MA Cand., University of British Columbia. Ms. Houle-Johnson was awarded the Wounded Warriors Doctoral Scholarship in Military and Veteran Health Research and Mr. Cau was awarded the Royal Canadian Legion Master’s Scholarship in Veteran Health Research.
CIMVHR Forum 2018 welcomed a new Board Chair, Dr. Elizabeth Taylor, University of Alberta. The institute also appointed its 8th fellow, Dr. Christian Kastrup, University of British Columbia. Dr. Kastrup, as a fellow, joins a remarkable group of researchers who demonstrate exceptional research advancements within the field of military, Veteran and family health.
To recognize the outstanding research presented over the 3 days, five awards were presented to researchers and their teams for their outstanding presentations at CIMVHR Forum 2018. This year, Robert Hawes, PhD Cand., Canadian Forces Health Services Group (CF H Svcs Gp), received the prestigious Banting Award sponsored by True Patriot Love; Ryan Van Slyke, Syracuse University, received the Via Rail Student Research Award; Lieutenant Colonel Suzanne Bailey, CF H Svcs GP, received the Homewood Mental Health Treatment Award; Dr. Deborah Norris, Mount St. Vincent University, received the Colonel Russell Mann, Military Family Health Research Award sponsored by The Vanier Institute of the Family; and Alina Protopopescu, PhD Cand.,, McMaster University, received the Journal of Military and Veteran and Family Health (JMVFH) Editors' Choice Award.
CIMVHR Forum 2019 will be in Ottawa Gatineau, October 21 to 23. See you next year in the nation’s Capital!
