Virtual Forum 2021

CIMVHR

The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) hosted for its 11th annual Military and Veteran Health Research Forum in September and October 2021. With the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure the safety of CIMVHR's stakeholders, the annual event pivoted to an entirely virtual format for the first time.

The Virtual Forum kicked off on September 29 with encouraging remarks from the Surgeon General of the Canadian Armed Forces, MGen Marc Bilodeau. who recognized CIMVHR’s outstanding work over the past decade. Following the Surgeon General’s comments, the 2019 Sir Frederick Banting Award recipient’s keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. Ruth Lanius from Western University. The presentation was titled: Moral Injury Wounds Run Deep: Implications for Treatment. The newly appointed Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, Paul Ledwell, addressed the delegation and thanked CIMVHR and researchers for their thought and collaboration that will impact our serving members and Veterans. As the kick-off event wrapped up, Dr. David Pedlar took the opportunity to announce the newest CIMVHR Fellow, LCol Andrew Beckett. The Fellows program started in 2016 to recognize the leaders who demonstrate exceptional research advancements within the field of military, Veteran, and family health and well-being. We look forward to working with LCol Beckett in the future.

Keynote Presentation - MORAL INJURY WOUNDS RUN DEEP IMPLICATIONS FOR TREATMENT

Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Harris-Woodman Chair, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University of Canada

On October 5, the virtual poster session hosted 64 research presentations. Researchers and attendees communicated through chat boxes to discuss the research.

Throughout CIMVHR Virtual Forum, 64 oral presentations were divided into four population streams, which took place every Thursday throughout October. Each event opened with a keynote presentation pertinent to the topic of the day, followed by two streams of research presentations.

Serving Military – October 7

THE UK DEFENCE MEDICAL SERVICES POST COVID-19 RECOVERY, REHABILITATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMME

Gp Capt Alex Bennett, PhD, Professor of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Research and Clinical Innovation, HQ Joint Medical Group, Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation, DMRC, and
LCol David Holdsworth, MA, DPhil, Consultant Cardiologist and General Physician, Clinical Lead DMS COVID-19 Recovery Service (DCRS)

Veterans – October 14

PROVIDING CARE FOR SURVIVORS OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA

Amy Street, PhD, Deputy Director, Women’s Health Sciences Division
National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Families and Serving Military – October 21

THE MANY FACES OF FAMILY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Jennifer E.C. Lee, PhD, Acting Director of Research on Personnel and Family Support, Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis

Public Safety Personnel and Veterans – October 28

INNOVATIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF PTSD: FROM PSYCHEDELICS TO VIRTUAL REALITY

Barbara O. Rothbaum, PhD, ABPP, Professor in Psychiatry, Director, Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program, Paul A. Janssen Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology, Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research, School of Medicine

CIMVHR Virtual Forum featured over 130 research presentations chosen from 192 abstract submissions. Under the guidance of Drs. Pedlar, Groll and Thompson, Co-Chairs of the CIMVHR Forum Scientific Committee, the agenda was a high-quality and diverse representation of military, Veteran, family and public safety personnel health research happening across Canada and around the world.

The Student and Post-doctoral Engagement Committee (SPEC) hosted their annual networking social in a virtual format this year. This event is designed to allow emerging researchers to network and connect. This year, the SPEC executive committee encouraged the attendees to apply to their open elections throughout October and November.

Annually at Forum, a group of researchers are recognized during the award ceremony. At CIMVHR Virtual Forum 2021, three researchers were recognized:

BANTING AWARD

Awarded annually for military health research and sponsored by the True Patriot Love Foundation. The Banting Award honours Major Sir Frederick Banting- a world renowned physician, Nobel Prize winner and researcher who discovered insulin. The award recognizes high quality Canadian research that addresses military health issues.

Winner:
2021 Recipient:
Stacey Silins, PhD, for the research Exploring the lived experiences of members impacted by sexual misconduct in the CAF: Impacts and the threat of secondary harm.

Sponsored By

True Patriot Love

MILITARY FAMILY HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD

The Vanier Institute’s Military and Veteran Family Initiative’s Colonel Russell Mann Award recognizes high quality Canadian research that increases our understanding of military and Veteran family health. The award is named after Colonel Russell Mann, a recognized national leader and strong voice for military and Veteran families in Canada and a key supporter of the Military and Veteran Family Initiative.

Winner:
2021 Recipient:
Lynda Manser, MA, for the research The State of Military Families in Canada: A Scoping Review and for Relocation Experiences: The Experiences of Military Families with Relocations Due to Postings – Survey Results, as well as for her subsequent knowledge mobilization efforts. This research, along with her work on Services for Military and Veteran Families: The 2020+ Strategic Framework.

STUDENT RESEARCH AWARD

Presented to the best student researcher presentation at CIMVHR Virtual Forum 2021.

Winner:
2021 Recipient:
Massimo Cau, MSc, UBC, for the research Minimally Invasive Delivery of CounterFlow Hemostatic Powder Extends Survivability in a Model of Non-Compressible Truncal Hemorrhage in Swine

Sponsored By

Via Rail Canada

JOURNAL OF MILITARY, VETERAN AND FAMILY HEALTH
EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARD

Awarded to a researcher whose poster presentation at the CIMVHR Virtual Forum 2021 made an exceptional contribution to military, Veteran and family health research.

Winner:
2021 Recipient:
Shawn Rhind, PhD and team, for the research Peripheral blood neurological injury biomarker profiles are elevated in Canadian Special Operations Forces snipers following heavy weapons training.

Sponsored By

Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health

We are grateful to the researchers who presented, the sponsors who supported, and all the delegates from Canada, the United States, and worldwide – CIMVHR Virtual Forum 2021 helped advance military, Veteran, and family health research. Thank you all for serving those who serve us.