CIMVHR Forum 2025 Workshops

Workshop submissions are now closed.

CIMVHR is looking for individuals interested in hosting a workshop at CIMVHR Forum 2025 to submit applications. All applications must focus on military, Veteran, public safety personnel and family health research.

Workshops are a gathering place for attendees with shared interests to meet in the context of a focused and interactive discussion, an opportunity to move a field forward and build community. Each workshop should generate ideas that will give the military, Veteran, public safety personnel and family health research communities a new, organized way of thinking about the topic or a promising direction for future work.

They should not be a series of short presentations, but focus on community building and communal knowledge creation. Organizers are responsible for the workshop’s content followed by the discussion session. The Forum planning committee will be responsible for scheduling the workshops on the mornings of October 21st or 22nd, 2025. Workshop hosts must be available to lead their workshops on both of the above dates. However, each workshop will be allotted one time slot on one day only. All workshops hosts and co-host must be registered for CIMVHR Forum 2025.

Each workshop lead will be responsible for a two page report that outlines the workshops objectives, discussion highlights, outcomes and next steps. A template will be provided.

Navigating research quality and independence while retaining equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonialization in the face of different and changing sociopolitical environments

The workshop is intended for researchers and research stakeholders (editors, funders, military, Veterans, and public safety personnel (PSP) and families, policymakers, knowledge mobilization (KM) staff). Information will be presented on the principles of quality in research and how EDID contributes to better science, discussing differences across countries, contexts, and time about how EDID is being defined and operationalized in research policies at the government, funder, and editorial levels. The impact on military, Veteran, and PSP and families, and KMs will be discussed with a nominal group activity to generate concerns and potential solutions. A post-workshop Delphi will be used to develop consensus on potential threats to science and best practices in considering EDID in military and PSP research. Broad dissemination of the findings will be used to help the research community navigate changing expectations and opportunities to advance military, Veteran, and PSP and families science and KM methods.

Workshop Hosts:

Joy MacDermid, PhD
Professor, Western University

Heidi Cramm, PhD
Queen's University

Rosemary Ricciardelli, PhD
Memorial University

Advancing Military PTSD Treatment: A Delphi Approach to Bridging Research, Clinical Practice, and Guideline Development

Recent reviews of PTSD treatments in military populations reveal a misalignment between current guidelines and the realities of treating military-related PTSD, often failing to account for unique symptom profiles, high comorbidity rates, and treatment preferences (Liu et al., 2025). Developing clinically useful guidelines requires a structured, consensus-driven approach that integrates evolving evidence with real- world practice. This workshop introduces the Delphi consensus methodology, previously used in defining treatment-resistant depression, now adapted for PTSD treatment strategies. Attendees will include clinician- researchers from the MIND PTSD Collaborative, actively engaged in related research, alongside new participants contributing to this evolving process. By leveraging their collective expertise, this workshop will initiate an iterative, structured discussion to evaluate treatment options for PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD) in military populations, shaping future PTSD treatment strategies with national and international impact.

Workshop Hosts:

Jenny Jing Wen Liu, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate, Western University

J Don Richardson, MD, FRCPC
Western University

Turning Insights into Action: Effective Evaluation Strategies for Military and Veteran Programs

Want to take your research and programs to the next level? This hands-on workshop will show you how to design and implement an evaluation plan that maximizes the impact of military programs and research projects. You will learn how to set clear objectives, choose meaningful indicators, and collect valuable data using surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observations. We will tackle ethical challenges and real-world obstacles in military and veteran research while exploring how AI and modern technology can enhance evaluation processes. Through case studies and interactive activities, you will gain practical experience and leave with the tools to assess impact, refine strategies, and drive real change. Whether you’re shaping policies, optimizing programs, or advancing research in military and veteran communities, this workshop will help you turn your insights into action and meaningful change.

Workshop Hosts:

Geoffrey Harrison, PhD
Senior Evaluation Data Analyst

Bruce Baskerville, PhD, CE

Caroline Dutil, PhD candidate
CSEP-CEP

Building Capacity and Cross-Sector Collaborations to Support Aging Veterans in Canada

The goal of this workshop will be to strengthen networks and capacity to support aging Veterans and their families. Beginning with a brief overview of current research and practice initiatives for aging Veterans, participants will then engage in moderated small-group discussions to identify: 1) key priorities for older Veterans and their families, 2) the actionable and coordinated steps between research, practice, and policy to address these needs. The focus of these discussions will be on identifying cross-sector collaborations between aging Veterans and their families, academia, industry, and all levels of government to support Veterans as they age. Opportunities for advocacy and knowledge dissemination will also be highlighted to increase the visibility of older Veterans in the wider context of military health and aging.

Workshop Hosts:

Kim Ritchie, PhD
Assistant Professor

Madison Brydges, PhD
National Institute of Aging

Lisa Garland Baird, RN, PhD
Veterans Affairs Canada

Uniting Forces: Advancing Military and Veteran Health Through Research Collaboration

Research collaboration refers to individuals, groups, and/or organizations conducting research together in a shared effort. In the military and Veteran health context, such collaboration is vital to exploring experiences and exposures in these populations over the entire life course.

We understand that collaboration is valuable, but how do we ensure it is effective? This workshop seeks to explore and discuss concrete measures that can be leveraged by researchers to strengthen their collaborative muscle. Different approaches to building and maintaining military and Veteran research collaborations will refer to domestic (e.g., Canadian Forces Cancer and Mortality Study) and international (e.g., Five Eyes Military Exposures Working Group) examples.

Group discussions will explore current and new ideas for best practices across themes such as data sharing, tools/technologies, relationship building, and resource management. Summaries of these discussions will be shared with participants after the workshop to provide additional tools that support research collaboration with impact.

Workshop Hosts:

Amy Hall, PhD
Senior Epidemiologist, Veterans Affairs Canada

Deborah Weiss, PhD
University of Ottawa

Stephanie Houle, PhD, C.Psych
Veterans Affairs Canada

Intersectionality: Foundations and Applications to Military, Veteran, and Family Health

Backlash against gender equality and human rights internationally has prompted the reversal of funding for research, policies, and programs focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the U.S. and parts of Canada. This highlights an urgent need for deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities posed by intersectional research approaches, as well as fostering ongoing dialogue about their practical implementation. Through interactive knowledge exchange, teaching, and group discussion, this workshop will grow participants’ baseline knowledge on intersectionality’s theoretical foundations and practical applications. Situated in this international context, we will explore how we can take intersecting identities into consideration in research (including how intersectional approaches can inform research design, recruitment, and dissemination), policies, and programs for military members, Veterans and their families.

Workshop Hosts:

Linna Tam-Seto, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Meaghan Shoemaker, PhD
Queen's University

Ashley Ibbotson, MA
Queen's University

Self-Care in the Chaos: A SPEC Event for Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

SPEC members engage in a variety of research topics where they turn to the literature to understand and make sense of their data. But where do we turn to take care of ourselves when our research involves difficult subjects, including mental health, suicide, and sexual assault?

This workshop offers SPEC members an opportunity to engage with CIMVHR mentors to enhance their knowledge of self-care in academic settings. The mentors will describe challenges they experienced and approaches they use to care for themselves before, during, and after challenging research. Starting with a panel discussion, this workshop provides space for group questions and one-on-one discussions about self- care. Alongside these conversations, which we recognize are difficult, we aim to maintain a relaxing atmosphere to reduce stress and burnout associated with studies, research, and conference attendance using resources such as therapy dogs.

Workshop Hosts:

Kathryn Reeves
Graduate Student, Mount Saint Vincent University

Melissa Richardson
Queen’s University

Marshall Gerbrandt
University of New Brunswick

Population-specific data needs of the Canadian Armed Forces: Refining how we present and use health data to enhance population health and public health action

Understanding population-level health trends within the Canadian Armed Forces is crucial for evidence- based public health action. While current surveillance outputs are produced at the national level, they may not adequately address the unique patient populations and operational demands of individual bases, wings, and detachments. Developing location-specific knowledge products that visualize key metrics can provide healthcare providers and the chain of command with clear insights into local population health trends, to support public health action.

This workshop will highlight our progress at the Directorate of Force Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services Headquarters, in designing interactive dashboards that transform complex data into actionable information. We will explore how tailored health metrics can help identify priorities, allocate resources effectively, and improve health outcomes. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to discuss their specific data needs, ensuring that future data visualizations align with real-world challenges and result in powerful tools to aid decision-making.

Workshop Hosts:

Natalia Abraham MD, MSc, MA
Epidemiology Section Head, DFHP Department of National Defence

Laura Bogaert, MSc, PhD (Cand)
University of Toronto

Carlo Rossi, MD, MTMH
Department of National Defence

Transition from Military to Civilian Life for Medical Reasons; Individual and marital psychosocial issues in the first 2 to 5 years following transition

The transition from military to civilian life for medical reasons presents various challenges and is a demanding process for both the veteran and their family. Adapting to this new reality, adjusting roles, and redefining identity can be a lengthy process, with numerous needs to address. How can these needs be met and supported while identifying specific issues and establishing individualized, marital, and family action plans? By considering the needs expressed by veterans and their spouses in a focus group from a co-construction perspective, participants will reflect on the needs of this population and explore ways to improve or create complementary services. A central focus will be placed on the spouses' experiences, the expression of their reality, and addressing their needs.

Workshop Hosts:

Audrey Gallant, MSW
Social worker, Military Family Resource Centre Montreal Region

Myriam Dufour, BSW
Military Family Resource Centre Montreal Region

Advancing Women Veterans Research in Canada

For decades, Canadian women Veterans have been under-researched, leaving their experiences excluded from program/policy development and implementation. Engaging with women Veterans, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has developed the 2025 Women Veterans Research Plan (WVRP) reflective of women Veterans’ research priorities. Building upon this progress, VAC aims to collaborate with national and international partners to conceptualize and develop a long-term women Veterans’ program of research guided by GBA Plus and a life course approach. This workshop provides space for VAC to present the WVRP, and for VAC and national partners to identify common research priorities for women Veterans in Canada. Participants will collectively map current and planned women Veteran research to identify opportunities for sustained collaboration, ensure effective use of existing data and research resources, reduce duplication of efforts, and strengthen knowledge mobilization to address existing knowledge gaps in women Veterans’ health and well-being outcomes now and into the future.

Workshop Host:

Lisa Garland Baird, RN, PhD
Senior Researcher, Veterans Affairs Canada