September 11, 2009

A network of rural health researchers led by UNBC and UBC will be holding its 2nd Annual Conference at the Prince George Civic Centre on September 28 and 29, 2009. The Rural and Remote Health Research Network Conference is bringing together BC-based health researchers, health care professionals, and other community representatives interested in rural health research. This year, more than 150 people are expected to be in attendance.

The Network is the only one of its kind in Canada and, since 2006, membership has more than doubled from 502 to 1288. “We have members from a wide array of countries, including the US, UK, Australia, Mexico, Nepal, Kenya, and Tanzania,” says Network Manager Candice Manahan, a UNBC grad from Prince George. “Anyone interested in the unique aspects of health care in rural and remote areas can tap into a great reservoir of information in the network.”

“The field has attracted a lot of young researchers,” says the Network’s Scientific Co-Lead Martha MacLeod. “We sometimes struggle to locate senior researchers for mentorship, which is a big reason these conferences are so important.”

Researchers at the conference will be sharing their findings with health care workers and communities to address challenges they face in rural and remote areas. These include access to health care, Aboriginal health issues, environmental health and mental health.The focus of the conference is knowledge exchange relating to recent rural and/or remote research results, research approaches and practice, and policy frameworks.

This year’s keynote speaker is Ian Graham, the Vice-President of Knowledge Translation at the Canadian Institute of Health Research. Dr. Graham's research is largely focused on knowledge translation, and increasing implementation of research findings and evidence-based practice. The presentation will be from 9:15 to 10:30am in Auditorium 103 of the Civic Centre on September 29.

For information, visit the Network website at www.bcrrhrn.ca or contact Candice Manahan at manac000@unbc.ca.

Contact:

Michael Kellett, Communications Officer, UNBC - 250.960.5621

Candice Manahan, BCRRHRN Provincial Manager, UNBC – 250.960.5818

Dr. Martha MacLeod, Scientific Co-Lead, UNBC – 250.960.6507