CFN awards eight fellowships
CFN is pleased to announce eight new Interdisciplinary Fellowship Program (IFP) awards as part of our mandate to develop highly qualified professionals (HQP) who can thrive in a multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral health care environment. The eight award recipients are from a wide range of disciplines and educational institutions across Canada, with projects in Education, Engineering, Rehabilitation, Gerontology, Law, Nursing and Social Work.
The funded initiatives include novel approaches to care for the frail elderly, such as using smart materials to design slip-resistant footwear, and using digital storytelling to understand the experience of aging with serious illness.
The two-year Fellowships are part of CFN’s Interdisciplinary Training Program which extends beyond traditional academic and clinical programs to offer enriched experiential learning experiences that allow trainees to gain an understanding of patients and their support systems, then develop and refine the skills necessary to translate and incorporate patient needs and expectations in research and day-to-day clinical activities.
These Fellows from the 2014 Spring competition join eight fellows in the Fall 2013 cohort. CFN’s Summer Student Awards Program is in its second year, and funding will be announced shortly for 10 undergraduate students to work on individual research activities. Interdisciplinary training is also a required component of all CFN-funded projects. With upcoming research projects, CFN will have provided training to close to 100 HQP.
“Our health system currently operates in a fragmented state, a situation that is particularly precarious for the frail elderly, many of whom suffer from co-morbidities and require frequent hospitalization,” said CFN Scientific Director Dr. John Muscedere. “These fellows represent the next generation of scientists and health care professionals who, through our program, will gain the trans-disciplinary skills, experiences and attitudes needed to improve care for this vulnerable group.”