2018 CFN Interdisciplinary Fellowship Program

A crucial part of our Canadian Frailty Network’s mandate is to develop the next generation of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) – the scientists, clinicians and health and social services professionals that will improve care for older adults living with frailty. CFN’s Training Program offers graduate and PhD student, post-docs and working professionals an interdisciplinary, experiential program in partnership with member institutions and partners across the country. The CFN Interdisciplinary Fellowship Program goes beyond traditional academic and clinical training opportunities by offering enriched experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. In New Brunswick, the competition was presented in collaboration with the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF).

The 11 students in our sixth annual cohort represent six disciplines at eight Host Institutions in five provinces. Click on the links below to learn more about our 2018 CFN Interdisciplinary Fellows and their Supervisors.

Fellow

Supervisor

Host Institution

Kyla Alsbury Nancy Salbach University of Toronto
Julia Borges Daryl Pullman Memorial University
Pamela Durepos Sharon Kaasalainen McMaster University
Sarah Gibbens Kevin Woo Queen’s University
Patricia Hewston Alexandra Papaioannou McMaster University
Andrea Mayo Olga Theou Dalhousie University
Caitlin Robertson Emily Read University of New Brunswick
Mariko Sakamoto Alison Phinney University of British Columbia
Fran Seymour Tracey Rickards University of New Brunswick
Alyson Takaoka Michelle Kho McMaster University
Jill van Damme Paul Stolee University of Waterloo

About the 2018 competition

Fellowship terms for the 2018-19 competition are 12 months, and CFN contributes a maximum of 50% of the Fellowship funding and each Fellow has a confirmed partner that has agreed to provide at least matching funds in cash. All funding is paid as Fellow stipends only. In New Brunswick, the competition was presented in collaboration with the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF). Two fellows from New Brunswick (NB) were funded under the collaboration, with NBHRF as the matching fund partner for NB applicants.

Funding levels for 2018-19 Fellows are:

CFN Funding Partner Funding Total Funding
Master’s student level $12,500 $12,500 $25,000
PhD student level $17,500 $17,500 $35,000
Postdoctoral or working professional level $25,000 $25,000 $50,000

Eligibility

The Fellowship Competition was open to current graduate & PhD students, post-docs & working professionals. Individuals from any discipline were encouraged to apply, so long as their proposed activities aligned with the strategic priorities of CFN related to improving care for older Canadians living with frailty. Eligibility requirements were fully outlined in the Program Guidelines.

Deadlines for 2018 Competition

Only applicants that submitted their Intent to Apply by the deadline of Monday, January 29, 2018 and received a CFN file number were eligible to submit a full application package. Full Application packages were due by 12 noon ET on Thursday, February 15, 2018.

Full Application Packages consisted ov:

  1. Application Form — online beginning January 31, 2018
  2. Applicant’s CV — to be uploaded online beginning January 31, 2018
  3. Required signatures form — submit by email
  4. Endorsement form from proposed Fellowship Supervisor
  5. Professional References form (2 required)
  6. Partner Letters of Support
  7. Transcripts for all post-secondary and clinical/medical school studies