Dalhousie researchers lead transition towards collaborative health in Canada

“Effective health care belongs to an inter-professional team,” says Dr. Brenda Merritt, Associate Professor and Acting Dean in Dalhousie’s Faculty of Health. “We can’t continue to rely on single disciplines alone to solve complex health issues.”

This belief was the impetus behind establishing the PhD in Health at Dalhousie. Leading an important transition away from the current, fragmented health care system in Canada, Dal’s PhD in Health is the only program of its kind in the country to foster extensive, multidisciplinary research at the PhD level.

Informing better care through collaborative research

With a strong understanding that collaboration between disciplines is the key to better health outcomes, students in Dal’s PhD program are breaking new ground. Exploring questions as part of interdisciplinary research teams, our students are gaining valuable insight through the combined knowledge and skill sets of multiple health professions.

Matthew Baker, a second-year PhD candidate studying knee osteoarthritis, has experienced the powerful impact of this collaboration in his research. “Our group meets bi-weekly with physiotherapists, orthopaedic surgeons and kinesiologists,” says Barker. “These interactions lead to new ideas and findings that enhance our understanding of osteoarthritis. I see first-hand how we can improve care with valuable input from each discipline.”

Through this focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, Dal’s PhD program is grooming the next generation of leaders to transform health in Canada. Graduates like Baker will leave Dalhousie with the expertise and vision to lead change in the Canadian health care system, at the most fundamental level.

Celebrating 200 years of innovation

The Faculty of Health is committed to empowering tomorrow’s leaders in the PhD program, pursuing important collaborative research. As Dalhousie celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2018, a 200th anniversary scholarship will be established to support these students as they work to transform the future of health in Canada, and beyond.

If you are interested in supporting the Graduate Scholarship for PhD Studies in Health, please makea a gift.