Bridging Research and Action: Key Highlights and Takeaways 

Building on the calls to action established through UBC Health-hosted dialogue events from 2021 to 2024, more than 500 people from across British Columbia came together this spring for Bridging Research and Action—an event hosted by UBC Health to explore new ways of turning knowledge into meaningful impact in BC’s health system and to advance the momentum generated through these earlier dialogues.  

Key moments throughout the event reflected its impact and relevance. BC Minister of Health, the Honorable Josie Osborne opened the event with remarks emphasizing the value of collaboration in driving system-level change. 

 "I'm thrilled to see everybody working together," she said. "That's the way we can ensure that  the insights we gain through research translate into strategies that really, truly make a  difference in the lives of British Columbians." 

Later in the day, the Minister returned to announce the province’s new suicide prevention and response framework, underscoring the importance of collective action and the province’s commitment to working with universities and health system partners on urgent health priorities. 

UBC President Benoit-Antoine Bacon opened a session exploring how digital tools, education, and policy can better support youth mental health and resilience. In the closing plenary, Dr. Tara Kiran shared insights from OurCare, a national initiative that engaged nearly 10,000 Canadians. She highlighted how listening to the public can help shape a stronger, more equitable primary care system—and challenged participants to envision a future of care that is co-designed with patients and communities at its core. 

The event was guided by an interdisciplinary advisory committee, including patient partners, health system leaders, researchers, and educators, whose insights helped shape an inclusive and impactful event. Bridging Research and Action was designed with accessibility and equity in mind, providing multiple ways for participants to engage and ensuring voices from across BC’s diverse regions and communities were heard. This helped lower barriers to participation for individuals and groups often underrepresented in academic and health system forums. The mix of participants also reflected the event’s cross-sectoral approach: 

Researchers (31%) and providers (20%) made up the largest groups, joined by administrators (12%), patients (12%), educators (3%), students (5%), policymakers (4%), associations (3%), and others (11%)—with many attendees identifying with more than one role. 

Themes of health equity, interprofessional and interdisciplinary collaboration, and system transformation were woven throughout the event. Sessions explored topics such as race-based data, disinformation and its impacts on health equity, inclusive primary care models, interprofessional education, and team-based care transformation—many of them co-led by community members, patient partners, and system leaders driving this work forward.  

The event featured: 

• Four plenary dialogues: Watch the plenary session recordings 

• 31 interactive concurrent sessions: Watch the recordings for select concurrent online sessions  

• Ceremonial openings and contributions throughout the event centred Indigenous leadership, perspectives, and ways of knowing. In Vancouver, Derek K. Thompson — Čaabať Bookwilla | Suhiltun led the ceremonial opening, while in Kelowna, Elder Rose and Elder Kathy provided their guidance and teachings. 

Held in person in Vancouver and Kelowna and virtually across the province, the event brought together a diverse group of researchers, policymakers, healthcare providers, patient partners, Indigenous leaders, educators, and community advocates. Together, participants tackled some of BC’s most pressing health and social challenges, building connections and co-developing ideas to drive change.  

Participants came from every corner of the province, with representation from the Coastal, Interior, Fraser, Island, and Northern health regions, as well as those working with a provincial lens. View the event photos here.  

“As a patient partner on the Bridging Research and Action advisory committee, I felt welcomed and valued for the expertise I brought through lived experience. I was involved in key design decisions, and my input consistently mattered. Participating in the event was equally rewarding and reinforced UBC Health’s strong commitment to meaningful patient engagement,” said Khirsty MacArthur.  

Feedback from participants demonstrated the event’s impact: 70% reported making or strengthening new connections through Bridging Research and Action, laying the foundation for future collaborative work. The strong energy and momentum from this gathering reflect a clear appetite for more opportunities to come together in spaces like this. Nearly 98% of those who responded to the event evaluation expressed a desire for more events of this kind, which demonstrates the value participants see in continuing to bridge research and action through collective learning and collaboration. 

UBC Health will release a summary report highlighting key insights from the event to inform future cross-sector dialogue and collaboration. Subscribe to UBC Health News to receive the report and stay informed about upcoming events.