Research and Innovation

Home of the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program/Vancouver Coastal Health Authority

We build research capacity by stimulating new ideas and directions, developing strategies, fostering and collaborating on research across the department and promoting external partnerships.

Researchers

Meet the people who are at the forefront of making a difference in family practice.

Resources

Find what you need to conduct research.

Publications

Read about the latest in family practice research.

For a listing of resident publications, see here.

Clinician Scholar Program

Learn about opportunities within this component of the Enhanced Skills Residency training.

Research Rounds and Conferences

Learn about upcoming Research Rounds, view recordings of previous presentations and learn about upcoming conferences.

Research and Innovation Programs

Enhanced Skills Program

These third-year residency positions are part of the Postgraduate Program of the UBC Faculty of Medicine.

Exterior of the Port Hardy Primary Health Centre, rural health research

Centre for Rural Health Research

The Centre for Rural Health Research has an expansive program of mixed methods research investigating rural health services.

Innovation Support Unit

The Innovation Support Unit improves the health of British Columbians by supporting primary care innovation across research areas of focus. 

A couple walks in the woods with baby in stroller as part of a research program

Lifestyle Research Programs

HealtheSteps and Hockey Fans In Training incorporate exercise, physical activity, healthy eating and other habits into their everyday lives.

Chan Gunn Pavilion exterior - home of sport and exercise research

Sport and Exercise Medicine

UBC SEM is committed to education, research and service and the scientific pursuit of knowledge to create better health.

Palliative Care

This division aims to ensure excellence in care for those living with life-threatening illness through research, community advocacy and education . 

a woman with grey hair does exercise

Care of the Elderly

This division encompasses practicing geriatricians and researchers and educators affiliated with UBC throughout the province.

portrait of three contraception and abortion research team members

CART

The Contraception and Abortion Research Team supports equitable access to family planning knowledge, methods and services.

a woman with grey hair does exercise

Centre for Aging SMART

Solutions for Mobility, Activity, Rehabilitation and Technology

The Birth Place Lab

The Birth Place Lab facilitates multi-disciplinary and community-based participatory research on high quality maternity health care across birth settings.

Perinatal Anxiety Research Lab

PARLab is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of new and expectant mothers, and their babies.

Men’s Health Initiative

Blueprint catalyzes a global conversation about the state and impact of men in the world. They are mobilizing men to be a force for good.

Maternal Infant Health

Maternal and Infant Health Canada focuses on improving the health of communities with an emphasis on maternal mortality, women’s health and the environment.

Research Blog

  • Spotlight: Dr. Ruth Elwood Martin’s Insights on Prison Reform

    In a recent interview featured on Medics Voices, Dr. Ruth Elwood Martin, Clinical Professor Emerita at DFP, shared her compelling journey as an advocate for the rights of incarcerated people. Through participatory health research and writing on the intersections of health, justice, and policy, she passionately discussed the need for change in the prison system.…

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  • Dr. Clara MacDonald Receives 2024 PBLP FM Resident Scholarship Award

    The Foundation for Medical Practice Education (FMPE) has awarded Dr. Clara MacDonald, an R1 in Victoria, with second place for the Practice-Based Learning Program (PBLP) Family Medicine Resident Award. This award recognizes outstanding scholarly projects by FM Residents around small group learning through research, quality improvement, and/or education program development. Dr. MacDonald’s project brings validated…

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  • Building a Primary Care Learning Health System in BC

    On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, Drs. Rubee Dev, Sabrina Wong, Nathaniel Hawkins (co-directors of the BC Primary Health Care Research Network; BC-PHCRN) and Andrew Gibb (data manager of BC-PHCRN), along with guest speaker Dr. Daniel Ngui (family physician and medical director at Fraser Street Medical), presented on how the BC-PHCRN at UBC is building a primary…

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  • Residents Receive Care of the Elderly Scholar Prize

    The Department of Family Practice Care of the Elderly Committee awards the scholar prize to second year residents who demonstrate excellence in scholarly projects related to care of the elderly. The award supports research and scholarship that contributes to geriatrics within the discipline of family practice. This year’s recipients are as follows. Please join us…

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  • Providence Health Care Department of Family Medicine Research Award Named After Dr. Betty Calam

    We are thrilled to share that our esteemed colleague, Dr. Betty Calam, has been honored with the creation of the Dr. Betty Calam Research Award from the Providence Health Care Department of Family Medicine. This recognizes Dr. Calam’s outstanding contributions to family medicine research. The Dr. Betty Calam Research Award recognizes a second year St.…

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  • Department of Family Practice Faculty Named in Top 50 Cited Primary Care Researchers List

    Members of the UBC Department of Family Practice have been named to the primary care researchers most-cited list.

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  • Building Bridges: An Overview of Social Prescribing for Older Adults in British Columbia

    Margaret Lin, Bev Pitman, Prab Sandhu and Maureen Ashe Social prescribing is a health and social model of care that recognizes community-based knowledge, resources, and other types of care or support. Informed by the social determinants of health, it aims to address people’s unmet social needs. Although it has been around for some time, a…

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  • A Postpartum Harm Thoughts Educational Infographic

    By: Nichole Fairbrother Unwanted intrusive thoughts of infant-related harm are a ubiquitous phenomenon. Unwanted, intrusive thoughts of accidental harm (what if something happens to my baby) are reported by almost all new birthing parents, and unwanted, intrusive thoughts of harming one’s infant on purpose are reported by fully one half of all birthing parents. Although…

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  • Dr. Nichole Fairbrother Attends House of Commons Standing Committee on Health

    Dr. Nichole Fairbrother was invited to appear before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Health in Ottawa last Thursday. She served on a panel for women’s mental health as one of only a small number of perinatal mental health scientists. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Health studies issues that relate to Health…

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  • UBC and BC Rural Health Network Address the Gap Between Community Voices and Policy and Decision Making

    Advancing Community Engagement in Healthcare in Rural BC: A gap analysis to improve community involvement in healthcare A recent gap analysis has been published by the UBC Centre for Rural Health Research (Department of Family Practice) and the BC Rural Health Network. The Gap Analysis project was funded by the Social Planning and Research Council…

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