Keeping up with Knowledge Translation

MicroResearch: Decolonizing and Democratizing Community-Focused Research

Imagine a paramedic, a community health nurse, a police officer, and a shelter worker are introduced for the first time and told to dream up a community health issue that will make a difference in their community. This is what happens through MicroResearch Canada – people who experience health challenges first-hand are empowered to propose, research, and implement innovative, collaborative, and culturally-sensitive solutions that go beyond the health care system to have real impact in their own communities.

Join us to learn more about the unique MicroResearch process, where research questions and projects are developed and driven by the community, and hear about how a local MicroResearch Project is helping older adults in Dartmouth North to eat well at home. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A panel discussion.

Presenters:

Dr. Noni MacDonald

Dr. Noni MacDonald is a Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) at Dalhousie University and IWK Health and Co-founder of MicroResearch. Dr. MacDonald has significant experience in research and global health. Together with Dr. Bob Bortolussi, she developed the MicroResearch program, starting in 2008, to help build research capacity in developing countries and in Canada to help find local solutions for community health problems that fit the local context, culture and available resources.

Melissa Rankin

Melissa has a particular interest in food and community nutrition which she nurtured through her involvement with The North Grove, a Community Food Centre located in Dartmouth North, Nova Scotia, where she spent 7 years establishing practical food skills and nutrition programs for children, adults, and seniors. Melissa holds a BSc in Applied Human Nutrition and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Applied Human Nutrition at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU). She is also the Principal Investigator of a MicroResearch project called ‘Perceived barriers and facilitators to cooking at home for older adults living in Dartmouth North, Nova Scotia.’

Panelists:

For the Q&A, Dr. MacDonald and Melissa will be joined by:

Dr. Bob Bortolussi is a Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) at Dalhousie University and IWK Health where he is an active researcher, teacher, and mentor and Co-founder of MicroResearch.
Kelly Hunter has a Master’s of Science in Community Health Research and has been working with MicroResearch since 2019. She is currently the Executive Director of MicroResearch International and Canada.