News from the IGH Institute Advisory Board

Photo: Dr. Joan Bottorff, IAB Chair

As the Chair of the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health’s Institute Advisory Board (IAB), it is my pleasure to share key updates from our recent board meeting, held in Saskatoon on June 6th and 7th:

First public session of the IAB a success

On June 6th, IGH invited local stakeholders to attend the afternoon session of the IAB meeting, in order to learn more about the institute and experience our board meetings firsthand.  The session was attended by a number of faculty and staff from the University of Saskatchewan, who heard about recent developments at CIHR, learned about IGH’s current activities, and joined IAB members in a discussion on training in the area of sex, gender and health research.

Development of a new sex and gender training curriculum

Dr. Joy Johnson, IGH Scientific Director, presented on the new sex and gender training curriculum currently in development by IGH.  IAB members and public attendees provided feedback on the importance of tailoring the curriculum content to meet the priorities and preferences of different domains of researchers, and stressed the need for a web-based model to achieve widespread uptake.

IGH collaboration on Gender Summit 3

Abby Forson, IGH Assistant Director, provided a brief update on IGH’s involvement in the planning of Gender Summit 3 – North America, to be held in Washington D.C. on November 13-15, 2013. IAB members discussed how to ensure that sex and gender in health research is integral to the summit program and that Canadian health researchers are included as speakers for relevant summit sessions. 

Identification of policy priorities

A key strategic goal of IGH is to achieve greater uptake of sex- and gender-sensitive approaches in health policies, programs, services and systems.  IAB members shared ideas on current policy issues that IGH can focus its knowledge translation efforts on, in addition to brainstorming potential partners that IGH can work with in the process.

Reflections on the role of CIHR institutes in shaping science

During a discussion about performance evaluation, IAB members reflected on the critical role of IGH and fellow CIHR institutes in not only funding research but also shaping science.  The fundamental role of IGH in shaping science on sex, gender and health underpins IGH’s new 2013-2017 Strategic Plan, scheduled to be released this fall.

Social media at IGH

Meridith Sones, IGH Knowledge Translation Manager, presented on how and why IGH is increasing its adoption of social media tools and strategies within its communications portfolio.  IAB members reflected on how social media is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for science and discussed how IGH can use social media to increase reach and engagement with a broader audience of funders, researchers and knowledge users.

The next meeting of the IGH Institute Advisory Board will take place in Toronto on October 17th and 18th, 2013. For future board-related updates and the latest news from IGH, email igh.admin@ubc.ca to be added to the IGH mailing list.

Sincerely,
Joan Bottorff