Bruyère Investigator Vivian Welch, PhD awarded CIHR-PHAC Applied Public Health Chair
03/26/2024
Vivian Welch, PhD, Senior Investigator at Bruyère Health Research Institute and Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Epidemiology and Public Health, was awarded an Applied Public Health Chair (APHC) by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The APHC program is supported by an investment of $13.8 million for the 2024 cohort.
“I am excited for the opportunity to focus on tackling health equity in aging, one of Canada’s largest public health issues, and to continue working with my primary partner, the Canadian Red Cross, as well as other dedicated research and implementation partners in the community,” said Welch.
Her chair program, Advancing Healthy Aging for All ($1.15 million), builds on partnerships with the Canadian Red Cross to strengthen understanding of and improve factors associated with health equity for older adults through person-centred and community-based approaches.
"Vivian Welch's appointment as an APHC recipient marks a significant milestone in our collaboration with the Bruyère Health Research Institute and other partners. Together, we are committed to leveraging evidence-based approaches to promote health and well-being among aging populations, addressing systemic inequities along the way," stated Tanya Elliott, Chief of Health at the Canadian Red Cross.
Welch is also the Editor in Chief of the Campbell Collaboration where she oversees the leading program of What Works in social science. This year, Campbell will be launching an Early Career Network to help develop the next generation of researchers and leaders in the social sciences.
Welch is also a world leader in health equity and aging. She has published over 300 peer-reviewed papers and has led international teams in promoting analysis of health equity in research. As a part of the chair program, Welch plans to implement and evaluate programs and policies to mitigate inequities in aging, including social prescribing, and build capacity in integrated knowledge translation.
“Working with public and patient partners in research is a top priority for me, including those with lived experience of inequities,” said Welch.
Read the full release from CIHR here.