2017 NHRC Keynote Speakers
Dr. Carrie Bourassa
Carrie Bourassa is research Chair in Indigenous & Northern Health and Senior Scientist at Health Sciences North Research Institute in Sudbury, Ontario and the Scientific Director of the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Prior to taking the Chair position in October 2016 and the Scientific Director Position in February 2017, she served her communities as a Professor of Indigenous Health Studies at First Nations University of Canada for fifteen years. Dr. Bourassa is an Indigenous community-based researcher and is proud to be the successful Nominated Principal Investigator on two Canada Foundation for Innovation Grants that funded the Indigenous Community-based Health Research Lab in 2010 (re-named Morningstar Lodge) and most recently in April 2016 the Cultural Safety Evaluation, Training and Research Lab at FNUniv. She is a member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada and is a public member of the College Council, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Carrie’s research interests include the impacts of colonization on the health of Indigenous people; creating culturally safe care in health service delivery; Indigenous community-based health research methodology; HIV/AIDS, HCV among Indigenous people; end-of-life care among Indigenous people; dementia among Indigenous people; Indigenous Water Governance; and Indigenous women’s health. Carrie is Métis, belonging to the Regina Riel Métis Council #34.
Dr. Bourassa’s Keynote Presentation was entitled “Hunter-Gatherer From the Wisdom Water”
Dr. Mohit Bhandari
Dr. Bhandari currently serves as Professor and Academic Head of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at McMaster University. He is a designated, University Scholar, at McMaster, to recognize his excellence in as an academic surgeon and scientist. He is the Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Surgery and is the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Musculoskeletal Trauma and Surgical Outcomes. He received his Masters Degree in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics from McMaster University and his PhD Degree from Goteborg University (Sweden).
He is recognized as a global leader in evidence-based surgery and orthopaedic research receiving the fields highest awards including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Medal, the Edouard Samson Award, and the Kappa Delta Award. He has been acknowledged among the top 10 most cited orthopaedic fracture surgeons in the world. Dr. Bhandari’s commitment to evidence-based practice, high quality globally relevant research and translation of evidence to patient care has garnered him induction into the Province of Ontario’s highest civilian honor: the Order of Ontario. He also has been awarded the Canadian Orthopaedic Association’s Award of Merit, and McMaster University’s Distinguished Alumni Award and most recently the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s Council Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Dr. Bhandari’s Keynote Presentation was entitled “Think Bigger! A New Culture of Research“