The University of New Brunswick (UNB) celebrated the official launch of its Institute of Population Health (IPH) on April 17 at the Wu Conference Centre, marking a significant step towards improving the health and well-being of New Brunswickers.
The event opened with a Wolastoqiyik song and drumming performed by cultural practitioner Laurie Ann Nicholas.
"Today, we are expanding the work we do at UNB to make New Brunswick healthier by emphasizing prevention," said Dr. Paul Mazerolle (BA'89), president and vice chancellor.
"The Institute of Population Health is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of New Brunswickers through innovative approaches in health promotion, disease prevention and community resilience," he said.
The IPH's education efforts include outreach through public lectures and knowledge sharing. It collaborates with academics and researchers across UNB and other universities, government and Indigenous organizations.
It works to sustain research collaborations, engages with funders and translates findings into policy recommendations. With a focus on knowledge mobilization, the IPH raises the profile of researchers and informs health policy to improve population health outcomes.
The IPH advocates for better health outcomes, connects with partner institutes and decision-makers and leads or supports multidisciplinary research, including systemic reviews.
Dr. Mazerolle said that as a collaborative hub, the IPH brings together researchers, policymakers and community leaders to address key health challenges. It builds on UNB's existing accomplishments in the field of healthcare.
Dr. Mazerolle praised Dr. Jennifer Russell, the IPH's executive director and a former New Brunswick Chief Medical Officer of Health.
"Dr. Russell's depth of experience in public health is unmatched in the province. When you spend even a few minutes talking to her, you see that she truly has a passion for preventative care and improving population health," he said.
"I'm optimistic to see Jennifer and her team transform their passion into action and establish the Institute as a leader in Canada in advocating for population health strategies."
Chief Joanna Bernard, regional chief (N.B.) of the Assembly of First Nations, spoke of the importance of addressing global public health challenges.
She said researchers must gather data respectfully and collaboratively. She also addressed a need for a health data governance framework to ensure First Nations' data sovereignty, to empower their communities through data-driven decision-making.
Bernard called for partnerships to bridge the data gap and build a legacy of favourable health outcomes, reinforcing the principle of what she defined as "nothing about us without us."
Social Development Minister Cindy Miles stressed the importance of collaboration and inclusivity and the significance of data collection and analysis.
She expressed excitement about the potential for a sustainable healthcare system through early prevention and partnerships and looks forward to the IPH's role in shaping a healthier future for New Brunswickers.
Dr. Russell led a panel discussion with four experts who discussed transformative approaches to population health, highlighting prevention and interdisciplinary teamwork as key strategies.
- Sophie Howe, who served as the first Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, detailed the legislation there that mandates government decisions consider long-term societal impacts. Howe said government must meet today's needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
- Dr. Sarah Lindberg from the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute explained its innovative approach to translating complex research into accessible formats. The "What Works for Health in Wisconsin" provides policymakers with evidence-based strategies across multiple health domains.
- Dr. Jalila Jbilou, a professor of psychology associated with the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick at the Université de Moncton, spoke of a virtual clinic devised for truck drivers, addressing the unique healthcare challenges of this mobile workforce. The project reduced emergency room visits and provided comprehensive care directly to drivers' truck cabins.
- Dr. Sandra Magalhaes, research associate at UNB's New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT), revealed alarming projections about dementia in New Brunswick, noting the province could see dementia cases rise from 9,000 to nearly 30,000. Research shows that roughly half of these cases could benefit from early intervention.
- The panellists stressed that effective population health requires breaking down institutional silos, reliance on data and pursuing creative preventative strategies.
- All emphasized the importance of addressing health issues before they become critical, focusing on community conditions and social determinants of health rather than just treating symptoms.
Dr. Emily Richard, scientific director at the IPH, outlined its vision for population health, emphasizing the goal of making healthy choices easy for all residents.
She highlighted the ambitious strategic plan, team development and achievements over the past year, such as making nearly a dozen research grant applications, receiving over $700,000 in research funding and writing two white papers.
She said future priorities include working with First Nations communities, studying policy impacts on hypertension and promoting workplace health.
"I'm excited to see how this institute can model this inter-sector collaboration and demonstrate that when we work together towards the same goal, anything is possible," said Dr. Mazerolle.
