Grant: Training Grant: SPOR National Training Entity - LOI

The Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is a training hub for patient-oriented research and patient engagement, and our team is submitting this contributor application for the National Training Entity (NTE). Our current and emerging educational programs align closely with the NTE's mission and vision, and we can serve as a training hub for the national body. Our available current and emerging training programs include: PaCER (Patient and Community Engagement Research), launched in 2012, has trained more than 70 patient research partners, many of whom have are now active participants in the POR community. Three courses are offered nationally, around (i) principles, theory and methods, (ii) a practicum, and (iii) an internship. Alberta Health Services (AHS), through the Strategic Clinical Networks™ (SCN), is a founding partner. PaCER is a training program that utilizes a peer-to-peer focus on health research by highlighting the patient voice. PaCER recently developed a distance delivery capability through Continuing Education, as well as a module for Indigenous patient partners. A Patient Engagement Certificate, through ABSPORU Patient Engagement Platform (PE Platform) provides training to patient research partners, trainees, and research staff in the principles and practice of patient engagement in health research. Launching in early 2020, this program provides modular training for patients and other researchers to learn how to successfully incorporate patient engagement in research. All participants can earn a certificate, and clinicians can receive credits for their professional medical education. Three graduate-level courses covering (1) key concepts in patient engagement and patient-oriented research; (2) measuring patient-reported outcomes and preferences using PROMs and PREMs; and, (3) the science of patient engagement are offered at the University of Calgary. This program aligns with the objectives of the NTE.