Grant: Health System Impact Fellowships - PostDoc Western Canada 2-year

In Canada, members of visible minorities face challenges accessing cancer care. They experience difficulties navigating the health care system and understanding health information, face long wait times, and delays accessing specialist care. They may experience stigma and shame related to certain types of cancers, and racism and discrimination. Visible minorities in Canada may face significant socioeconomic and health inequalities. Canadian reports suggest a connection between socioeconomic inequalities and cancer survival and mortality. A key goal for Alberta Health Services Cancer Strategic Clinical Network is to advance health equity as a strategy to improve the health and alleviate the suffering of visible communities affected by cancer. In partnership with the Cancer Strategic Clinical Network, through this proposed Health Systems Impact Fellowship, we seek to improve equity in cancer care working together with visible minorities. First, we will engage members of visible minorities to guide this research, build collaboration with the Alberta cancer care system, and influence policy development. Second, we will examine the literature to learn about the cancer care experiences and outcomes of visible minorities in Canada. Third, we will take health equity knowledge into practice to support visible minorities affected by cancer. This work will contribute to the transformation of the cancer care system by developing innovative health equity strategies with visible minorities.