Leadership update from VCHRI and VCH Indigenous Health
We are excited to announce the establishment of the Indigenous Health Research Unit at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI), a significant milestone in our commitment to advancing Indigenous health research, fostering collaboration as well as improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities. This new unit will be promoting Indigenous health equity, cultural safety and self-determination through community-driven research initiatives and meaningful partnerships.
To lead this important initiative, we are delighted to appoint Dr. Gabrielle Legault, PhD as the inaugural Director of the Indigenous Health Research Unit, effective August 15, 2024. Dr. Legault, a proud Métis scholar, brings extensive expertise and a strong track record in advancing Indigenous health and wellness. She is well recognized for her leading role in the Urban Indigenous Wellbeing Collective. Her research on urban Indigenous identities, inter-Indigenous relations and youth-led initiatives highlights her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and the promotion of Indigenous knowledge systems in health care. Dr. Legault is also an assistant professor in Indigenous Studies within the Department of Community, Culture and Global Studies at the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan campus. Her projects, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council emphasize Indigenous methodologies and community-based participatory research, promoting culturally relevant well-being initiatives.
In her new role, Dr. Legault will oversee strategic initiatives to promote Indigenous health equity and cultural safety and will lead the operations and collaborative efforts of the VCHRI Indigenous Health Research Unit. Her unique perspective and expertise will be instrumental in aligning our research with the priorities of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and the Indigenous community partners.
We also want to welcome the research staff members from the VCH Indigenous Health team who will be moving over to the VCHRI Indigenous Health Research Unit. This dedicated team has been advancing Indigenous health research across VCH for the last few years, improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities. We are grateful for their ongoing contributions and are confident that they will continue to work closely with VCH Indigenous Health to ensure seamless collaboration and support for our shared goals.
Please join us in celebrating the inauguration of the VCHRI Indigenous Health Research Unit, Dr. Legault’s appointment to her new role at VCHRI and welcoming the research staff from VCH Indigenous Health to the VCHRI Indigenous Health Research Unit.
Sincerely,
Teresa S.M. Tsang, MD, FRCPC, FACC, FASE
Executive Director, VCHRI
Associate Dean, Research, UBC Faculty of Medicine
Shannon McCarthy
Interim Vice President, Indigenous Health, VCH
