Meet Marc—passionate liaison building connections between research and community.
Q: What is your role at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI)?
A: I am the new clinical research and community outreach coordinator. In this role I serve as a key liaison between researchers, the public and VCHRI. My primary focus is our research awareness campaign for which I help promote research studies at VCH and raise awareness about the benefits of and opportunities in health research throughout Vancouver.
Q: What part of your job are you most looking forward to?
A: I am most looking forward to meeting and supporting the many researchers and coordinators who are working at the forefront of clinical research. My background is in biomedical technology, so I have experience in the clinical research environment. I’m always keen to learn more about what people are doing and how VCHRI can facilitate their success. It is very exciting to have the opportunity to support passionate people who are working to improve health care, I’m very happy to be able to contribute!
Q: What has been a highlight of your career so far?
A: In addition to my role at VCHRI, I’m also involved with a team at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria where we are attempting to identify predictors of success for patients receiving in-centre nocturnal dialysis. We were asked to highlight our research at this year’s BC Kidney Days, an annual event put on by the BC Renal Agency. This was the first time that my research has been highlighted at a large event, which was both exciting and terrifying!
Q: How do you spend your weekends?
A: I recently moved to Vancouver from Victoria, so I spend many of my weekends travelling back to Vancouver Island to visit with friends and family—I definitely feel like a regular on the ferry. When I do stay in Vancouver, my weekends are mostly spent with friends, exploring the outdoors and attending some of the many events happening in the Lower Mainland.
Q: Where would you like to travel on your next holiday?
A: For my next trip I plan on visiting the Mediterranean—specifically Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. My girlfriend loves the heat, but I foresee many sunburns in my future.
Q: What is one thing we might be surprised to learn about you?
A: I used to be a local fiddle legend. To put this into context, I grew up in a small town in Alberta, and when I was eight years old I came in second place at the local trade fair fiddling contest. I walked away as the first place loser, even though my violin teacher AND my mother agreed that I should have been first. Twenty years later, it still comes up from time to time.
