UBC Medicine learners, faculty and staff are partnering with B.C. communities to address crucial societal challenges, thanks to new funding through the 2024-25 Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund.
From supporting physical activity for children with disabilities to addressing pollution challenges that impact food security, UBC researchers and local partners are co-creating solutions to health challenges in urban, rural and Indigenous communities across B.C. These collaborative efforts aim to shape practices and policies that will improve the health and well-being of people throughout the province and around the country.
This year, more than $727,000 has been awarded to 30 outstanding community-university projects, with grants of up to $25,000 each. CUES funds are paid directly to community partners, ensuring that historically, persistently, and systemically marginalized communities can access the resources they need to collaborate meaningfully with UBC.
Faculty of Medicine recipients and their projects:
Bringing KidsAction to Prince Rupert
- Community Partners: Symbia Barnaby, G’aahlandee Xaadee, Haida Dance Group
- UBC Partners | Faculty: Stephanie Glegg, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy and Department of Pediatrics
- Additional Partners: Lise Olsen, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, UBC Okanagan | Dayna Nelson, Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Dancers
Building Arts-Based Capacity by and for BIPOC Sex Workers
- Community Partner: Kit Rothschild, PACE Society
- UBC Partners | Staff: Melody Wise, Department of Medicine
- Additional Partners: Jennie Pearson, UBC Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, UBC Vancouver
CLAMS for Malahat
- Community Partner: Andrew Sheriff, Malahat Nation
- UBC Partner | Faculty: Natalie Prystajecky, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Amee Manges, School of Population and Public Health
- Additional Partners: Community Partners: Lorraine McIntyre, BC Centre for Disease Control / Environmental Health Services | Desiree Bulger & Melissa Tokaret, Malahat Nation
Cultivating Cultural Safer Care: A Collaborative Approach to Trauma-Informed Practices
- Community Partner: Thomas Paterson, Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS)
- UBC Partner | Faculty: Elisha Williams, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy
- Additional Partners: Pedro Almeida, University of Northern British Columbia/UBC Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy | Robin Roots, Department of Physical Therapy | Jerrilyn Kirk, Carrier Sekani Family Services
Envisioning Community-Based Technology-Enabled Pathways for Mental Health and Wellness
- Community Partner: Nikki McCrimmon, Métis Community Services Society of BC (MCSBC)
- UBC Partner | Faculty: Charlotte Jones, Southern Medical Program, UBC Okanagan
- Additional Partners: Viviane Josewski, UNBC/National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health | Arlene Vrtar-Huot, Métis Community Services Society of BC | Briana Linton, National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health
Seeing Change: Addressing Eye Health Disparities in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Through Indigenous Patient Leadership
- Community Partner: Zaid Mammo, Downtown Eastside Eye Clinic
- UBC Partner | Student: Jean Oh, Faculty of Medicine | Faculty: Laura Bulk, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy
- Additional Partners: Angela Chang, Downtown Eastside Eye Clinic | Ruanne Lai, Research Excellence Cluster in Vision and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences | Elder Sandy Lambert, Kílala Lelum Health Centre
Supporting Community-Based Organizations to Play a Greater Role in Testing for Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections
- Community Partner: Jennifer Demchuk, PAN (Pacific AIDS Network)
- UBC Partner | Faculty: Mark Gilbert, School of Population and Public Health and BC Centre for Disease Control