Building Authentic Partnerships with Patient and Community Partners – Jan 27, 2026

Session Description

Building Authentic Partnerships with Patient and Community Partners: Cultivating Communities to Engage in Research

Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children Trainee Hub event

The session will feature a panel of speakers discussing the principles of authentic partnerships, including connection and commitment, creating safe spaces, valuing diverse perspectives, and fostering open communication.

This session is a collaboration between the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children Trainee Hub and The Hospital for Sick Children Research Training Centre. Lunch will be provided. At the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Define the key principles of co-design, including connection, commitment, and valuing perspectives
• Describe how to ensure transparency in research processes, fostering trust and engagement among patient and community partners involved
• Discuss strategies for collaborating with communities, helping researchers navigate challenges like tight timelines and limited funding while conducting equitable research

Featuring:

• Dr. Colin Macarthur, Senior Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute and co-lead of the Ontario Child Health SUPPORT Unit
• Dalya Kablawi, patient and family engagement specialist at SickKids and serves on the Board of the International Association of Public Participation (Canada)
• Dr. Julia Orkin, Associate Chief Medical Officer at SickKids and Medical Director of the Complex Care program
• Stephanie Lemelin Bazinet, Manager, Research Partnerships and Engagement at the Canadian Cancer Society

This is an in-person event.