e-Campus - Work Wellness Institute

This presentation will describe a comprehensive approach to KTE that targets worker health and safety. The approach was developed and is used by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), a non-profit research organization located in Toronto, Canada. The IWH approach integrates two distinct functions: stakeholder relations (connecting with representatives of key knowledge user organizations), and communications (reaching a wide audience). At IWH, KTE is a process of exchange between researchers and stakeholders to make relevant research information available and accessible for use in practice, planning and policy-making. The two-way exchange of information also helps develop research ideas and conduct specific research projects. The presentation will describe four key aspects of the IWH approach: relationship building, stakeholder engagement and integration in the research process, capacity building, and communication. The presentation describes the IWH approach to measuring impact, which involves working with our stakeholders to develop case studies of the use of IWH research to inform policy or practice.

 You will learn:

-about a comprehensive approach to KTE that targets worker health and safety

-more about the four key aspects of the IWH approach

-how the IWH approach measures impact

Dwayne Van Eerd, PhD

Scientist at the Institute for Work & Health

Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd is a scientist at the Institute for Work & Health, where he has been a researcher since 1997. He has an MSc and BSc in kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, an MSc in health research methodology from McMaster University, and a PhD in work and health from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo.
Dr. Van Eerd focuses on research on the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the implementation of prevention initiatives. His research projects have included evaluations of participatory ergonomics and training interventions, as well as systematic reviews of the prevention literature. Van Eerd also practices and researches integrated knowledge transfer and exchange.

Ron Saunders, PhD

Senior Scientist and Director of Knowledge Transfer and Exchange  at the Institute for Work & Health

Ron Saunders is a Senior Scientist and Director of Knowledge Transfer and Exchange (KTE) at the Institute for Work & Health (IWH). He is also an Associate Professor in the School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Toronto. Ron has a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University. Ron joined IWH in November 2008 from Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN), where he was Vice-President of Research. Prior to his time at CPRN, Ron spent 17 years in the Ontario public service, most notably as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy, Communications and Labour Management Services in the Ontario Ministry of Labour.  Ron has been leading IWH’s effort to integrate KTE into the research process through dialogue with key stakeholders on research priorities, on the framing of research questions, and on the communication of research findings. His recent research has focused on literacy and worker health and safety, worker health in non-standard employment relationships, and factors affecting the vulnerability of individual workers to work injury.  Ron will be retiring from IWH at the end of December, 2017.

This program is pre-approved by VRA Canada for a 1 hour training session