Dr. Janet Smylie named as keynote speaker for LHRD 2018 and preceding forum

Dr. Janet Smylie is delivering the lunchtime keynote lecture as part of The Lucille & Norton Wolf Health Research Lecture Series at London Health Research Day (LHRD) 2018 on Thursday, May 10.

London Health Research Day 2018

  • Date: Thursday, May 10, 2018
  • Location: London Convention Centre (300 York Street)
  • Coming in January: Call for abstract submissions and judge registration.

Exchange logo

Dr. Smylie will also be speaking at a new preceding event on the evening of Wednesday, May 9 - Exchange: A London Health Research Day Forum on Diversity and Inclusivity (Exchange).

  • Date and time: Wednesday, May 9, 2018, 6:00 p.m.
  • Location: North Campus Building, Western University
  • Coming soon: Event agenda, registration information

Equity, diversity and inclusivity are crucial to the future of Canadian science. This is a topic of national importance that has garnered attention and action from the federal government, the tri-council funding agencies (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) and scientists across the country. LHRD’s Exchange aims to foster conversations and influence policy regarding diversity and inclusivity in health research, including gender, and how the health research community can work together to identify and implement solutions.

Dr. Smylie will join Exchange to share her experiences as a female Indigenous physician and health researcher. She will join a panel of local and national health researchers in this discussion.

Dr. Janet Smylie

Dr. Janet Smylie is a family physician and public health researcher. She currently works as a research scientist in Indigenous health at St. Michael’s Hospital, Centre for Urban Health Solutions (CUHS), where she directs the Well Living House Applied Research Centre for Indigenous Infant, Child and Family Health. Her primary academic appointment is as a Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She maintains a part-time clinical practice with Inner City Health Associates at Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto.

Dr. Smylie has practised and taught family medicine in a variety of Aboriginal communities, both urban and rural. She is a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario, with Métis roots in the prairies. Her research interests are focused in the area of addressing the health inequities that challenge Indigenous infants, children and their families through applied health services research. Dr. Smylie currently leads multiple research projects in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities/organizations.

She holds a CIHR Applied Public Health Research Chair in Indigenous Health Knowledge and Information and was honoured with a National Aboriginal Achievement (Indspire) Award in Health in 2012.

A Métis woman, Dr. Smylie acknowledges her family, teachers and lodge.

London Health Research Day is presented in partnership by Lawson Health Research Institute and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University.