On Friday, April 28, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) hosted a meeting to explore and discuss opportunities for connecting various sectors to advance health research in rural southwestern Ontario. At this meeting, Waterloo Pharmacy renewed their Memorandum of Understanding with Gateway (seen right).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a partnership where Gateway CERH and Waterloo Pharmacy will continue to explore “innovative research, practice, and teaching” that will “advance rural health, healthcare delivery, and pharmacy practice.” The field of rural health provides an opportunity for pharmacy-specific research, and Gateway CERH’s mandate aligns with Waterloo Pharmacy’s active search for collaborative, entrepreneurial partnerships in education, research, and patient care.
Feng Chang, Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy, is also the Gateway Chair of Rural Pharmacy. She believes that Gateway’s partnerships, like the Waterloo Pharmacy MOU, are fundamental to the Centre’s success.
“Today is symbolic of what Gateway has accomplished over the years,” says Chang. “Forging fruitful partnerships, bringing diverse backgrounds and expertise to the table, contributing to student success and strengthening the rural voice. We look forward to building on this milestone and charting our course ahead together.”
Friday’s meeting brought together academics, health professionals, business and banking community representatives, and many more to strengthen these relations. Discussions explored how research can drive transformation in health policy, systems, and practice, particularly as it relates to rural healthcare.
Waterloo Pharmacy is proud to renew our partnership with Gateway CERH and looks forward to future opportunities for collaborative research and learning.