How do we leverage national health data to achieve better health outcomes?
University of Waterloo faculty members, staff and students are invited to the health data seminar to learn about opportunities to improve access to health data. Dr. Jeff Latimer, the director of the Health Statistics Branch at Statistics Canada (StatCan), will break down how to engage and collaborate with StatCan to get access to their timely and relevant data on the health of Canadians.
The Health Statistics Branch (HSB) of Statistics Canada (StatCan) is the country's trusted source of timely, accurate and relevant information about the health of Canadians. The Branch provides data and insights about the health of the population, access to care, health-related behaviours, and determinants of health. This information is based on survey and administrative data (such as from the Canadian Community Health Survey and Canadian Vital Statistics Database), as well as biospecimen samples (such as from the Canadian Health Measures Survey).
These health data can also be integrated with StatCan’s other data holdings, which cover all aspects of Canadian society and economy, including areas such as immigration, justice, education, labour, income, household spending and more. Partners can additionally bring in their own data for linkage with these holdings, or collaborate with StatCan staff, which have deep expertise across the full range of statistical activity, including in individual subject-matter areas, statistical methodology, data collection, analysis and modelling, and more.
This seminar will demonstrate the breadth of StatCan’s health data and the impact they can have on health policy and outcomes, and explain how researchers can access StatCan’s health data and collaborate with the agency.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Jeff Latimer is the Director General responsible for the Health Statistics Branch at Statistics Canada. He holds a PhD in Criminology and a master’s degree in Social Work, both of which focus on the intersection between health and justice. Throughout his 25-year career as a researcher and executive, Dr. Latimer has held a number of senior positions in the federal government including at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Justice Canada. Dr. Latimer is currently focused on enhancing Canada’s official health statistics in partnership with other federal departments and the provinces and territories.
Please register below to attend.