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The Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit (MSSU) is pleased to welcome new leadership as Dr. Ted McDonald assumes the role of Nominated Principal Investigator (NPI) and Dr. Amy Grant steps into the role of Interim Executive Director.
McDonald, who has long been involved with MSSU as Principal Investigator in New Brunswick and Director of DataNB, brings extensive expertise in population health research and data-informed decision-making.
Grant has been with MSSU since 2018 and most recently served as Director of Research in Nova Scotia, with a strong commitment to patient-oriented research and collaboration across the Maritimes.
Together, they will provide scientific and operational leadership as MSSU continues supporting research that reflects the priorities and experiences of people across the region.
| | Welcoming our new MSSU Scientists | | |
We are excited to welcome several new MSSU Scientists from across the Maritimes this quarter. Thank you for joining and welcome to the MSSU community:
- Dr. Nancy Ross, Dalhousie University
- Dr. Cynthia Kendell, Dalhousie University
- Dr. Keisha Jefferies, Dalhousie University
- Dr. Nadia Bouhamdani, Vitalité Health Network
- Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch, Dalhousie University
- Dr. Rebecca Affoo, Dalhousie University
- Crystal Treige, Cape Breton University
- Dr. Lindsay Wallace, Dalhousie University
- Dr. Mahtab Sarvmaili, University of New Brunswick
Our scientific membership brings together researchers, clinicians, administrators, and research leaders who are committed to patient-oriented research.
MSSU Scientists can supervise MSSU-funded trainees, access trainee support funding, receive discounted data access rates, serve on MSSU committees and collaborative projects, and connect with decision-makers and fellow researchers across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
We love hearing about the patient-oriented research our Scientists are leading. Sharing these stories helps inspire others and showcases the impact of meaningful partnerships in action.
As this community grows each year, it reflects a broader shift in health research across the Maritimes that values collaboration, inclusion, and lived experience.
| | EDIA resources to support equitable research design | | |
The Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit (MSSU) has launched two new Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) resources to help researchers integrate EDIA considerations into research design, proposals and reviews.
The new EDIA Flowchart and EDIA Rubric provide practical guidance to move EDIA from principle to practice. The Flowchart supports early reflection by helping research teams consider where and how EDIA applies to their project, while the Rubric supports clear and accurate articulation of EDIA considerations in research proposals for both applicants and reviewers.
Developed through collaboration with researchers, system partners, and people with lived and living experience, the tools support more intentional, transparent, and context-sensitive approaches to EDIA in patient-oriented research.
Both resources are available on the MSSU website in English and French.
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Maritime research is making waves all the way to Australia
This past March, MSSU scientist Dr. Jennifer Isenor (Associate Professor, Dalhousie College of Pharmacy) presented her research on pharmacist prescribing and primary care access at four institutions across Brisbane and Sydney.
She shared three interconnected projects. The first examined how and how often community pharmacists in Nova Scotia are prescribing, what barriers they face, and what strategies could help governments, regulators, pharmacy owners, and pharmacists themselves better support expanded prescribing. The second was a scoping review of the outcomes used to evaluate pharmacist-led primary care globally. The third is an ongoing mixed-methods study asking patients across the Maritimes what matters to them when receiving care from a pharmacist, with themes emerging around access, affordability, expertise and trust.
Australia is actively working to expand pharmacist prescribing, and the research generated strong interest, with new connections forming well beyond the presentations and meetings. Isenor also joined the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia for a fireside chat on pharmacist scope of practice in Canada.
This is what patient-oriented research can do: start locally and inform health care globally.
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New video: Characterizing unmet mental health needs in the Maritimes during the pandemic
DataNB Research Associate Dr. Sandra Magalhaes presents on unmet mental health needs in the Maritimes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted by the Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit (MSSU) using survey data from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, the study identifies groups most likely to experience unmet needs, including younger adults, women, individuals living alone and those with lower income, as well as variations among frontline workers and middle-aged adults. The findings highlight key sociodemographic patterns that can help inform more targeted mental health supports and interventions.
Watch the presentation
Regarder la présentation
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Exploring public perceptions of data use in the Maritimes
At BRIC NS Primary Care Research Day, MSSU Executive Director Dr. Amy Grant participated in the panel “Patient & Community Access to Data & Indigenous Data Sovereignty,” sharing early insights from the MSSU interprovincial social licence project. This marked the first time these findings have been shared publicly, with ongoing efforts underway to continue disseminating results. Her contribution highlighted the importance of trust, transparency, and meaningful public engagement in health data use.
Visit the project page
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Building a Learning Health System at Maritime Child Health
What does it take to put children and families at the heart of a regional health system?
In this Learning Health Systems in Action session, speakers from Maritime Child share how a newly established, donor-funded program is working to close the gap between evidence and pediatric care across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI. They describe a Learning Health System approach that centres community engagement, implementation science, and rural and regional equity.
Key takeaways
- Patient, family, and community voices are central to Maritime Child Health's approach, shaped by direct conversations about what equitable engagement should look like.
- Site visits to rural and regional teams build trust, surface local innovations, and ensure resources are relevant to local context.
- Storytelling and lived experience are treated as data, recognizing that behind every statistic is a human and a story.
- Meaningful engagement, especially with equity-deserving groups, takes time and intentionality.
- Leadership support, cross-provincial partnerships, and embedded researchers are critical for sustaining a Learning Health System.
| | This session is from March 2026. | | | | |
