Research Talks: Health Worker Migration

Dr. Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, Professor, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa and CIHR Research Chair in Health Human Resource Policy will visit St. John’s on April 24 to present the inaugural lecture in Research Talks, a series of free public lectures featuring leading Canadian researchers, hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Applied Health Research.  Dr. Bourgeault will be discussing the timely issue of health worker migration.
 
The migration of highly skilled health professionals from developing to developed nations has increased in the last ten years in response to a range of social, economic and political factors.  This shift in health human resources has implications for health outcomes and health system sustainability in source countries.  It also raises human resources issues in destination countries, such as Canada.  Dr. Bourgeault will discuss the perspectives of health policy researchers and decision makers who have an interest in the migration of health professionals.  Her talk will focus on the need for a pan-Canadian Health Workforce Observatory.  The lecture takes place at 7:30pm on Tuesday, April 24 at Room IIC2001, Bruneau Centre on the St. John’s campus.  Members of the media and general public are encouraged to attend. 

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Bourgeault to Memorial.  She will share her extensive research about the migration of health workers into Canada, their integration into the Canadian workforce, and the concept of a pan-Canadian Health Workforce Observatory.  We expect her lecture to spark considerable discussion amongst health professionals, health human resources decision makers and the general public, especially in light of current concerns about health worker retention in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Dr. Stephen Bornstein, Director of NLCAHR. 
 
Dr. Bourgeault has directed a research program focused on the migration of health professionals, largely in destination countries, including:
• The Role of Immigrant Care Workers in Aging Societies
• The Experiences of Internationally Educated Health Professionals in Canada
• The Migration of Health Professionals to Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and Australia

More recently, she and a large international team led by Dr. Ronald Labonté,Canada Research Chair in Globalization and Health Equity, and Dr. Gail Tomblin, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre Health Workforce Planning and Research, are examining the health worker migration issue from a range of source country perspectives, including the Philippines, India, South Africa and the Caribbean community.

With Dr. Bourgeault’s lecture, the Centre is launching a new speakers’ series that highlights research topics selected by our Research Affinity Groups.  Dr. Bourgeault was invited to St. John’s by the Women’s Health/Gender and Health Research Affinity Group and her lecture is co-sponsored by SafetyNet, a Community Alliance for Health Research based at Memorial.

Link to Dr. Bourgeault's lecture