Pediatric Scientist Development Program (PSDP)

In June, 2003, CCHCSP agreed to forge a partnership with the Pediatric Scientist Development Program (PSDP) and the Paediatric Chairs of Canada (PCC) in response to a proposal by the PCC. This partnership aimed to:

1. Promote access of Canadian paediatric residents and paediatricians in training to the best clinician scientist training programs in North America
2. Facilitate repatriation of paediatrician clinician scientist trainees to Canadian universities
3. Encourage development of best educational practices via the synergistic activities of the CCHCSP and the PSDP.

Subsequent to approval in principle of this partnership, the PCC, PSDP and CCHCSP worked collaboratively to design an implementation plan. This work resulted in the presentation of a proposal by the PCC and the CCHCSP to the PSDP Steering Committee on November 1, 2003. The PSDP unanimously approved the partnership proposed to them for the training Canadians within the PSDP. Our other partners are the PCC and the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation who will provide the required new funding to be supplemented when appropriate by US based Foundations. The essence of the agreement for the CCHCSP is that it will partner with the PSDP in the following manner:

• Dr. Jones is a member of the PSDP steering committee
• Canadian PSDP trainees will take part in the CCHCSP curriculum
• The PSDP and the CCHCSP will aim for attendance of trainees and mentors in each program at the CCHCSP and the PSDP Annual Symposia
• Qualified PSDP trainees be encouraged to apply to the CCHCSP postdoctoral and career development programs
• The CCHCSP will provide full financial support for:
  • CCHCSP participation in PSDP administrative activities
  • Travel of CCHCSP trainees to the PSDP symposium
  • Travel of Canadian PSDP trainees to the CCHCSP symposium

Canadian Child & Youth Health Coalition (CCYHC)

Four national organizations have joined together to create a coalition to advance the cause of child and youth health in Canada. The National Child and Youth Health Coalition will provide a powerful framework to stimulate new knowledge development, promote the application of this knowledge to practice, training and education, and strengthen national advocacy to improve the health and health care of children and youth. The coalition’s five founding organizations (listed below) are engaged across the spectrum of new knowledge development through research, dissemination and application of this knowledge to practice, and support for the development of the professionals required to achieve these goals. They share many common goals and objectives, while they each hold distinct mandates. Increasingly these organizations have recognized the important opportunities for national collaboration:

• Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres (CAPHC)
• (CCHCSP)
• Council of Canadian Child Health Research (CCCHR)
• Paediatric Chairs of Canada (PCC)

Together, these organizations see the establishment of a new coalition as providing opportunities to:

• have a greater impact on improving the health of children and youth
• have a greater impact on public policy and research priorities
• improve clinical practice based on evidence
• learn from each other and appreciate issues from different perspectives

Given the unique roles and relationships of each of the partners, the Coalition represents a unique and robust collective for advocacy, knowledge development, and the application of knowledge to practice.