Strategic Plan 2024-2027
A message from Dr. Nathan Nickel, MCHP Director
I am delighted to release our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. We launch our plan after a period of tremendous change within the healthcare system. It also comes after emerging from a global pandemic that gave society a greater appreciation for the role that evidence has in informing solutions
to the complex problems we face. Now, more than ever, policymakers, community organizations, and governments recognize that multi-sectoral data are essential to having the research needed to support an equitable and thriving society. As we now turn our focus to the future, our plan builds on our past achievements, positioning MCHP to provide solutions needed to solve the challenges ahead.
We developed our strategic plan after listening extensively to our funders, partners, our staff and scientists, the broader research community, and our board. We reflected
on our organizational identity and values, our strengths, the unique contributions we bring to the health and social services data landscape, and how we can evolve so that our work provides greater value. This plan is the result of that effort and will serve as our map moving forward.
Looking ahead to the next three years, we will focus our efforts on four main areas:
- Conduct research and analytics to inform solutions that promote a thriving society.
- Build capacity for research, data curation, and analytics.
- Enhance the analytic and support services MCHP provides to clients.
- Expand the reach of the impact of our work.
As we implement our new plan, we will remain committed to our core values: (i) reconciliation, (ii) inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, (iii) innovation, (iv) excellence, and (v) teamwork and collaboration. We will maintain our 30-year focus on using the latest methodologies in data science to create evidence to support health and well-being and advance health and social equity. We will continue to do this work with our partners through collaboration and relationship.
I am excited for our future. I look forward to working together with the exceptional scientists and staff at MCHP on our strategic priorities, and towards our accomplishments in the years ahead.
Nathan C. Nickel, Director
About The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) is a research unit dedicated to providing evidence that will inform solutions to the challenges facing society using the rich health and social data housed in the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository (Repository). MCHP was established in 1991 and has cultivated deep relationships with system managers, policymakers, community, and stakeholders. While MCHP has roots within the Department of Community Health Sciences, it has a research mandate that supports the entire University of Manitoba.
MCHP’s work focuses on four main themes:
The University of Manitoba’s mission is to be a thriving community, strengthened by Indigenous knowledges and perspectives, leading change that makes meaningful impact in our province and the world MCHP works within the ‘Health and Well-being’ as well as the ‘Human Security and Equity’ themes of the University of Manitoba’s Strategic Research Plan. MCHP is committed to furthering the Principles of Reconciliation through the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Reconciliation Action Plan.
Introduction
The 2024-2027 Strategic Plan was created through extensive consultation with staff, knowledge users, clients, and partner organizations. MCHP’s values, foundational principles, and strategic priority areas reflect the comments and feedback received. This plan presents the strategic priority areas MCHP will focus on as an organization over the next three years. The plan is dynamic and will adapt to emerging developments in the field to better meet the changing needs of MCHP staff and stakeholders.
What MCHP heard during its consultation:
Strategic framework
Description
Vision.
Bringing research to life and inspiring new knowledge for a thriving society.
Mission.
MCHP conducts collaborative research and analytics which inform solutions to support a thriving society, MCHP curates Manitoba’s unique data repository, and it develops trainees in population-based research.
Core Values.
- Innovation
- Reconciliation
- Excellence
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA)
- Teamwork & Collaboration
Core values
MCHP’s core values are the foundation of its culture and are necessary to achieve its mission and vision. These values define how MCHP operates, behaves, and interacts daily. Every decision made needs to align with the following values:
Strategic goals
MCHP will focus on the following four priority areas over the next three years.
1. Conduct research and analytics to inform solutions that promote a thriving society
The social data available in the Repository is a significant strategic strength. These data can be used to unlock meaningful research solutions that advance scientific knowledge and inform solutions to improve population health, wellbeing, and equity.
Over the next three years MCHP will:
- Expand the application and use of intersectoral data in the Repository among independent researchers and trainees, and for government commissioned research, and analytics
- Increase access and use of Repository data for research and analytics by community groups and organizations.
- Incorporate multiple methodologies (e.g., Indigenous methodologies, community-based methodologies, IDEA methodologies) in research and analytics using Repository data.
What will success look like?
- More researchers outside of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences using Repository data.
- Increased number of collaborations between the Health Sciences faculty and faculty outside of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences on projects harnessing Repository data.
- Increased numbers of health researchers leveraging data on the social determinants of health.
- Government projects from non-health departments continue to grow.
- Community-led projects already underway that incorporate community-based methodologies in the use and analysis of Repository data.
- Established partnerships with Indigenous researchers using Indigenous methodologies and ways of knowing.
2. Build capacity for research, data curation, and analytics.
Clinical and administrative data are increasingly being used by scientists, government, and industry to improve clinical and population health and social outcomes. Highly qualified personnel are needed who can manage data, conduct analyses, and do research using these types of data. MCHP is dedicated to the ongoing support from governments and communities in accessing and utilizing their data. There remains a need for further efforts to address data sovereignty and foster IDEA within the realm of data usage.
Over the next three years MCHP will:
- Provide training to students and trainees, government, and communities in how to use, curate and analyze data from the Repository.
- Build internal capacity for joining multi-regional research projects through the development of common data models that incorporate IDEA constructs.
- Provide leadership and training in methods for data curation, analytics and research across multiple regions and jurisdictions.
- Partner with organizations across Canada and internationally on multi-regional research projects using administrative data.
- Partner with organizations across Canada and internationally to establish data repositories applying MCHP expertise and practices.
- Develop staff and infrastructure capacity that advances our use of innovative technology (e.g., AI, automation, etc.) in data management, curation, and analytics.
What will success look like?
- More student (Masters/PhD) and trainee projects using data science and analytics through the Repository.
- More individuals from government, community organizations, and Indigenous communities know how to use Repository data.
- Data repositories are set up across Canada and internationally using MCHP practices and expertise.
- More multi-regional projects are completed using Repository data.
- Increased number of projects using innovative technologies.
- All Repository datasets have IDEA limitations identified in metadata, and Indigenous organizations are fully supported by MCHP to manage their own data.
3. Enhance the analytic and support services MCHP provides to clients.
MCHP will continue its work to maintain its position as a national and international leader in analytical methodologies and tools for linked administrative data research. MCHP will meet client needs for expanded analytical services and provide agile, flexible, and prompt service delivery.
Over the next three years MCHP will:
- Improve the experience and value clients have when
accessing MCHP services. - Expand analytical services to include a broad range of programming languages, and AI methods (e.g., Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning).
- Resource and train research and analytic services teams to support client needs.
- Ensure MCHP’s analytic outputs are nimble, timely, and responsive to client needs.
What will success look like?
- MCHP is seen as a local/national/international leader in use of analytic methodologies and tools.
- Research using Repository data is making an impact in Manitoba, across Canada and beyond.
- MCHP receives positive feedback on the services provided to researchers and its services are valued by clients.
- Increasing numbers of projects use automation and data visualization tools.
4. Expand the reach of the impact of our work
To expand the reach of MCHP’s work, innovative knowledge mobilization techniques must be employed and the impact of MCHP research on health and wellbeing outcomes must be tracked.
Over the next three years MCHP will:
- Use appropriate knowledge mobilization strategies to
influence change. - Adopt innovative knowledge mobilization strategies so MCHP’s work is informing solutions within the health and social services systems.
- Evaluate the reach and impact of MCHP research.
What will success look like?
- MCHP research is used by researchers, government and community organizations as shown by its evaluation of impact.
- MCHP uses integrated knowledge mobilization for
all relevant projects. - MCHP research shows improved health and/or wellbeing outcomes.
Building our foundation
Building a strong foundation will be paramount in achieving the objectives laid out in this plan. MCHP has identified two important principles to work on:
A vibrant workplace with a supportive work culture for empowered and creative staff.
- Promote a workforce that reflects the diversity of the province and responds to the TRC Call to Action #18, asking for the acknowledgement that the state of Indigenous health in Canada is a direct result of government enacted policies, including residential schools, and to recognize and implement Indigenous healthcare rights as identified in international law, constitutional law, and Treaties.
- Foster a work environment that values and recognizes individual contributions at all staffing levels.
These objectives will be achieved when:
- MCHP has a more inclusive work environment that supports the diversity of staff backgrounds and experiences.
- Staff understand the role that anti-Indigenous racism plays in shaping population health and how their work contributes to redressing the harms Indigenous people continue to experience.
- Well-qualified and trained staff are working in MCHP priority areas.
- MCHP has increased opportunities for learning,
growth, and advancement. - The MCHP work environment embeds and values IDEA.
- Staff are engaged in decision-making.
Fostering partnerships that create lasting relationships to ensure ongoing collaborative research.
- Build collaborations and partnerships that lead to secure/sustainable funding or prioritized datasets.
- Expand MCHP’s involvement in research partnerships and networks.
These objectives will be achieved when:
- Partner organizations are supported in their research development and capacity building requirements.
- Increased numbers of partnerships are built with
researchers and knowledge users. - Increased participation and collaboration with other
similar research organizations.
Acknowledgements
MCHP thanks all those involved in the preparation of this plan including Drs. Nathan Nickel, Selena Randall, Amy Freier and Hannah Owczar and Cara Jonasson. Special thanks to Dr. Alan Katz who began the strategic planning work in the last year of his Directorship. MCHP would also like to acknowledge Susan Lockhart who led staff through thoughtful sessions to develop a new vision, mission, and core values.
MCHP is grateful to all of those who gave their time to contribute to workshops, interviews and focus groups especially: the MCHP Executive team, Leadership Team (‘Exec+’), MCHP Advisory Board members (Dr. Nickerson, Dr. Postl, Deputy Minister Karen Herd, Deputy Minister Scott Sinclair), MCHP Researchers (Drs. Malcolm Doupe, Alan Katz, Marni Brownell, Marcelo Urquia, Nathan Nickel), Indigenous partners (Leona Starr (FNHSSM), Dr. Olena Kloss (MMF), Drs. Marcia Anderson and Josee Lavoie (Ongomiizwin), as well as representatives from the Learning Health System (researchers and government), policymaker knowledge users, data science partners, clients, front line staff and trainees.
Contact us
Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences,
Room 408-727 McDermot Ave.
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5 Canada