SEARCH Classic Celebrates 10 Years of Knowledge Transfer
2006 marks the 10th anniversary of the SEARCH initiative, and the SEARCH Classic program. This intense, two-year cohort experience combines learning opportunities through face-to-face modules, inter-module work and the application of knowledge to practice-based projects. Since being established by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research in 1996 as a model for knowledge transfer, SEARCH has delivered five, two-year programs which engaged 125 health professionals from nearly every discipline and sector, and 60 faculty members over the course of the decade.
Following is a chronology of events in the SEARCH Classic program history:
1996 | 1998 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006
1996
- Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) establishes SEARCH as a mechanism for applied research and knowledge transfer - to close the gap between research and practice.
- Alberta health system comprised of 19 Health Authorities – 17 of which are regional (RHAs)
- SEARCH Classic launches its first training program. SEARCH I attracts 24 participants from 17 of the 19 Alberta health authorities, including the Mental Health Board, and Alberta Health and Wellness
- SEARCH participants provided with laptops and email access – before most other health professionals.
1998
- SEARCH II launches, with 25 participants from 13 health authorities including physicians and Health Canada for the first time.
- The ‘Bang for your Buck’ Conference includes highlights of the SEARCH I projects.
- The Alberta Consultative Health Research Network and the Community Research Ethics Board of Alberta established to support SEARCHers and others in practice-based research.
2000
- First biennial SEARCH Conference and Forum highlights the work of SEARCH II participants, as well as the capacity building achieved by health regions through SEARCH I.
- SEARCH Recognition Awards established to acknowledge contributions to the research capacity in Alberta.
2001
- SEARCH III cohort launched, with 27 participants, including the continuing care and acute care sectors for the first time.
- Distributed faculty team established, engaging a team of 10 across multiple faculties in two universities on an ongoing basis.
- SEARCH faculty designs the integrated curriculum model with three themes: creating evidence, choosing evidence and using evidence, and maps competency levels within each theme.
- First orientation session for managers of SEARCH participants to engage health leaders in capacity development.
- First one-day workshop for past and present participants and faculty to identify common interests, strengthen ties across cohorts, initiate discussion on potential research projects, and create shared interest groups. This marks the beginning of the formal SEARCH Network.
- Introduction of custom built SEARCH Desktop, designed and delivered by the Centre for Health Evidence at the University of Alberta, and resulting from earlier work for SEARCH undertaken by the Health Information and Research Unit of McMaster University. Provides a leading edge virtual network of knowledge resources, research tools and support for collaborative projects.
2002
- Three-year Research and Evaluation Blueprint developed to guide the measurement of the impact of SEARCH.
- Seed funding established to support individual and group research projects.
2003
- SEARCH IV launched with 28 participants from 8 of 10 newly defined health authorities in Alberta; participation expanded to include non-profit health organizations, emergency services and health regions in Saskatchewan.
- First session engaging managers of SEARCH participants in framing relevant research questions for provincial projects
- SEARCH attracts international attention and is invited to conduct a symposium at Liverpool University in the UK.
- Second SEARCH Conference and Forum held.
- SEARCH Network steering group formed with representatives from each of the four program cohorts
2004
- Alberta Consultative Health Research Network and SEARCH programs combine
2005
- SEARCH V launched with 27 participants, including the Alberta Cancer Board for the first time.
- Learning Charter provides a mechanism for managers, participants, faculty and staff to share expectations for priority competencies during the course of the program.
- Twenty-eight participants complete the SEARCH IV program with a presentation of their projects at the SEARCH Conference on June 17 in Edmonton. For the first time, local projects focused on research synthesis to find, interpret and apply “what is known”.
- SEARCH Canada spun out of AHFMR as a member-funded not-for-profit organization to sustain the success of SEARCH and further develop, extend and enhance all of the program offerings.
2006
- Recruitment initiated for SEARCH VI cohort.