Dr. Terence Tang
In June, the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations at the University of Toronto awarded Catalyst Grants to projects aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes in Peel Region.
“The goal of the Healthy Populations Network is to ensure that research addressing community needs, and supporting better health outcomes is being done in this region,” says the Network’s director, Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe. “These cities and their diverse communities present an exceptional opportunity to explore ways in which we can reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, like type 2 diabetes, through improving the overall environment.”
The Healthy Populations Network supports research that looks at how changes to elements within a community could improve overall health outcomes for everyone living there. This includes a wide variety of things, from walkable neighbourhoods, community services and infrastructure, to poverty, food insecurity, racism and trauma. The overall goal is to work directly with the community, including government bodies, to determine ways to bring positive change and to implement the findings that could do the most overall good.
The funded programs look at areas within the region where healthcare services could be improved through systemic change. They also include partnerships with community organizations to ensure that any programming that stems from the findings will meet the needs of the people they are meant to support.
The funded Institute for Better Health (IBH) project is:
Dr. Terence Tang, a Clinician Scientist from Trillium Health Partners’ IBH, received $148,000 for his project aimed at reducing diabetes-related amputations in the region through addressing health inequities. This project will look at the equity-based barriers to receiving foot care that exist for those living with type 2 diabetes in the area, and how to remove those barriers to reduce the number of amputations. Diabetes-related amputations are largely avoidable if care is received early, and are extremely traumatic for the patient and costly to the healthcare system. Often, those at greatest risk for amputation are also those facing the most barriers to care. Dr. Tang will work with community organizations to look for ways to improve the pathway to care and better support those with type 2 diabetes.