CSEP 2021 Conference Session Feature with Sarah Neil-Sztramko

August 9, 2021

There is a great line-up of Symposia to look forward to at CSEP 2021 Zooming into the future. We’ve interviewed each presenter to give you a preview of what to expect and how attending will benefit you.

In this feature we talk to Sarah Neil-Sztramko, (PhD), Assistant Professor (PT) in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster University and an active member of the CSEP Knowledge Translation Committee. Dr. Neil-Sztramko is presenting “Bringing scientific evidence to practice: Understanding the roles of dissemination and implementation strategies” symposia at CSEP 2021. Her co-presenters include Lora Giongregario (PhD), Femke Hoekstra (PhD), and Jennifer Edgecombe (CEP, MRSc).

What can CSEP certified members learn from attending your session that they can apply to their practice?

Through this symposium we are hoping that CSEP academic members can learn about the different approaches to knowledge translation (KT) (both dissemination and implementation), what types of methods these may involve and the anticipated impact. We anticipate that CSEP professional members can learn from a fellow practitioner new ways to incorporate the latest research findings into their practice.

What do you think makes this topic and the content unique to the CSEP conference?

The CSEP conference has always been known for highlighting the latest and most relevant research in the area of exercise physiology, with a strong focus on Canadian researchers. We anticipate that this session will compliment the main scientific sessions with a discussion about how to effectively move this important research into practice.

What strategies have you learned throughout the course of the pandemic that you believe will make your session engaging in a virtual setting?

Following a brief introduction, we hope that this roundtable discussion amongst researchers and practitioners will help encourage dialogue and interaction between presenters and participants.

CSEP is consistently growing with a diverse community of members, which is reflected in this year’s selection of expert AGM panelists. What does EDI mean to you and why is it important in our field as our organization continues to grow?

As researchers, we have an ethical responsibility to those who fund our research studies and the institutions that we work within to make sure our findings are broadly applied to a diverse group of Canadians who stand to benefit. A key consideration in KT research and practice is making sure our scientific findings are taken up broadly across a number of population groups. Thoughtful and intentional KT strategies are needed for this to happen, and we will discuss the potential implications for the choices of KT strategies within our session.