The course was highly relevant for professionals interested in innovation and working across research and quality improvement in community-based settings."
Jamie Lam, Applying Learning Health System Principles in Hybrid Care
Jamie is a Research Assistant in the UBC Faculty of Digital Emergency Medicine. She works closely with multicultural communities and community partners to develop and deliver culturally tailored health and educational initiatives. Her work focuses on improving health literacy, supporting community engagement, and helping bridge the gap between research and practice through accessible resources.
What led you to seek out this course?
Through my work, I heard a lot of the term “Learning Health System” and am interested in how healthcare systems can continuously learn from evidence to improve care. The course also aligned with my interest in knowledge translation and applying research findings in real-world settings.
What was a highlight for you??
One of the highlights was the capstone project, which provided an opportunity to apply Learning Health System concepts to a real-world challenge relevant to my work. I also enjoyed exploring BC-based case studies and learning practical framework such as Quintiple Aim, PP+ and the Integrated Knowledge Translation.
What surprised you about the program?
I was surprised by how Learning Health System principles can be applied not only in healthcare settings but also in everyday life. One assignment challenged us to think about how we could use the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle for a small, everyday task. It helped me realize that continuous learning and improvement don't have to be limited to large healthcare projects—they can also be used to reflect on, evaluate and improve routine activities.
How are you applying the skills you learned in your personal or professional life?
The course has influenced how I approach community engagement projects now. I learnt to think more intentionally about what is the aim of the data to inform decision-making, and to design initiatives that can be continuously evaluated and improved. The concepts are directly applicable to my work in developing culturally appropriate digital health education evaluation method.
Who would you recommend the course to?
I would recommend the course to healthcare professionals, researchers, and anyone interested in healthcare innovation. It would also be valuable for individuals working in community health or knowledge translation who want to better understand how evidence and partnerships can be used to improve health systems.