Women’s Health Collective Canada National Summit 2023: Pathways to Equity presented by Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health™

On November 20 and 21, 2023, the Women’s Health Collective Canada (WHCC) proudly held their first, in-person summit, Pathways to Equity, presented by Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health™. Hosted by the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation along with fellow founding partners BC Women’s Health Foundation and Women’s College Hospital Foundation, this is the collective’s first summit in a post-pandemic era which will chart a path for the work that lies ahead seeking equity in healthcare and the advancement of women’s health research.  

The two-day summit also featured the three WHCC founding members’ research partner institutions: the Women’s Health Research Institute, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Women’s College Research Institute, and IWK Health, who make up the partnership for Women’s Health Research Canada. 

“Women’s Health Collective Canada is the first initiative of its kind designed to build a national movement to close the gap in funding for women’s health research,” says Leslie McCarley, President and CEO, Women’s College Hospital Foundation, on behalf of WHCC. “It continues to be astounding that women make up 51% of the population, and yet less than 7% of national research funding is spent on research for women’s health. We are working to change that and, with the tremendous support from Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health, we are bringing women’s health equity to the forefront. Together, we are investing in groundbreaking health research that will shape health outcomes for women across Canada today and into the future.” 

This transformative summit united health leaders and scientists nationwide for crucial discussions in woman’s care, research, and practice.  

Thank you, Shoppers Drug Mart®, for your continued support and allyship in creating higher standards of care for every woman by sponsoring the Pathways to Equity summit this year.

 A recap video can be found here, courtesy of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation.