A national curriculum and community of practice for health services and policy research training: Insights from the Health System Impact Fellowship National Cohort Training Program (HSIF NCTP)

Abstract

This overview outlines the development and implementation of the Health System Impact Fellowship (HSIF) National Cohort Training Program (NCTP)-a national training program for embedded health services and policy research (HSPR) in Canada. The program aims to improve HSPR capacity and make a recognizable impact within health systems. The HSIF NCTP aimed to achieve three specific goals related to advancing the community of practice in health services research: (1) providing tools and learning opportunities in HSPR competency areas, enabling the CoP to advance learning health systems nationally; (2) creating deliberate, ongoing networking opportunities that encourage diverse HSIF members to engage meaningfully, thereby strengthening community of practice collaboration; and (3) laying the groundwork for the evolution and sustainability of the community of practice within Canada's integrated HSRP ecosystem. Analysis of the program's evolution reveals critical elements to its development and implementation, including but not limited to adaptive learning environments that respond to emerging needs, cross-sectoral collaboration fostered through mentorship, and balanced instructional formats that combine theoretical depth with practical application. The curriculum, co-developed by fellows and faculty, emphasizes critical analysis of complex health system challenges. Insights from implementing and refining the program offer valuable lessons for developing embedded research training initiatives in healthcare settings.

Keywords: community of practice; embedded experiential training; health policy research; health services research; impact; learned experience; learning health systems.