Community Open House – Exploring healthcare, research and STEM

The Cause

Our idea is to host a Community Open House in collaboration with the Banff Sport Medicine Clinic. Attendees will learn about careers in healthcare, how medical research is carried out in a rural clinic setting, and how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are being applied to improve patient care. The goal of this event is to engage and inspire Bow Valley youth and community members in careers related to STEM and healthcare.

Providing hands-on and in-person opportunities for attendees to explore STEM-related healthcare concepts is critical to promoting these fields and inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Our organisation, the Banff Sport Medicine Foundation (BSMF), is a research and education charity with a Mission to prevent, treat, rehabilitate, and research bone & joint & sport injuries among people of all ages & abilities.

BSMF was established to help people stay active through the integration of three core pillars: education, research, and clinical care. Our research programs work to solve unanswered questions in orthopaedics and sport medicine, and the results provide evidence-based, quality care to people suffering from bone and joint injury.

BSMF’s close relationship with the Banff Sport Medicine Clinic (BSM) also provides patients with the latest advances in care that can improve their health outcomes. Our education programs provide training to healthcare professionals, medical students, and free educational programming to patients and the community on injury prevention, management, and rehabilitation.

To implement our idea, we will host a free 3-hour Community Open House in collaboration with BSM.

Attendees will:
- Experience hands-on activities that simulate orthopaedic surgery using virtual reality headsets and an interactive knee model
- Learn about various technologies involved in sport medicine research and how they are applied to improve patient outcomes
- Experience demonstrations of assessments used by healthcare professionals.
- Meet members of an experienced multidisciplinary sport medicine team that includes an orthopaedic surgeon, sport medicine physician, physiotherapist, kinesiologist, strength and conditioning coach, dietitian, massage therapist, and scientific researchers.

Who Will it Benefit?

This funding request to support a community open house will primarily benefit the following:
 Students, including under-represented groups: This initiative provides a unique opportunity for students to learn about careers in healthcare and how STEM is applied to improve patient care. This project also aims to specifically engage unrepresented groups in STEM-fields, such as indigenous and female youth.
 The Bow Valley: By providing barrier-free opportunities to engage in STEM learning, BSMF hopes to inspire the next generation and ensure a diverse and talented STEM workforce.
 Contributors: Contributors to this initiative include healthcare professionals and researchers that live, work, and play in the Bow Valley. This event provides an opportunity to create relationships and strengthen ties within the local community. Building stronger relationships between healthcare providers and community members can also lead to improved quality of life and satisfaction with care when it is needed.