Our Story
From humble beginnings to now. How PaCER became an innovator of new patient engagement methods in health research.
Over 150 seniors engaged in the research looking to understand experiences and perspectives about aging. Through Dr. Nancy Marlett, they learned about research methods and design, and carried out different research approaches.
Dr. Nancy Marlett discusses the start of PaCER
Results about resilience in senior populations became themed into six cohorts, and a qualitative, participatory action research approach was used to carry out the project. The group of seniors presented their findings at a national gerontology conference and published a paper.
This inaugural project eventually became the impetus to the book “Grey Matters: A Guide for Collaborative Research with Seniors”. Others could learn to do their own research.
When founder, Dr. Marlett, presented her findings at the UCalgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, about training seniors to conduct research, two audience members asked if she could teach patients to do research to fill in the large gaps in clinical pathways.
Dr. Nancy Marlett discusses PaCER momentum
Responding to a national grant funding opportunity, a team was formed that included SCN leaders, health researchers and faculty members.
Two directors of Alberta Health Services (AHS) Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) joined the application, as there was a requirement the research team included health systems senior leaders.
The grant funding application was successful, and the PaCER program took off.
The first curriculum was co-developed holding the belief that patients and community members could learn to conduct quality research and to take up roles within the Alberta Health Services (AHS) Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs).
The first two PaCER teams were trained in a year with the support of SCN members. Learners were introduced to the SCNs, health research and planning.
At this point it ignited an interest in the new approach: patient led, peer-to-peer research.
The results of these projects were used to inform policy, and practice change.
PaCER collaborates with UCalgary Continuing Education to develop the PaCER content material and instructional design is adapted for online delivery.
The first online delivery took place in 2019. Since then, PaCER and ContEd have delivered X cohorts together.
The PaCER group collaborates with UCalgary Continuing Education to develop the PaCER content material and instructional design is adapted for online delivery.
The first online delivery took place in 2019.
Dr. Nancy Marlett discusses the collaboration between UCalgary Continuing Education and PaCER
In 2019 our competency based curriculum is now a certificate program.
Over 100 community members with lived experience of a health condition have gone through PaCER training.
Dr. Nancy Marlett discusses the PaCER certificate program