WE-SPARK Health Institute is an innovative partnership between Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, University of Windsor and Windsor Regional Hospital that brings together health research strengths, expertise, and infrastructure from across the Windsor-Essex region of Ontario, Canada. We are establishing research pipelines to address pressing health issues, advancing discovery, innovation and technology, training and promoting excellence among our health professionals, and engaging our community. Click here to view our brochure.
Learn about our Strategic Priorities, and how we’re making an impact.
In March 2009, stakeholders from the Windsor-Essex region formed a steering committee to begin exploring opportunities for enhancing regional health research capacity. A formal study concluded that there was a significant appetite for a collaborative and integrative health research enterprise. Following a series of regional visioning days and consultations spanning a decade, in the Fall of 2018 an Executive Committee was established and tasked with putting plans into action, including a proposal for a new health institute.
WE-SPARK Health Institute received senate approval in May 2019 and chartered as an official institute under the University of Windsor. After 11 years of planning, WE-SPARK celebrated our official launch in March 2020 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between our four partners.
"This is a very exciting time for our region. We are in a unique position to come together and raise the bar for innovation, training and healthcare delivery that direclty impacts the health of our community."
Dr. Lisa Porter, Executive Director
Following extensive consultations with hundreds of individuals and community organizations, the WE-SPARK Health Institute Executive Committee developed our first Strategic Plan and our Mission, Vision and Values.
Enhance the health, well-being and care of people through transformative research and knowledge translation.
A thriving and engaged research community driving advancements in health.
We are committed to upholding responsible research in alignment with ethical practices and responsive to the needs of our stakeholders.
We are dedicated to achieving world-class outcomes in all that we do.
We are committed to working together to ensure our long-term success.
We are a diverse and inclusive team committed to engaging the community and applying multi-disciplinary approaches to achieve our goals.
We foster a culture of inquiry; champion and drive change, and seek creative solutions in all that we do.
WE-SPARK Governance Structure
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WE-SPARK’s Executive Director is supported by the Executive Committee consisting of two representatives from each of the WE-SPARK partners.The Executive Committee helps drive the institute’s strategic priorities forward.
Lisa Porter |
Karen Metcalfe |
Chad Sutherland | |||
Caroline Hamm |
Marla Jackson |
Terra Cadeau | |||
Heather Pratt |
Nicole Sbrocca |
Peter Wawrow |
WE-SPARK is committed to developing governance policies,a structure and membership criteria that ensure the Health Institute functions appropriately and efficiently.Driving this strategic priority forward is our Governance Committee.
Lisa Porter |
Karen Metcalfe |
Monica Tighe | |||
Heather Pratt |
Nicole Sbrocca |
Terra Cadeau |
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