Primary Care Research Day 2026 was held on May 4 at Dalhousie University’s Student Union Building in Halifax. The event welcomed over 120 attendees, including patients and community members, students, medical residents, faculty, researchers, health care providers, policy and decision-makers, and members of the primary care research community.
The day featured an engaging keynote, panel discussions, oral presentations, and a poster session—offering rich opportunities for learning, connection, and discussion while highlighting the strength and collaboration within our primary care community.
This year’s theme, “From Clicks to Care: Strengthening the Digital Foundations of Primary Care,” explored innovative approaches, challenges, and future directions for e-health systems in primary care.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the day!
Conference Program
Event Photos
Click the link to view photos captured throughout the day: Event Photos – Primary Care Research Day 2026
Keynote Address
View the presentation slides: PCRD 2026 Keynote Address
Title: Opportunities for Practice-Based Research & Learning & Clinician Involvement in Research Using EMRs
Speaker: Dr. Donna Manca, MD, BMSc, MClSc, FCFP
Dr. Donna Manca is a Professor Emeritus and the Director of Quality Improvement in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta. With 35 years of experience as a family physician, Dr. Manca has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between frontline clinical practice and health research. She serves as a Medical Director for the Lifelong Learning and Physician Learning Program (PLP) within the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, where she supports clinicians in navigating practice improvement and evidence-based care.
As a trailbrazer in Practice-Based Research and Learning Networks (PBRLNs), Dr. Manca is the Director of the Northern Alberta Primary Care Research Network (NAPCReN), a regional node of the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN). Her work leverages Electronic Medical Record (EMR) data to improve patient outcomes while advocating for the highest standards of privacy and ethics in health informatics. Through her leadership, she remains committed to transforming primary care by empowering community clinicians to engage in meaningful research and continuous, practice-based learning.
BRIC NS Student Poster Award
As part of our commitment to student engagement, BRIC NS provides annual grants to student researchers pursuing topics related to primary care. Each Primary Care Research Day, we host a Student Poster Award for one student that had an exceptional poster and poster presentation. This student will receive a monetary award and will also be invited to present during one of our upcoming BRIC NS Primary Care Learning Series.
Congratulations to the winner of this year’s Student Poster Award, Dr. Jennifer Emesih, for her poster titled, “Beyond BMI: Recognizing the Hidden Burden and Treatment Opportunities for Obesity in Immigrant Women.”
Recognizing the 2025 BRIC NS Student Research Award Recipients
Pictured from left to right: Dr. Matthew Grandy, Arezoo Mojbafan, Melanie Dunlop, Chris Consmueller, Dr. Ruth Lavergne
We were proud to recognize the recipients of the 2025 BRIC NS Student Research Award at this year’s Primary Care Research Day.
The BRIC NS Student Research Award is offered annually to at least two eligible recipients to provide financial support for the completion of research projects that align with BRIC NS priorities. To learn more about award eligibility and the application process, visit: Student Research Awards – BRIC NS
In 2025, we received a large number of applications from graduate students conducting high-quality research across Nova Scotia. After careful evaluation, the top three projects were selected to receive this prestigious award. We are thrilled to celebrate these outstanding students and their contributions to advancing primary care research.
Chris Consmueller
MSc Kinesiology, Dalhousie University
Project title: “A Randomized Controlled Protocol: STudy on bluebeRries, prOteiN, and exercise for improvinG frailty and cardiovascular disease (STRONG)”
Melanie Dunlop
PhD Nursing, Dalhousie University
Project title: “Including Social Determinants of Health Screening in Primary Care: A NP-led Quality Improvement Study”
Arezoo Mojbafan
PhD Health, Dalhousie University
Project title: “Exploration of Lived Experiences of Health Inequity among Older Immigrants”
BRIC NS 