Seminar Series

Embedded researchers occupy a unique position at the intersection of research, clinical practice, and health system decision-making. Drawing on experiences as a Health Outcomes Scientist at Nova Scotia Health, this seminar will explore the practical roles of embedded researchers in supporting evidence-informed health system improvement through programmatic evaluation, evidence synthesis, implementation science, and boundary spanning. Using examples from ongoing health system initiatives, the presentation will examine the methods, opportunities, and challenges of conducting rigorous, relevant research within complex and dynamic healthcare organizations. Finally, the discussion will consider how embedded research and operational scholarship can contribute to the broader aspiration of building learning health systems, where evidence generation, implementation, and continuous improvement become integrated into routine healthcare delivery.

Dr. Samuel Petrie is a Health Outcomes Scientist with the Implementation Science Team at Nova Scotia Health and Part-time Faculty member (Assistant Professor) with the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at Dalhousie University. As an embedded researcher, Dr. Petrie’s interests include the implementation and integration of virtual care in rural and remote communities, advancing health equity through patient-oriented research, mixed-methods evaluation, and learning health system methodology and reform. At Nova Scotia Health, Dr. Petrie’s current scope of work includes developmental evaluations of novel interventions and models of care, as well as evidence synthesis and supporting the integration of evidence-based best practices across the health system.