The future of research: Providence Research hosts guest lecture and trainee networking event

On July 24, 2025, Providence Research and the Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes co-hosted an event at St. Paul’s Hospital that brought together scientists and trainees from across the organization for an afternoon of learning and connection. The event featured a guest lecture by Dr. Gordon Guyatt, member of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, followed by a networking session for Providence Research trainees.

The past, present and future of evidence-based medicine

Dr. Guyatt, a professor in the Department of Health Research Methods at McMaster University, is the 2024 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research winner, from the Friends of Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This award supports an annual lecture series from a speaker of international stature on topics related to the advancement of health research and its evolving contributions to society.

In his talk, Dr. Guyatt provided valuable insights into evidence-based medicine, a systematic approach in which doctors and other health care professionals use the best available scientific evidence from clinical research to help make decisions about the care of individual patients. One of the world’s most-cited living scientists, Dr. Guyatt played a key role in developing and championing this concept. 

Evidence-based medicine emerged in response to the tendency for clinical practice to lag behind the latest scientific evidence. Medical decisions guided by textbooks and expert opinion often failed to reflect the most current research. Systemic reviews and meta-analyses, which allow researchers to synthesize findings across multiple studies to provide a clearer picture of what the evidence truly supports, were not common until the early 1990s. They are now foundational tools of evidence-based medicine.

Over the years that Dr. Guyatt has been doing this work, awareness and understanding of evidence-based medicine have grown significantly. Dr. Guyatt noted that clinicians are increasingly familiar with tools like forest plots, which visually summarize data from multiple studies and help identify trends in clinical evidence. 

An important aspect of evidence-based medicine, however, is that evidence alone is never enough. EBM is a collaborative process that combines the best available science with the clinician’s expertise and individual patient’s values to arrive at the best medical decision for the patient. 

“Evidence doesn’t make decisions – people do,” says Dr. Guyatt.

Evidence-based medicine is not just a methodology, but a mindset helping to ensure healthcare decisions remain patient-oriented and grounded in the most reliable information available – something increasingly important as time goes on. 

Looking ahead, the field continues to evolve, developing more sophisticated ways to judge the credibility of evidence. To this end, Dr. Guyatt also played a key role in the development of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach, a rigorous method of evaluating evidence now used by over 90 healthcare organizations worldwide. 

Following Dr. Guyatt’s lecture, Dr. Darryl Knight, President of Providence Research, invited attendees to reflect on how the principles of evidence-based medicine could be applied beyond clinical practice. He highlighted the need to equip the next generation of researchers with the tools and skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape. 

Supporting trainees – the future of Providence Research

This message led into the networking event that followed the lecture, where trainees from across Providence Research – from centres including the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, the BC Centre on Substance Use, the Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes and the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation – came together to connect and explore new opportunities.

Trainees play a vital role in health research, both locally and globally. Providence Research is committed to fostering their development through events such as this, as well as the Providence Research Trainee Program. Dr. Knight introduced the program, inviting trainees to contribute their voices and help shape its future direction as a program co-developed with Providence Research and trainees from across our organization.
Providence Research aims to build a supportive ecosystem where emerging researchers can thrive. This event provided a valuable platform for trainees to engage with peers beyond their individual research centres and learn more about the supports available to them. 

If you are a trainee at a centre or research group within Providence Research, and are interested in helping to develop the Trainee Program, reach out to Kaylie Friess, KFriess@providencehealth.bc.ca, for more information.