DrEva Yuen

I was awarded an Executive Dean’s Health Research Fellowship ($250,000, 2021-2023) to conduct a caregiver-cancer patient dyad study to examine impacts of caregiver and patient factors on caregiver health outcomes. I found that caregiver factors (and not patient factors) including health literacy and social connectedness were associated with caregiver psychological outcomes. My novel research identified that social connectedness is a separate, but related construct to social support, and is a key contributing factor to caregiver burden and psychological symptoms. Since 2021, I have published four articles exploring the influence of social connectedness on caregiver outcomes (two articles with published FWCI: 1.86-2.32). This work led to invitations to partner and collaborate with an external organisation to evaluate, and further develop information modules for caregivers of people living with cancer.

Leadership group members for the Carers SIG works alongside the Co-Chairs to: • Lead specific initatives and projects • Facilitate networking among members on cancer carer topics • Encourage member engagement in both primary and secondary cancer carer initiatives • Support the development and implementation of collaborative, multi‑centre research projects

Co-Chair of the Committee from March 2022 to December 2024, representing >215 EMCR members. In this role: • I co-developed and co-led the first strategic planning session using co-design techniques with EMCRs in 2022 to identify their professional development needs and preferences. The EMCR responses we harvested directly informed key areas the Committee then addressed through professional development activities (e.g., grant writing, how to develop partnerships, writing retreats). • I co-presented unmet EMCR needs to the IHT Executive Committee, who raised these issues with the Faculty of Health. • I co-organised and co-led workshops for EMCRs to facilitate professional development and networking for EMCRs (8 in-person workshops; 4.5 hours each, e.g. ‘Learning from Leadership’ Forum). • I organised development workshops (n=3; 5 hours each) facilitated by external presenters on topics identified as a key professional development need (‘Building a research track record’, ‘Ways to Write a Successful Grant Application’, ‘Data Visualisation and presentation’). • I oversaw the organisation of a two-day writing retreat for IHT EMCRs in 2024, which was an identified need from strategic planning sessions held in 2022 and 2023. • I represented EMCRs at IHT Leadership workshops as part of the Co-Chair role, to ensure EMCR voices were heard and included in the vision of the Institute. • I co-presented at IHT All Member’s days to showcase activities conducted by the Committee. • I contributed to updating the Terms of Reference for the Committee and creating the criteria for EMCR Awards to highlight research excellence of EMCR researchers across the IHT. • I oversaw the Committee’s annual budget for activities to ensure accurate and timely expenditure ($10,000).

From 2022 to 2023, I was Meeting Coordinator for the IHT Research Committee. The Research Committee oversees research development across the Institute and is formally part of the Institute’s Governance Structure. My role actively supported the effective functioning of the Committee on operational and strategic imperatives by: reporting and meeting with the Chair to formulate meeting objectives; communicating with the Committee on meeting agendas and minutes; contributing to discussions on strategic research development initiatives at meetings and; contributing to the Committee’s development. In this role, I developed understanding of leadership processes to ensure growth and development of a high-functioning Research Institute, and its researchers.