Spring 2023 (Volume 33, Number 1)
The Bensen Models of Care Initiative
By Sandy Kennedy, Executive Director, Ontario Rheumatology Association
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The Bensen Models of Care Initiative was established
in 2018 by members of the Ontario Rheumatology
Association (ORA) leadership team at that time:
Dr. Arthur Karasik, Dr. Thanu Ruban, Dr. Henry Averns
and Dr. Rick Adachi. Together they formed a steering
committee to oversee critical aspects of the program,
such as governance, sponsorship, terms of reference and
regular correspondence with the ORA Executive Officers
and Board of Directors. Today, the Bensen Models of Care
Initiative is led by Dr. Amit Ghelani. We are thankful for
the contributions of everyone involved in this project.
The Bensen Models of Care Initiative was designed to
honour the memory of the late Dr. William Bensen, an
exceptional rheumatologist who advocated strongly for
team-based models of care. His community practice in Hamilton,
Ontario, included an interprofessional allied health
professional team who worked together to improve the
patient experience. His advocacy work, pioneering strategies
and overall legacy are promoted in this initiative.
Each year, eligible members of the ORA are invited
to apply for a Bensen Models of Care Grant. Applicants
are encouraged to propose an initiative that 1) promotes
improved care for patients through rheumatologist-led,
team-based models of care; 2) encourages novel solutions
to improve access to rheumatology care; and 3) helps direct
health policy toward funding of team-based models
of care.
A Selection Committee is identified each year that includes
an ORA Executive member, a Board of Directors
member, a Regular ORA member, an Allied Health Professional
and a member of the Bensen family. Up to two
successful applicants may be selected annually to receive
a maximum of $40,000. An application for a second year
of funding, up to a maximum of $20,000, will be considered,
based on merit and quality of the final progress
report.
Over the years, the program has received 15 excellent
applications, and has allocated a total of four grants,
two of which have been successfully implemented. The
program was paused in 2021 due to the pandemic. The
Steering Committee was excited to resurrect it in 2022,
as was the ORA membership based on the high calibre
of applications that were received! The 2022 recipients
are Dr. Stephanie Gotthiel and Dr. Derek Haaland. We
look forward to sharing the results of their projects in
the future.
The ORA is proud of the Bensen Models of Care Initiative
and are pleased to have found a way to honour the
late Dr. William Bensen. We are especially grateful to the
sponsors who enabled the project through their generous
funding.
For more information on the Bensen Models of Care
Initiative, please contact the ORA's Executive Director,
Sandy Kennedy at skennedy@ontariorheum.ca.
Sandy Kennedy
Executive Director, Ontario Rheumatology Association
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