The University of Northern British Columbia and Northern Health have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that aims to build on their relationship in education and research to improve the delivery of health services in northern BC and beyond.

The MOU was signed today at an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the health care rally in Prince George. On June 22, 2000, about 7,000 people packed the Multiplex in Prince George to voice their concerns about the state of health care in the region. The idea of a northern physician training program - now the Northern Medical Program - was first suggested at the rally.

"I see this MOU very much as a means to keeping the spirit of the rally alive," says UNBC President George Iwama. "A decade ago, thousands shared in the dream of what a medical program could mean for northern communities. Now, together with UBC, we have 70 graduates of that program and more than 600 graduates from Nursing. UNBC and Northern Health work very closely in delivering these programs; the MOU formalizes the relationship and aims to enable future opportunities for collaboration in both teaching and research."

The three-page MOU was established to "formalize a long-standing and historic partnership" between UNBC and Northern Health. Both parties have agreed to "further education, research, and innovation for the purpose of improving the quality of life for people who live in the North. This may include health provider and professional education, population health research, clinical research infrastructure, Aboriginal health, information sharing and database development, and policy development." The MOU also sets up a new Executive Oversight Committee, Steering Committee, and Innovation and Development Commons - a virtual and real environment for educators, researchers, health professionals, physicians, and administrators to interact, share information, and develop new partnerships.

“The MOU represents a significant evolution in the Northern Health / UNBC relationship that builds off the recent re-naming of Prince George Regional Hospital to the University Hospital of Northern BC,” Says Cathy Ulrich, Northern Health Chief Executive Officer and graduate of UNBC. “Northern Health and UNBC both serve the same northern region, but our ability to have an impact provincially, nationally and internationally through a new era of true collaboration is unbound by geography.”

UNBC has protocol agreements with a number of colleges and aboriginal communities for the purpose of delivering educational programming. This is the University's first such agreement with a health authority.