From long-term care to the front lines of primary care, innovative research is finding new ways to make healthcare technology work better for everyone. At the Telfer School of Management, Danielle Cruise's groundbreaking work is about to take a major step forward to improve how vital medical information is shared across healthcare systems.
This upcoming January 2027, Cruise will begin a two-year postdoctoral fellowship supported by Canada’s Postdoctoral Research Award, funded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Supervised by Dr. Mirou Jaana, Cruise’s project focuses on health information technology, specifically improving "interoperability", the ability of different digital software systems to seamlessly communicate, within primary care settings.
This fellowship builds directly on years of health systems research Cruise conducted at Telfer. Her work began during a Master of Science in Health Systems, focusing on how long-term care home managers select new technology. She then expanded this research during her PhD studies under Dr. Jaana to evaluate how digital tools impact overall performance and organizational resilience in care facilities.
The practical application of Cruise’s work has been refined through hands-on experience and real-world partnerships. Collaborations with organizations like Perley Health and The Ottawa Hospital have helped ensure her research directly addresses everyday challenges in healthcare delivery. Additionally, Cruise has shared her findings at major national events, including the Canadian Association on Gerontology, the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research, e-Health, and the Age-Well Annual Conference.
By combining rigorous coursework, collaborative publishing, and strong mentorship, Cruise’s next phase of research starting in 2027 aims to bridge the gap between complex health data systems and practical care, creating digital solutions that make a real-world difference for patients and providers alike.
