Research in focus: Cathy Kline

Name:

Cathy Kline

My pronouns:

she/her

Title:

Assistant Director, Patient & Community Engagement

Faculty/Department/Unit:

Patient & Community Partnership for Education, Office of the Vice-President Health

Location:

Vancouver

Year I started working at UBC:

2003

Provide an overview of your research in 75 words or less:

I advance research and development initiatives that promote patient and public involvement in health professional education. I am passionate about integrating patient expertise and experience into training the next generation of health professionals.

I was recently appointed as a member to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Governing Council in recognition of my role in managing research and development projects between the university and the external community to generate collaborative models of teaching and research. I helped to build a network of over 150 patient partners and 80 community organizations which is now a hub for patient and public involvement at UBC. 

What do you hope will change as a result of this research?

I hope that early learning from the authentic and autonomous voices of patients, especially people living chronic conditions, will prepare students to work in partnership with patients and enable them to provide care that is patient/client-centred and meets society’s needs.

Are there any research collaborators you'd like to acknowledge and why?

This groundbreaking research program is led by co-directors Drs. Angela Towle and William Godolphin at the Patient & Community Partnership for Education in the Office of UBC Health. We are part of an international movement to bring the authentic and autonomous patient’s voice into health professional education which began with international conferences on the theme of ‘Where’s the patient’s voice in health professional education?’ in 2005 and 2015. The next is in Vancouver, November, 2025.

What have you learned during your research that has surprised you the most?

I've learned that many Canadians feel a shared responsibility for our health care system and want to be involved in shaping health education and research. Their enthusiasm is truly inspiring and a really special resource in this country that can help us tackle health challenges now and in the future.

Learn more:

https://health.ubc.ca/pcpe