This month we had the wonderful opportunity to interview Avi Vashisht. At Simon Fraser University, Avi works for the Gerontology Research Centre, where she develops research protocols, conducts data collection through focus groups and interviews, supervises students, analyzes data, presents their findings at conferences, and writes manuscripts. At the University of Calgary, she work in palliative care, contributing to similar responsibilities, including data collection, student supervision, data analysis, and dissemination of findings, but excluding study design and protocol development. Additionally, she collaborates with health authorities on a project assessing access to and availability of palliative medicine, contributing to a comprehensive report on the topic.
How did your roles at SFU and UCAL come about, and what do you find most rewarding about each position?
I got to learn a lot at Simon Fraser University. It was where I started 6/7 years ago and where I feel like I grew the most. While I was with SFU I did my undergraduate thesis defence and directed studies courses, which really played a part in directing me to a career in research. Originally, my research position with Simon Fraser University was my co-op placement so I had two appointments with SFU 6 years ago where I was working on a dementia trial and equitable access to end-of-life care. I learned a lot about leadership and research here.
I really got to apply myself at the University of Calgary. I learned how to take a project from the very start to the very finish. This project specifically introduced me to working with health authorities and health systems, which was a new experience for me. It allowed me to learn about how the healthcare system in Canada, and more specifically Alberta, is structured. Before I came to Calgary I knew I wanted to become a physician, but with my experience here it has really narrowed down what kind of medicine I want to practise. Being able to interact with patients, and help them, in this experience was really rewarding and new to me.
What unique skills have you developed from working in both gerontology and palliative care, and how do they complement each other?
I think they do complement each other where they do overlap where the majority of people who are receiving palliative care are also part of the population that is focused on in gerontology.
In gerontology I worked with minority populations so for example I worked with the South, Chinese, and , LGBTQIA2S+ populations.. Those experiences taught me a lot about cultural congruence and competence which is a skill that you sort of have to develop through experience. So with gerontology I think that's the biggest thing I’ve learned, along with research skills, leadership, time management and supervising. Teaching is something that I've learned recently at the University of Calgary and SFU. In terms of gerontology also, our society is very ageist, so we carry this ageist rhetoric in every aspect of life and society, and I feel like it’s something that I did too before this experience. One important thing that I want to mention that I learned was the importance of acknowledgement and awareness. Having these two qualities, specifically for the populations that you’re caring for and researching will really allow for you to put yourself in their shoes and will make caring for them ten times easier.
Could you describe the process and challenges that are involved in creating reports on palliative care access and availability?
Having worked in this field for six years, one of the main challenges is integrating diverse perspectives, of both participants and researchers, into final research papers. This requires a meticulous formation of the research questions in order to be able to make sure that the history of the topic is respected while new findings are being published. For us specifically, we were looking at pre and post pandemic experiences of those receiving palliative care, so we faced some difficulty trying to capture the contemporary view as well as the historical view of end of life care care. Like I talked about before, the challenge of aligning populations that come from different backgrounds to become comparable in research is also something that’s prevalent when researching a society as diverse as Canadian society.
Have you faced any specific challenges as a women in research/healthcare, and how have you overcome them?
I’ve not only faced challenges that may have stemmed from both my gender but also from being a woman of colour. This was exceedingly prominent when I was onboarding my role, and my predecessor was a white man. We worked closely for a couple of months just to make sure that the turnover of the position was smooth, and I noticed that people were responsive and cooperative when dealing with him. However, when I interacted with the same individuals, response times were slower, and the warmth in communication that they had previously shown just was not present. This sort of dichotomy in the way we were both seen and valued was also clear when his way of doing things was always favoured over mine, even if it was not the best procedure to follow.
What is your perspective on the representation of women in healthcare research, more specifically in your fields?
In the field of healthcare research, particularly in gerontology, there is a noticeable gender imbalance, with women being the majority. In my experience, the majority of the gerontology team consists of women, making it a female-dominated field. At SFU, my principal investigator was a pioneering figure in geriatric research. She was instrumental in putting gerontology on the map, serving as president for many of the major organisations that are focused on the aging population.
Do you think gender has influenced your approach to your work or the responses you get from your research participants?
As a woman, I find that participants tend to engage with me more easily. They tend to perceive women as more compassionate and approachable. However, it can be harder to get them to open up initially, but once the conversation starts, it tends to flow more naturally. I did see a difference between how participants interacted with me and how they interacted with my white, male predecessor. While he was able to quickly get participants to agree to speak with him, I was able to collect more quality data. Sometimes, I do find it helpful to adopt a less authoritative approach, such as acting as if I don’t know what I’m talking about and letting participants explain things to me. This is simply because people automatically assume I don't know what I’m talking about. In contrast, when men are collecting data, they have an easier time being accepted as knowledgeable, however, participants don’t show vulnerability to them.
What advice would you give to women pursuing careers in healthcare research, or aiming to pursue academia?
For women pursuing careers in healthcare research or leadership roles in academia, confidence and self-advocacy are essential. Opportunities at the highest levels often need to be actively pursued rather than passively received. A lot of the time women, especially women of colour, have to work harder to prove their worth especially when compared to male predecessors whose opinions and contributions tend to be valued more. Facing biases - whether they be from colleagues or students - is never a good feeling, but it is crucial to hold your ground, know your worth and advocate for your ideas, capabilities and the opportunities you deserve. As a woman of colour, the challenges are even greater. Being a woman of colour requires even more resilience. If someone questions your qualifications, ask them why. To be successful in these fields you must be confident and be able to stand up for yourself.
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