Improving Access and Care Through Implementation Science for Canadian Veterans and CAF Members

About the Program

IMPACT-CVM is a growing program of research focused on improving how healthcare services are delivered to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans. Our goal is to make healthcare more accessible, equitable, and responsive to the unique needs and experiences of those who serve — or have served — in the military.

We use implementation science, which is the study of how to put the best available evidence into practice in real-world settings. This means we’re not just identifying what works — we’re also examining how to promote the adoption and long-term use of effective care practices, and how to phase out or de-implement practices that may be outdated, ineffective, or misaligned with the priorities of CAF members and Veterans.

This work is guided by those with lived experience. Veterans and CAF members are not just participants — they are partners in shaping the research and identifying what matters most.

IMPACT-CVM aligns with national priorities in military and Veteran health, including the CAF Mental Health Strategy, the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR), and current efforts to strengthen access, equity, and responsiveness in care across Canada.

Our Focus Includes:

• Identifying and evaluating strategies to promote the use — and appropriate de-implementation — of clinical practices
• Collaborating with CAF members, Veterans, health professionals, and decision-makers to co-develop relevant and sustainable solutions
• Applying an intersectionality lens to understand how identity factors like gender, Indigeneity, race, language, and service history shape healthcare experiences
• Using an Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) approach to ensure that research is practical, co-led, and meaningful from start to finish

Whether it’s improving mental health services or supporting chronic condition care, IMPACT-CVM promotes the use of effective strategies — and the removal of those that no longer serve — to enhance care for CAF members and Veterans across Canada.

Examples of Current Projects

Advancing Measurement-Based Care for CAF Members

This project aims to promote the adoption and sustained use of measurement-based care (MBC) within Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) mental health services. MBC involves regularly tracking symptoms and using that information to guide care, helping to ensure that services are responsive, consistent, and patient-centred.

The research focuses on identifying and evaluating strategies that support long-term MBC use, while also identifying opportunities to retire less effective practices. The project is grounded in implementation science, draws on evidence from military, Veteran, and civilian systems, and is guided by collaborative engagement with those who deliver and use care.

This project is funded through the Joint Federal Research Funding Program for Military Personnel and Veterans, administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Department of National Defence (DND), and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).

Making Sense of Veterans’ Pain

This project is focused on improving access to care for Veterans living with chronic pain. A key component involves tailoring an existing self-management program developed by Pain BC—originally designed to be accessible and inclusive—so that it better reflects the needs and experiences of Canadian Veterans.

Through a mixed-methods approach, the research explores how Veterans understand and manage their pain, how they access care, and what changes could help improve their experiences. The work applies an intersectionality lens to ensure diverse voices are reflected, and it is grounded in an IKT approach that includes Veterans and community partners throughout.

Planned outputs include a tailored self-management program, a knowledge mobilization plan, and an implementation plan to help guide use in Veteran-serving contexts — while also identifying opportunities to de-implement inaccessible or less effective pain care approaches.

This project is funded by the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans, and conducted in partnership with Pain BC and the Chronic Pain Network, a SPOR-funded initiative.

Our Team

Program Leads

Dr. Jen Olson
Senior Implementation Science Methodologist whose work focuses on sustaining evidence-based practices, de-implementing those that are no longer appropriate, and improving outcomes for individuals with chronic and complex health needs.

Dr. Justin Presseau
Scientist and Director of the Methodological and Implementation Research Program at OHRI, leading research that applies behavioural and implementation science to address real-world healthcare challenges, including the adoption, scale-up, and de-implementation of clinical practices.

Research Staff

Making Sense of Veterans’ Pain
Chloé Desjardins is the Clinical Research Coordinator overseeing the day-to-day activities of this project. She holds a Master’s degree in Medical Anthropology and brings expertise in qualitative research and health equity. Chloé supports engagement with Veteran partners and community collaborators, and coordinates all aspects of the project’s daily operations.

Dr Cole Etherington is a Senior Research Associate with a PhD in Sociology and expertise in qualitative research, Veteran health, and intersectionality. He contributes to study design, data collection, qualitative analysis, and collaborative engagement with Veteran partners and community organizations.

Advancing Measurement-Based Care for CAF Members
Mackenzie Dowson is a Clinical Research Coordinator overseeing this project. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology (Research) from Carleton University. Mackenzie leads project planning, interest holder engagement, and knowledge translation activities.

Dr. Alexander Lithopoulos is a Clinical Researcher with a PhD in Health Promotion. He contributes to evidence synthesis, data organization, and coordination of research activities across the project team.

Our Partners and Interest Holders

We work closely with those receiving, delivering, leading, and shaping care for Veterans and CAF members. Our aim is to produce evidence that is timely, actionable, and aligned with real-world priorities — including quality of care, equity, and sustainability.

We welcome opportunities to collaborate with individuals and organizations working to improve care for Veterans and military communities in Canada.

Our valued project partners include:
- Pain BC
- The Chronic Pain Network, a SPOR-funded initiative

Our Sponsors

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders and collaborators, including:

The Joint Federal Research Funding Program for Military Personnel and Veterans, through:
Canadian Forces Health Services
Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research
Defence Research and Development Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada

The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans

Contact Us