Advancing Women Firefighter Health in Canada: Building Research Priorities and a National Research Network

  • October 24, 2026
  • 10:00am-12:00pm
  • FESTI -- 2025 Courtneypark Dr East, Mississauga, ON L5T 1J3

Facilitated by Dr. Robin Campbell Bromhead & Dr. Joy C. MacDermid

In this session, we will provide an update on the preliminary findings from the national initiative, Women in Firefighting Canada: Establishing National Health Research Priorities and a Health Research Network, which identified health research priorities for women firefighters in six domains: mental health, physical health, cancer, reproductive/maternal/sexual health, fitness and equipment, and organizational systems. Attendees will be invited to share insights, identify opportunities, and help shape the Women in Firefighting Health Research Network. You will leave with a clear understanding of how this national research network will foster collaboration, advance women firefighter research priorities, and drive meaningful, system-level change in firefighter health.

Dr. Robin Campbell Bromhead

Dr. Robin Campbell Bromhead is a Research Associate at Western University and an Associate Researcher with FIREWELL. Robin is a Canadian Armed Forces reservist and currently works as the Legal Affairs Public Affairs Officer. She is also a former volunteer firefighter. Her research focuses on volunteer firefighters and other public safety personnel's health and well-being, as well as chronic pain among Veterans.

Dr. Joy MacDermid

Dr. Joy MacDermid is a clinical epidemiologist, physiotherapist, a CIHR Sex and Gender Champion, and Distinguished Professor of Physical Therapy at Western University. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and The Royal Society of Canada, and an Order of Ontario appointee. She created and leads FIREWELL, a knowledge collaboration and mobilization platform dedicated to firefighter health.