Peer Researchers: Let's get real (Part 1)
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The peer research experience is as unique as the people who take on these roles. What draws them to this work and how does the experience align with expectations? James Watson talks with Tim Wesseling and Lynne, two well-respected peer researchers, about their inspiration, employment realities, and using identity as a commodity in this two-part series.
How well is the peer research model working? Is it time for a national peer association? A union, perhaps? The answers may surprise you.
Our episode guests
Lynne
A Peer Research Associate with the HIV Stigma Index study in Ontario
Lynne lives in Ottawa and has been a PRA for over 10 years, predominately working on studies that look at the impact of the social determinants of health on people living with HIV. She is currently part of the Ontario team that is working on the HIV Stigma Index with REACH Nexus at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. She is very passionate about community-based research and its role in creating strong communities and empowered individuals. She sees peer researchers as integral to strong, ethical research processes.
Gymnastics or Track and Field? Track and Field
Truth or dare? Truth
Intelligent or funny? Intelligent
Passenger or driver? Passenger
Rich or successful? Rich
Tim Wesseling
Peer Research Associate at the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Tim has over 29 years of experience living with HIV and 12 former years of living with addiction, which significantly impacted his access to HIV health care at the time. In 2013, Tim began volunteering in the HIV community that supported his comeback. And in 2018, Tim happily accepted the position of Peer Research Associate at the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS with the STOP HIV/AIDS Program Evaluation (SHAPE) study, which looks at factors related to the access of HIV care. Tim exclaims, “I love my job!!!”
Gymnastics or Track and Field? Gymnastics
Truth or dare? Dare
Intelligent or funny? Both
Passenger or driver? Driver
Rich or successful? Successful
In this first episode of a two-part series on pozcast, host James Watson sits down to talk with Tim Wesseling and Lynne, two well-respected peer researchers, about their inspiration, employment realities, and using identity and their lived experiences as commodities in community-based work.
Tim is a Peer Research Associate (PRA) at the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS with over 29 years of experience living with HIV. Lynne lives in Ottawa and has been a Peer Research Associate (PRA) for over 10 years, predominately working on studies that look at the impact of the social determinants of health on people living with HIV. She is currently part of the Ontario team that is working on the HIV Stigma Index with REACH Nexus at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
In addition to our episode guests, we also hear from several PRAs across Canada about their experiences in research and how they see these participatory, community-based processes evolving over time.
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In this frank and revealing conversation, we take a closer look at how the principles of GIPA and MEPA are holding up in research settings and learn how our guests apply their “peerness” to strengthen the approach to research and its outcomes.
And I know that that that may sound cliche to people when I say that…this job is transformational. It changed how I looked at the world, it changed how I looked at people, it changed how I looked at myself—how I judged myself. —Lynne
This episode has a little bit for everyone, so check it out and stay tuned for next month’s episode as we continue this conversation with two Principal Investigators who are leading innovative community-based research projects in two different regions of Canada.
