'I think there's a lot we can learn': New St. Thomas research chair ready to get started

St. Thomas University has hired its first research chair in community health and agingabout a year and a half after the position was created.

AlbertBanerjeewill be the first person to step into the role since the five-year positionwas announced in August 2017.

He says his priority as chair is to change the way people think about quality care in nursing homes. He said more research needs to be done about dealing with capacity in long-term care.

"We tend to underestimate the role that relationships play in delivering care,"Banerjeesaid.

"I think we need to rethink the place of the public sector and in making sure that we have these facilities [for seniors] available."

Banerjeesaid he's "absolutely thrilled" to be coming to Fredericton. He was conducting research in Toronto in January when he learned he got the position.

"A shiver went down my spine," he said.

Thinking differently about aging

Banerjeeis a research associate at the Trent College for Aging and Society and teaches a research methods class at Carleton University in Ottawa.

As chair,Banerjeewill be a tenured faculty member at St. Thomas. He'll also conduct research and teach three courses in the university's gerontology department.

The chair position is funded with $1 million over the next five years by theMcCainFoundation and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation.

New Brunswick has the fastest growing proportion of seniors in Canada. Many seniors in the province live outside of hospitals, nursing homesor long-term care facilities.

Banarjee took part in an international study afterfinishinghis dissertationthat allowed him to travel around the world.

"I think that this kind of experience really has helped me think differently about growing old and being healthy."

Banerjeeis also part of an international study examining how Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Taiwan and Canada are developing their cities and communities in age-friendly ways.

The aim of the study is to find out how age-friendly communities can become more inclusive.

Banerjeesaid he'd like to make Fredericton part of that conversation. "I think there's a lot that we can learn and a lot that we have to share."

His position at St. Thomas starts in July.