Dr. Heidi Cramm recipient of the Colonel Russell Mann Military Family Health Research Award

Due to her research on how relocation affects children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Dr. Heidi Cramm was this year’s recipient of the Colonel Russell Mann Military Family Health Research Award.

Cramm is the lead author of the study: Navigating Healthcare Systems for Military-connected Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study of Military Families Experiencing Mandatory Relocation. The Queen University professor and her research team conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with military families who have children with ASD to determine their challenges with system navigation when relocating.

The study recommends that their is a greater need for coordination of services and communication across  inter-jurisdictional providers, health care literacy and advocacy for families.

The award was presented at the annual Canadian Institute for Military Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) Forum. Incidentally, Cramm is the Interim Co-Scientific Director of CIMVHR. She presented the results of her ASD study at the Forum.

Every year the award is given out by the Vanier Institute of the Family to recognize high-quality Canadian research that increases understanding of military, veteran and family health.