Scholarship recipients help NHKI tackle critical healthcare research

Zachary Raczywolski
Niagara Health Knowledge Institute and Niagara College Summer Student Research Scholarship recipient

Sometimes even research needs to be researched.

Zachary Raczywolski has been doing just that since starting his scholarship term with the NHKI. Over the past 12 weeks, the second-year paramedic student at Niagara College has been comparing the research output and capacity of Canadian community hospitals to their academic counterparts, and determining how to get more community hospitals involved in advancing healthcare research.

“We know there are barriers – financial barriers, staffing barriers. You need quality staff to do research but you also need funding to do research,” Raczywolski says.

Meanwhile, most Canadians receive care at community hospitals, making them prime research facilities in addition to healthcare institutions. Maybe community hospitals could partner with academic hospitals, Raczywolski muses. That would expand academic hospitals’ reach to a larger, more diverse patient population, while getting smaller hospitals involved in practice-changing research.

“A multi-system approach could be beneficial to both community and academic hospitals,” he says. “There’s really a need for this so I appreciate the application of this research.”

Raczywolski is no stranger to doing deep dives into a topic. Before enrolling at Niagara College, he completed his master’s degree in biochemistry, earning scholarships and doing research in the process.

He always wanted to be a paramedic for the everyday differences he could make in people’s lives – something he didn’t experience while toiling in a biochemistry lab. Still, research has always played a pivotal role in his education so when the NHKI-Niagara College scholarship was announced, Raczywolski was eager to apply.

“I want to make sure I have as much knowledge of Canada’s healthcare system as possible,” he says. “I thought it would be beneficial since I’ll be the first point of contact (as a paramedic) for people entering the healthcare system.”

This is Raczywolski’s first foray into applied research, which has become an important part of Niagara College’s brand. As he prepares for his final year of college, he’s not sure when he’ll have an opportunity like this again. That’s why he’s considering staying on as a research volunteer.

“I feel very fortunate working on this,” Raczywolski says. “It’s something I’m passionate about, too – giving people more access to healthcare and having them benefit from the healthcare system, so it’s definitely a great experience to be part of.”