Self-Reflection on Knowledge Curation

Critical Self-Reflection on Knowledge Curation and Synthesis

The Master of Health Sciences course provided a valuable opportunity to develop my skills in curating, synthesizing, and communicating knowledge. Through a series of structured learning units, curated readings, and blog reflections, I was able to explore how definitions of health, social determinants, chronic disease, and Indigenous health interconnect to shape health outcomes in Canada. This reflection evaluates the digital resources I engaged with and my growth in understanding public health systems and equity through curation and synthesis.

Evolving Definitions of Health

My learning journey began with exploring the definition of health. Traditionally, health has been viewed as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (World Health Organization, 1948). However, this definition has faced growing critique for being outdated and unattainable in the context of chronic disease and disability. The perspectives shared by Huber et al. (2011) and Krahn et al. (2021) challenged me to embrace a more functional and dynamic model—one that values resilience and the ability to adapt to life’s circumstances. In my blog post, "The Definition of Health", I reflected on this shift and how modern interpretations must consider social and environmental factors (Lam, 2025).

Social Determinants and Equity

Through both curated readings and my "Social Audit" blog activity, I critically assessed how social determinants such as income, education, and policy significantly shape health outcomes (Lam, 2025). Wachtler et al. (2020) emphasized the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, while the Government of Ontario’s (2020) pandemic regulations revealed how public health decisions can amplify existing inequalities.

Galea (2015) and Diez Roux (2000) helped me understand that health must be examined across multiple levels—individual, interpersonal, institutional, and structural. These concepts were further explored in my blog, "Multilevel Model of Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic", where I applied a socio-ecological lens to pandemic-related policy responses (Lam, 2025).

Chronic Disease and Health System Challenges

Chronic disease management emerged as a central theme in my learning. In "Chronic Health Diseases and Cardiovascular Diseases in Ontario", I examined provincial data and health system strategies, linking these to readings from Ontario Health (2023) and Public Health Ontario (n.d.) (Lam, 2025). I was struck by the importance of primary care infrastructure, interdisciplinary teams, and patient-centered models (Russell et al., 2009). This content taught me that tackling chronic illness requires a shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.

Indigenous Health and Reconciliation

One of the most impactful units was my exploration of Indigenous health disparities. In my post, "Indigenous Community and Cardiovascular Diseases in Canada" I integrated evidence from Anand et al. (2001), Vervoort et al. (2022), and Loppie & Wien (2022) to examine how colonialism and structural inequities have shaped chronic disease prevalence in Indigenous populations (Lam, 2025). This analysis expanded my understanding of health equity and the need for culturally appropriate, community-led solutions.

The inclusion of the Indigenous Health Equity Fund (Indigenous Services Canada, 2024) in my curated resources gave me insight into federal efforts to bridge care gaps—though these remain insufficient without systemic change.

Knowledge Synthesis and Connected Learning

Blogging became a key method for knowledge synthesis. Each post required me to bridge theoretical frameworks with real-world applications. Through curation, I learned to evaluate sources for credibility and relevance while making conceptual connections across topics. My final blog, "Reflections on the Master of Health Sciences Journey", synthesizes this experience, emphasizing how digital learning spaces enhanced my critical thinking and collaborative learning (Lam, 2025).

Conclusion

This course encouraged a deeper understanding of health as a socially embedded, multilayered concept. By curating and synthesizing diverse sources—including academic articles, policy documents, and personal reflections—I became more critical of health systems, more empathetic toward marginalized populations, and more confident in communicating complex ideas. I learned to navigate a wide information landscape, assessing the credibility and relevance of digital resources, and drawing connections across theoretical, applied and experienced content. These skills will not only support my academic growth but also shape how I approach public health practice. I now recognize the importance of equity-focused, systems-based strategies that prioritize community voices and structural reform. This reflective practice will guide me as a health professional committed to meaningful, socially responsive change.

 References

1.        Anand, S. S., Yusuf, S., Jacobs, R., Davis, A. D., Montague, P. A., & Lonn, E. (2001). Cardiovascular health among Canada's Aboriginal populations: A review. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 17(3), 271–279.

2.        Diez Roux, A. V. (2000). Multilevel analysis in public health research. Annual Review of Public Health, 21(1), 171–192.

3.        Flood, C. M., & Thomas, B. (2016). Modernizing the Canada Health Act. Dalhousie Law Journal, 39(2), 1–16.

4.        Galea, S. (2015). The determination of health across the life course and across levels of influence. Boston University School of Public Health. https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2015/the-determination-of-health-across-the-life-course-and-across-levels-of-influence-2/

5.        Huber, M. (2011). Health: How should we define it? BMJ: British Medical Journal, 343(7817), 235–237. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23051314

6.        Indigenous Services Canada. (2024). Indigenous Health Equity Fund. https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1721758041536/1721758068269#

7.        Krahn, G. L., Walker, D. K., & Correa-De-Araujo, R. (2021). It’s time to reconsider how we define health: Perspective from disability and chronic condition. Disability and Health Journal, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101129

8.        Lam, J. (2025, March 2). The definition of health. My MHSc Journey. https://jlam1023.wixsite.com/eportfolio/post/the-definition-of-health

9.        Lam, J. (2025, March 5). Social audit. My MHSc Journey. https://jlam1023.wixsite.com/eportfolio/post/social-audit

10.  Lam, J. (2025, March 10). Multilevel model of health and the COVID-19 pandemic. My MHSc Journey. https://jlam1023.wixsite.com/eportfolio/post/multilevel-model-of-health-and-the-covid-19-pandemic

11.  Lam, J. (2025, March 14). Determinants of health. My MHSc Journey. https://jlam1023.wixsite.com/eportfolio/post/determinants-of-health

12.  Lam, J. (2025, March 18). Chronic health diseases and cardiovascular diseases in Ontario. My MHSc Journey. https://jlam1023.wixsite.com/eportfolio/post/chronic-health-diseases-and-cardiovascular-diseases-in-ontario

13.  Lam, J. (2025, March 22). Indigenous community and cardiovascular diseases in Canada. My MHSc Journey. https://jlam1023.wixsite.com/eportfolio/post/indigenous-community-and-cardiovascular-diseases-in-canada

14.  Lam, J. (2025, March 30). Reflections on the Master of Health Sciences journey. My MHSc Journey. https://jlam1023.wixsite.com/eportfolio/post/reflections-on-the-master-of-health-sciences-journey

15.  Loppie, C., & Wien, F. (2022). Understanding Indigenous health inequalities through a social determinants model. National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health.

16.  Ontario Health. (2023). Chronic disease prevention and management: A health system perspective (Toolkit). https://www.ontariohealth.ca/sites/ontariohealth/files/2023-04/ChronicDiseaseToolkit.pdf

17.  Public Health Ontario. (n.d.). Chronic diseases and conditions. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/diseases-and-conditions/chronic-diseases-and-conditions

18.  Russell, G. M., Dahrouge, S., Hogg, W., Geneau, R., Muldoon, L., & Tuna, M. (2009). Managing chronic disease in Ontario primary care: The impact of organizational factors. Annals of Family Medicine, 7(4), 309–318. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.982

19.  Vervoort, D., Kimmaliardjuk, D. M., Ross, H. J., Fremes, S. E., Ouzounian, M., & Mashford-Pringle, A. (2022). Access to cardiovascular care for Indigenous peoples in Canada: A rapid review. CJC Open, 4(9), 782–791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2022.05.010

20.  Wachtler, B., Michalski, N., Nowossadeck, E., Diercke, M., Wahrendorf, M., Santos-Hövener, C., Lampert, T., & Hoebel, J. (2020). Socioeconomic inequalities and COVID-19: A review of the current international literature. Journal of Health Monitoring, 5(Suppl 7), 3–17. https://doi.org/10.25646/705

21.  World Health Organization. (1948). Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution