# Strengthening the Workforce for Equity-Centered Learning Health Systems: Reflections on Embedded Research and Research Generalism: Comment on "Early Career Outcomes of Embedded Research Fellows: An Analysis of the Health System Impact Fellowship Program"

## TL;DR

This commentary discusses how to build a stronger workforce for health systems focused on equity through embedded research training.

## Contribution

The paper introduces tailored approaches to strengthen equity-centered learning health systems through embedded research.

## Key findings

- Narrow definitions of outcomes may limit who benefits from embedded research training.
- Three areas for deeper analysis include individual, partnership, and system-level impacts.
- Research generalism is proposed as a complement to embedded research.

## Abstract

As embedded researchers in Northern Ontario, Canada, we offer our reflections on Kasaai and colleagues’ 2023 "Early Career Outcomes of Embedded Research Fellows: An Analysis of the Health System Impact Fellowship Program." In our commentary, we draw on our experiences and what is known about embedded research training to examine how to build and strengthen the workforce for equity-centered learning health systems. Does our narrow understanding of outcomes and impacts of embedded research training in Canada affect who benefits and which systems can realize the potential of learning health systems? We identify three areas for deeper analysis: outcomes and impacts at the individual, partnership, and system level, knowledge on the social identities and needs of individuals in embedded research partnerships, and research generalism as a complement to embedded research. Our recommendations suggest tailored approaches to strengthen the workforce capacity for equity-centered learning health systems in Canada.