"Between Two Worlds": Healthcare Decision-maker Engagement with Regional Training Centres.

The engagement between Regional Training Centres (RTCs) and healthcare decision-makers within the context of Applied Health and Nursing Services Research (AHNSR) takes many forms, and is critical to the development of the next generation of researchers. Such engagement supports the concept of linkage and exchange by inculcating in students and healthcare decision-makers alike an understanding of and respect for each other's worlds. This process builds bridges of immense importance to contemporary healthcare. The authors of this paper discuss the rationale for such engagement and describe the varied types of interaction between students and faculty with healthcare decision-makers and organizations. Bridging these two worlds for mutual advantage represents an innovative and highly successful strategy for graduate education in AHNSR. While this effort is not without challenges, the work of each world is relevant and valuable to the other and to the Canadian public.