I am an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta and Distinguished Researcher, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. I also hold a CIHR New Investigator grant in Child & Youth Health. I have built on my experience in community-based participatory research, school health, qualitative methods, and implementation science to develop a novel research program SIRCLE: Settings-based Intervention Research through Changes in Lifestyles & Environments.
SIRCLE delivers and evaluates school- and community-based healthy living programs throughout Canada which promote wellbeing, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health inequities. My work aims to create a culture of wellness for kids, their families, and their communities by making the ‘healthy choice the easy choice’ where we live, work, learn, and play. I work to create systems-level change through programs that foster resilience and empowerment. As an applied scientist, partnerships are vital and an essential component of my work. As such, I collaborate with researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in both health and education.
I am supported through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Alberta Innovates. I am a mom to two young children who share my passion for adventure, travel, and being active.
Degrees
PDF, Health Promotion and Socio-behavioural Sciences, University of Alberta, 2010
RD, Alberta Health Services (former Calgary Health and Capital Health Regions), 2008
PhD, Nutrition and Metabolism, University of Alberta, 2007
BSc (with Distinction), Nutrition Science (Biology/Psychology), Indiana University, 2002
Awards
Top 40 Under 40, Avenue Edmonton, 2019
Distinguished Researcher, Stollery Science Lab, Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation, 2018-2023
CIHR/WCHRI New Investigator in Maternal, Reproductive, Child and Youth Health, CIHR/WCHRI, 2017-2020
2017 Dear Professor Award (acknowledges promotion of mental health amongst students), University of Alberta Compliments Student Group, 2017
Advisor of the Year, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 2015
Small Class Instructor of the Year, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 2013
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions, 2008
Health Research Studentship, Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions, 2006
Doctoral Student Award in Nutrition Education and Communication, Danone Institute of Canada, 2003
Keywords
chronic disease prevention
community based research
health promotion
implementation science
child and youth health
knowledge translation
nutrition
obesity
public health
qualitative methods
school health
Supervision
Currently accepting graduate students.
Theoretical understanding of qualitative and community-based research designs, including phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, biography and case study. Methods of data collection such as interviews, focus groups and participant observation. Strategies for data analysis and dissemination. Pre or corequisite: SPH 503 or consent of instructor. Note: Credit may not be obtained for both HPS 603 and SPH 623. Credit may not be obtained for both HECOL 603 and SPH 623. May contain alternate delivery sections; refer to the Fees Payment Guide in the University Regulations and Information for Students section of the Calendar.
Winter Term 2021Started: 2017
Principal Investigator
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI)
Started: 2016
Co-Principal Investigator
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Diabetes Canada
Started: 2016
Co-Investigator
Funded by the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research
Started: 2015
Principal Investigator
Funded by the Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI)
Started: 2016
Co-Investigator
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Started: 2014
Co-Investigator
Funded by Alberta Innovates, Collaborative Research and Innovation Opportunity (CRIO) Team Grant
Started: 2016
Co-Investigator
Funded by Health Canada - the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP)
Started: 2017
Co-Investigator
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Started: 2016
Co-Principal Investigator
Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada