About

Research

I am currently appointed as an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Health Systems Innovation at the University of Alberta's School of Public Health. My research spans both health services and systems and population health pillars, and focuses on advancing a public health approach to substance use. My program leverages my interdisciplinary background and diverse methodological experience to generate new knowledge that advances health systems innovation and improves health outcomes. My research team has a core engaged scholarship orientation and our work is conducted from start to finish in partnership with people with lived experience of substance use, poverty, and homelessness; healthcare providers; health authorities; civil society organizations; and governments at all levels. Our work has three complementary foci:

1. Evaluating health systems innovations designed to reduce substance use morbidity and mortality
2. Understanding determinants of public health policy change, and critically analyzing substance use policy
3. Supporting the spread of evidence-informed health systems innovations addressing substance use

Degrees and Experience

Prior to commencing my faculty position, I completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Sciences and a CIHR-funded studentship in health services and policy research (University of Alberta). I also hold a Master of Arts in Sociology and Certificate in Addiction Studies (University of Toronto) and have previously worked in research and policy development for municipal and federal government and within the health system.

Awards

My research and public health leadership have been recognized by multiple awards, including a Trailblazer Award (2020) from CIHR's Institute of Population and Public Health, Harm Reduction International’s Brooklyn McNeil Rae of Hope Award (2017), and an Alberta Health Services' President's Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievements in Innovation (2016), among others. Between May 2017 and November 2019, I was appointed Co-Chair of the provincial Minister of Health's Opioid Emergency Response Commission.

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Teaching

SPH 546 - Public Health Leadership and Professional Practice II

Supervison

Currently accepting MSc and PhD students.

O’Brien, D. C., Dabbs, D., Dong, K., Veugelers, P. J., & Hyshka, E.

BMC Health Services Research. 2019 January; 19 (1):1-12

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Hyshka, E., Morris, H., Anderson-Baron, J., Nixon, L., Dong, K., & Salvalaggio, G.

Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2019 January;

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Hyshka, E., Anderson-Baron, J., Pugh, A., Belle-Isle, L., Hathaway, A., Pauly, B., … Wild, T. C.

International Journal of Drug Policy. 2019 January;

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Brooks, H. L., O’Brien, D. C., Salvalaggio, G., Dong, K., & Hyshka, E.

Drug and Alcohol Review. 2019 January; 38 (4):423-427

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Brooks, H.L., Kassam, S., Salvalaggio, G., Hyshka, E.

Drug and Alcohol Review. 2018 January; 37 (Suppl 1):s145-s155

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Hyshka, E., Anderson-Baron, J., Karekezi, K., Belle-Isle, L., Elliott, R., Pauly, B., … Wild, T. C.

Harm Reduction Journal. 2017 January; 14 (50)