Neelam Punjani, PhD, MScN, BScN, RN

Area of Study / Keywords

Children's Health & Well-being Adolescent Sexual Health Qualitative Research Knowledge Translation

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About

My research interest includes promoting positive sexual health outcomes among children and young adults. My program of research focuses on developing innovative digital knowledge translation tools that can better support children and parents in providing age-appropriate and gender-oriented sexuality education to improve outcomes for children, their families, and the health care system. In my research, I merge synthesized literature, parents' experiences through participatory action research and combine it with art-based approaches. My goal is to do critical advancements in patient engagement and nursing science through the development of new research approaches and knowledge translation activities. 

Selected Awards

• WAS Education Award in the Academic Program category (2025)
• King Charles III Coronation Medal from Canadian Nurses Association (2025)
• Children's Healthcare Canada Innovation and Impact Awards in Emerging Leader Award category (2025)
• WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Award Winner in the Amex Emerging Leaders category (2024)
• Edify Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 for 2024 (2024)
• 100 outstanding women nurses globally by World Health Organization (2020)
• Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship (2019-2022)

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Research

Recent or Current Grants (as Principal Applicant or Co-applicant, by year)

Punjani. N., Scott. S., Hartling. L., Salami. B., Flicker. S., & Angeles. L (2025-2027). Co-Creating Innovative Digital Knowledge Translation Tools for Parents to Prevent Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. Applied for CIHR Project grant ($100,000) 

Punjani. N., Scott. S., Salami. B., Wells. K., & Jackson. M. (2024-2026). Empowering parents and youth to promote healthy sexuality using co-designed interactive text messages. WCHRI innovation grant. ($60,000) 

Punjani. N. (2024-2025). Development of Digital Knowledge Transition Tools for Parents for the Provision of Sexuality Education to their Children. Once Child Every Child. ($3000) 

Punjani. N., Hirani. S., Salami. B., & Wells. K (2024-2026). Supporting racialized youth experiencing technology-facilitated sexual violence and its impact on mental health: Engaging youth in co-designing policy and practice recommendations. CIHR Healthy Youth Catalyst grant ($100,000). 

Punjani. N. (2023-2026). Empowering children and adolescents through comprehensive sexuality education. Establishment funds, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta ($50,000).

Meherali S, Punjani N, Abdul Rahim K, Das JK, Salam RA, Lassi ZS. (2020). A systematic review "Mental health and substance use among children and adolescents amidst COVID-19- A Systematic Review". Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (50,000) 

Meherali S, Punjani N, Abdul Rahim K, Das JK, Salam RA, Lassi ZS. (2020). A systematic review "Mental health and substance use among children and adolescents amidst COVID-19- A Systematic Review". Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (50,000) 

I am currently accepting honors program and graduate students with interests in child and youth health, sexual and reproductive health, qualitative methods, art based and knowledge translation. I am especially seeking masters' students who wish to complete a thesis and doctoral students. Students will have the opportunity to work with interdisciplinary research teams on a diverse range of projects where they will be exposed to writing for publication, integrated-knowledge translation activities, community-based participatory research activities with diverse communities and stakeholders, and qualitative/mixed research methods. 

INT D 420 - Perspectives on Inclusive and Global Health

This course will provide opportunities for students to develop a deeper, more situated, understanding of the guiding principles that underpin equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the global context. In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the students will recognize the key issues related to EDI in global health including global citizenship, a sense of social justice; environmental, social, economic and political global challenges; agency; intersectionality (ethnicity, gender, patriarchy, power relationships) and an appreciation for cultural diversity. Prerequisites: All courses in the BScN program except NURS 422, NURS 425 and NURS 485. Corequisites NURS 422 and 425, SC INF 425 and PHILE 386.

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NURS 300 - Health Policy, Health Care Organizations, Change Management

The course builds upon the personal leadership foundations of NURS 200. It explores the organization of healthcare systems, concepts of healthcare management and care delivery models. The course provides an overview of healthcare policy and the roles of the nurse in influencing health policy, and facilitating change within healthcare systems. Note: Available only to nursing students in the Collaborative/Honors Program. Prerequisite: NURS 200. Credit may be obtained for only one of NURS 300, NURS 205 or NURS 409.

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NURS 594 - Applied Inquiry II - Grand Challenge Questions

Participate in guided inquiry, applying research skills and inquiry approaches, designing solutions, and contributing to a knowledge-building community. Student teams investigate a current nursing issue from a range of perspectives informed by advanced leadership, education, clinical and research-based knowledge, theory and practice.

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Browse more courses taught by Neelam Punjani

Elizabeth Papathanassoglou, Usha Pant, Shaista Meghani, Neelam Saleem Punjani, Yuluan Wang, Tiffany Brulotte, Krooti Vyas, Liz Dennett, Lucinda Johnston, Demetrios James Kutsogiannis, Stephanie Plamondon, Michael Frishkopf

Australian Critical Care. 2025 May; 10.1016/j.aucc.2024.101148

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Neelam Saleem Punjani, Philomina E. Okeke-Ihejirika, Bukola Salami, Sophie Yohani, Mary Olukotun

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 2024 October; 10.1007/s10903-024-01598-2

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Elizabeth Papathanassoglou, Tanya Park, Neelam Punjani, Bijaya Pokharel, Maysa Taha, Kathleen Hegadoren

Australian Critical Care. 2024 July; 10.1016/j.aucc.2023.11.002

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Neelam Saleem Punjani, Elizabeth Papathanassoglou, Kathy Hegadoren, Saima Hirani, Zubia Mumtaz, Margot Jackson

Adolescents. 2023 September; 10.3390/adolescents3030040

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Sanober Fazal Shah, Neelam Saleem Punjani, Syeda Naghma Rizvi, Sana Sadiq Sheikh, Rafat Jan

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023 July; 10.3390/ijerph20146424

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Neelam Saleem Punjani, Kathleen Hegadoren, Saima Hirani, Zubia Mumtaz, Margot Jackson, Elizabeth Papathanassoglou

Sexes. 2022 August; 10.3390/sexes3030031

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Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika, Neelam Saleem Punjani, Bukola Salami

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022 July; 10.3390/ijerph19148487

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Neelam Punjani, Elizabeth Papathanassoglou, Kathleen Hegadoren, Saima Hirani, Zubia Mumtaz, Margot Jackson

Adolescents. 2022 April; 10.3390/adolescents2020015

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Neelam Punjani, Elizabeth Papathanassoglou, Kathy Hegadoren, Saima Hirani, Zubia Mumtaz, Margot Jackson

2022 January; 10.20944/preprints202201.0253.v1

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Salima Meherali, Mehnaz Rehmani, Arzoo Rafiq, Neelam Punjani, Helen Vallianatos, Claudia Romeu

2021 August; 10.12688/f1000research.54541.1

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International Health Trends and Perspectives. 2021 July; 10.32920/ihtp.v1i2.1437

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International Journal of Advance Research in Community Health Nursing. 2021 July; 10.33545/26641658.2021.v3.i2a.71

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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 March; 10.3390/ijerph18073432

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HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2020 October; 10.3928/24748307-20201118-01

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i-manager’s Journal on Nursing. 2020 January; 10.26634/jnur.10.1.16888

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i-manager’s Journal on Nursing. 2020 January; 10.26634/jnur.10.2.16889

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Professional Case Management. 2019 July; 10.1097/ncm.0000000000000320

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Home Health Care Management & Practice. 2019 May; 10.1177/1084822318803099

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Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership. 2019 March; 10.12927/cjnl.2019.25849

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Kimberly Fraser, Garland Baird Lisa, Daley Laing, Jonathan Lai, Neelam Saleem Punjani

Home Health Care Management & Practice. 2018 November; 10.1177/1084822318779371

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