Area of Study / Keywords
Immigrant Health; Black Peoples Health; African Immigrants; Temporary Foreign Workers; Immigrant Mental Health; Immigrant Child and Youth Health
About
Degrees
- PhD (Nursing), University of Toronto (2014)
- MN (Nursing Administration), University of Toronto (2008)
- BScN (Honors), University of Windsor (2004)
Selected Awards and Distinctions
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Award 2020
- College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta Nursing Excellence Award 2019
- Rosalind Smith Professional Award: National Black Coalition of Canada (Edmonton Chapter)
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Emerging Nurse Researcher Award 2018
- 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 2018
- Edmonton's Top 40 under 40 2016
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Award
- Sigma Theta Tau International Lambda-Pi-At-Large Award of Merit for an Outstanding PhD Thesis
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- Ontario Training Center in Health Service and Policy Research Fellowship – a CIHR Strategic Training Program
Biography
My primary area of research is migration and health. Over the last five years, I have been engaged in around 50 funded research projects in the area of migration and health. I joined the University of Alberta in January 2014 after completing my PhD at the University of Toronto on nurse migration. I also completed the Ontario Training Centre in Health Service and Policy Research Collaborative Program, the International Nursing PhD Program, and the Critical Qualitative Health Research Certificate Program. I am a member of the Public Health Agency of Canada National Working Group on the Mental Health of Black Canadians. I am the representative of the University of Alberta on the Worldwide Universities Network Global Africa Group. I am currently leading the African Child and Youth Migration Network, a network of over 30 researchers across four continents focused on the well being of African migrant children and youths in the context of migration and displacement.
My clinical background has been primarily in child health. I was a Registered Nurse on the Hematology/Oncology Unit of the Hospital for Sick Children. Subsequently, I was an interprofessional educator for the New Immigrant Support Network of the Hospital for Sick Children. In this role, I educated health care professionals on social determinants of health, cultural competency, and immigrants’ health. I have a passion for migration and health research, policy and practice.
Research
I am the principal investigator for the Health and Immigration Policies and Practices (HIPP) Research Program. My current program of research seeks to bridge the gaps between immigration policy and health policy and practices. Although I am largely a qualitative researcher, I employ diverse methodological approaches. I have conducted studies using case study methodology, critical ethnography, participatory action research, quantitative analysis of large data sets, metasynthesis, and scoping reviews. My research is largely situated within the critical social paradigm. In the past, I have used transnationalism, transnational feminist, intersectionality, and postcolonial feminist lens in my research projects. My current research is in the following areas:
- Black people and African immigrant health
- Health and well-being of temporary foreign workers
- Immigrant child and youth health
- The mental health of immigrants
- International nurse migration
I am particularly interested in how the intersection of gender, race, class, nationality and immigration status influence the health of vulnerable migrant groups in Canada as well as the policy and practice implications. To effectively tackle the complex issues related to migration and health, I often work within interprofessional teams. In the past, I have collaborated with individuals with background in women's studies, education, political science, anthropology, sociology, social policy, pediatrics, epidemiology, public health, dentistry, demography, and statistics as well as immigrant health and social service agencies. I am currently leading a network of researchers from twelve countries focused on African child and youth well being in the context of migration and displacement. In addition, I have an interest in global health research, especially in West Africa.
Current Funded Research Projects
- Wong, J., Fung, K., Hilario, C. T., Li, A. T., W. Narushima, M., Vahabi, M., dela Cruz, A., Chen, Y., Etowa, J., Liu, J., Meherali, S., Ning, X., Owino, M., Poon, M., Salami, B. O. & Sato, C. (2020 – 2024). Acceptance and Commitment to Empowerment (ACE) Intervention: Reducing HIV Stigma and Promoting Community Resilience Through Capacity Building. Canadian Institute for Health Research Project Grant. $1,950,792
- Oriola, T., Salami, B., Okeke-Ihejirika, P., Ogbogu, U. (Sept 2020 to 2021). Race, Gender and Student Security: The School Resource officer (SRO) program in Edmonton. Kule Institute for Advanced Studies. $7,500
- Neef, A., Tschakert, P., Martin-McAuliffe, S., Kuschminder, K., Reichman, D., Zúñiga, V., Singleton, A., Nicholls, R., Codjoe, N. A, Salami, B. et al. (Jan 2020 to Dec 2020). Climate-Induced Migration: Global Scope, Regional Impacts and National Policy Frameworks. Worldwide Universities Network Research Development Fund. $36,000
- Hirani, S. & Salami, B. (2020 – 2023). Breastfeeding Practices of Immigrant Mothers in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Establishment Grant. $120,000
- Jarvis, K., Chubb, L. A., Richter, M. S., Salami, O., Tenkorang, E. (2020 – 2021). Creating synergy in women’s maternal and reproductive health: Building global research capacity to eradicate obstetric fistula. CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grant. $19,998.
- Salami, B., Okeke-Ihejirika, P., Adesida, A., Ogbogu, U., Oriola, T., Okome, O., Yohani, S., (Sept 2019 to March 2021). A Participatory Project to Improve Economic outcomes, Community Belonging and Leadership Skills of Black Youths in Alberta. Heritage Canada. $90,000
- Meherali, S., Salami, B., Vallianatos, H., Hilario, C., Jackson, M. (2020 to 2022). Sexual and reproductive health needs of immigrant adolescent. Women and Children Health Research Institute CRISP Grant. $20,000
- Salami, B., Ani-Amponsah, M., Kwankye, S., Richter, S., Okeke-Ihejirika, P., Vallianatos, H., Fouche, C., Mazzucato, V., Sibeko, L., Thompson, J., Fairbrother, H., Gommaa, H., Lavin, T., & Abimbola, S. (2019 to 2022). African child migration in circumstances of vulnerability: Developing a research partnership and network. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Partnership Development Grant. $200,000
- Salami, B. (PI), Foster, J. (Co-I), Vallianatos, H. (Co-I), Okeke-Ihejirika, P. (Co-I), Piper, N. (Collaborator), Luciano, M. (Collaborator), & Juen, J. (Collaborator). (2017 to 2021). Migration and precarity: From the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to permanent resident, student and undocumented migrant status. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Grant. $197,145. Matching fund from Kule Institute for Advanced Studies. An additional $3,000
- Okeke-Ihejirika, P. (PI), Salami, B., Yohani, S. (2017 to 2021). Transforming gender relations among African immigrants in Alberta - A participatory action study. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Grant. $201,981. Matching fund from Kule Institute for Advanced Studies. An additional $3,000
Teaching
In the past, I have taught the following courses: graduate course on "Migration and Health in the Canadian Context"; graduate course on "International and Intercultural Perspective on Health"' graduate course on "Public Policy and Nursing Leadership"; graduate course on "Program Planning"; undergraduate interprofessional course on "Interprofessional Team Development: Immigrant Health"; an undergraduate course on "Community Health Nursing".