Dr. Dorothy Kergin Award

I am a graduate of the UBC School of Nursing (BScN’10) and current MSc-PhD student in the UBC School of Population and Public Health. I am also an Addiction Nursing Fellow of the St. Paul’s Hospital Goldcorp Fellowship in Addiction Medicine. My nursing practice in acute, community, global health and research settings has focused on health promotion among vulnerable populations with complex health issues including HIV/AIDS, addiction, and chronic pain. Currently, my research focuses on pain management among individuals with a history of substance use, and its implications for health, risk behaviors and clinical care.

The Dorothy Kergin scholarship will support my career aspirations to become a nurse scientist involved in clinical care, research, education, policy, and leadership. Current literature suggests that there is a severe lack of nursing scientists, particularly in the area of addiction research and care, who are able to effectively bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. This generous award will support my graduate-level training and leadership activities, so that I may develop skills and experiences that I will carry forward as I become a mentor for future generations of nurse researchers, and as I continue to advocate for health promotion for vulnerable populations.