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Three TMU nursing professors elected Fellows of Canadian Academy of Nursing

    Three Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) researchers have been elected as Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Nursing. 

    Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing professors Suzanne Fredericks, Mandana Vahabi and Josephine Pui-Hing Wong are three of the 21 new Fellows to receive this prestigious honour, which recognizes and celebrates Canada’s leaders in the nursing profession. They will be inducted during a ceremony on Oct. 4, 2023. 

    Professor Fredericks’ research focuses on designing and evaluating interventions to support surgical patients undergoing invasive procedures. The evidence-based initiatives she has created support and improve the health and well-being of individuals and their families. Across Canada, her work has led to notable clinical practice changes, while globally it has profoundly impacted the quality and accessibility of evidence-based nursing output. She has received many awards, including being inducted as a Fellow in the European Society of Cardiology.

    Professor Vahabi’s work addresses issues of public health, health equity and social determinants of health, focusing on topics such as health promotion and cancer screening, particularly cervical cancer. She leads an international team using arts-based approaches to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling throughout eight different states in India. Another project explores the impact of COVID-19 on immigrants and refugees living with cancer, mental health challenges or addiction disorders, examining the experiences of people living at the intersection of social and clinical disadvantages, 

    Professor Wong’s research advances public health programming and community-based action, improving health outcomes for members of marginalized communities. During the pandemic, she successfully launched Project PROTECH as a rapid response to address racism and mental health stress among frontline health-care providers. These and other interventions have been scaled up and adapted nationally and internationally to reduce HIV stigma and promote mental health.

    “I’m absolutely thrilled to congratulate these three researchers on receiving this honour,” said Steven N. Liss, TMU’s vice-president, research and innovation. “This recognizes the substantial impact of their research and service contributions, ranging from supporting surgical patients to advancing health equity.”  

    Source from TMU