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Nicole Catherine
Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair Tier II in Child Health Equity and Policy
Nicole Catherine
Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair Tier II in Child Health Equity and Policy
Areas of interest
Child health equity, children's health policy, child health and development, early prevention of avoidable adversities
Education
- BSc (Hons), Pharmacology, University of Dundee, Scotland
- MSc, Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto
- PhD, Human Development, Learning & Culture, University of British Columbia
- CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship, Psychology, Simon Fraser University
Biography
Dr. Nicole Catherine is an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Children’s Health Policy Centre in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Dr. Catherine also holds the Canada Research Chair in Child Health Equity and Policy, Tier II. Nicole is an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in child health equity and policy, child health and development, and evaluations of early prevention initiatives. Dr. Catherine co-led the British Columbia Healthy Connections Project, BCHCP—a $6.9 million, Canadian randomized controlled trial evaluation of an early prevention program, the Nurse-Family Partnership (2011-2022). Showing promising benefits prenatally and by child age two years, the program continues to be offered by select BC health authorities. These trial findings are now informing similar prevention initiatives internationally. Dr. Catherine's work has prompted innovations in scientific methodology for sustaining engagement with families experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage—providing policymakers and practitioners with concrete information on better inclusion. Her research is changing the narrative from labelling underserved families as hard to reach, to placing the onus on policymakers who need to reach this population.
Research interests
Dr. Nicole Catherine’s research interests focus on supporting policymakers in implementing effective programs and options to address avoidable early childhood adversities and achieve health equity. She conducts research that is community-engaged—employing interdisciplinary methods and approaches to centre and amplify the experiences of equity-deserving children and families. Dr. Catherine works closely with senior policymakers in the British Columbia (BC) government, including the Ministries of Health, Children and Family Development, Mental Health and Addictions, and in regional Health Authorities including Fraser Health, Interior Health, Island Health, and Vancouver Coastal Health as well as with practitioner and Indigenous leaders and BC’s First Nations Health Authority and Métis Nation BC. These sustained policy collaborations ensure that her research is informed by policy and practice priorities and is embedded within reciprocal policy and practice relationships — also ensuring that results are used to improve conditions and services for BC children.
Courses
Future courses may be subject to change.
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