Colleen Varcoe

cvarcoe -at- telus.net

Colleen is a member of the Centre’s research team for Violence, Mental Health & Substance Use.

She is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia.

Her research focuses on women’s health with a focus on violence and inequity and the culture of health care with an emphasis on ethical practice. Her research program aims to promote ethical practice and policy in the context of violence and inequity.

She recently completed a study of the interacting risks of violence and HIV infection for rural and Aboriginal women and a study of ethical practice in nursing.

Last year she completed a participatory study of rural maternity care for Aboriginal women with women in four communities. She has also just completed a study of how the ideas of social justice and equity might enhance policy development. She is currently co-leader of team conducting a longitudinal study of the health and economic effects of violence against women after women have left abusive partners, of a study examining the delivery of primary health care at urban Aboriginal health clinics, and a study of Aboriginal women’s experiences of leaving an abusive partner.

She has over 70 peer-reviewed publications, including a co-edited a book entitled Women’s Health in Canada: Critical perspectives on theory and policy.