Dr. Danya Fast

Biography

Danya Fast is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, as well as a Faculty Associate in the Department of Anthropology. With a Master's degree from the University of Amsterdam and a PhD from the University of British Columbia, Danya specializes in medical anthropology, focusing on the intersections of health and urban environments. Through her research, she aims to understand the relationship between health and place, particularly concerning marginalized young people who use drugs in urban settings. Danya is also a Research Scientist at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, where she co-leads the Youth Health Research Program. Her current research, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, SickKids Foundation, and Vancouver Foundation, investigates the addiction treatment care trajectories of young people in Greater Vancouver. Collaborating with the Directions Youth Services and the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS) Youth Advisory Committee, Danya emphasizes community-based participatory research approaches. Her work has been published in various academic journals, with a focus on addiction treatment, harm reduction, and the lived experiences of young people in the context of public health crises.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards