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Valerie Michaelson is an Associate Professor in the Health Sciences Department at Brock University, specializing in the social dimensions of health. Her research focuses on understanding how social, structural, and cultural contexts influence health and well-being, as well as addressing health inequities created by the unequal distribution of health-promoting resources. With training in religious studies and health equity, Michaelson explores how culture, religion, and spirituality shape beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, especially in child and adolescent populations. She leads and collaborates with diverse, transdisciplinary teams, integrating insights from various disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, and community members with lived experiences. Michaelson employs qualitative community-engaged research methods within mixed-methods and arts-based paradigms, emphasizing co-creation of knowledge to foster social change. Her current projects include partnerships with Indigenous communities focusing on child health equity, decolonization, and mental health.<br>In addition to her research, she is committed to mentoring students and encouraging them to engage with social justice issues in health. Michaelson recognizes the challenges faced by women scholars in academia and strives to create ethical and reciprocal research partnerships that respect the complexities of these collaborative efforts.
Brock University • St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Teaching and researching topics related to health sciences, focusing on social structures and cultural factors that influence health.
This entry applies to the general Graduate Studies standard for departments such as English Language and Literature, History, Philosophy, and Sociology.