About the REDI Leader Feature
The REDI Leader feature highlights the diverse voices of individuals at SPPH who are driving change through education, research, and workplace initiatives. These stories showcase leadership that helps build a more respectful, equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment within the School of Population and Public Health.
This UBC SPPH REDI Leader spotlight features Dr. Patricia Janssen, professor at the UBC School of Population and Public Health, whose work bridges evidence-based maternity care and deep, long-standing relationships with Indigenous communities. In addition to founding SmartParent, a text-based prenatal and parenting education program designed to reach families across Canada, Dr. Janssen brings Indigenous perspectives into public health teaching and research. She has learned from Elders and community members through personal ties to the Squamish, Musqueam, and Cowichan Nations, and regularly includes Indigenous teachings in her courses to help students understand traditional knowledge around pregnancy, birth, and family. Her work highlights the need for more respectful, inclusive health care practices rooted in community and cultural understanding.
To read the full interview, visit: https://spph.ubc.ca/meet-spph-redi-leader-patricia-janssen/.