UNB Research

As part of our 2023 Research Celebration Week, we are highlighting the most recent recipients of two of UNB’s major research awards: The University Research Scholar award, and the Award for Excellence in Research.

Dr. Shelley Doucet is the 2022 recipient of the Award for Excellence in Research. The following is an excerpt from vice-president (Saint John), Dr. Petra Hauf’s comments when she presented Dr. Doucet with the award:

Dr. Doucet joined the UNB faculty in 2010 and has consistently produced high quality research throughout her career. A full professor in the Department of Nursing, she is the Jarislowsky Chair in Interprofessional Patient-Centred Care (CRIC) and the founder and director of the Centre for Research in Integrated Care at UNB.

Dr. Doucet is recognized as both a national and international expert on patient-centred care. She has been invited to present her research at international and national forums, such as the Dementia Alliance International Conference, and the Canadian Healthcare Navigation Conference.

Through CRIC, she participates in over 30 research projects which inform the international
community of best practices and innovations in patient-centred care and healthcare navigation. She has recently applied her expertise in navigation for youth and families to the growing healthcare concern of patient experiences of care for dementia and those who experience injury-related trauma. In doing so, she has demonstrated the applicability, utility, and importance of her research to multiple different healthcare concerns and patient populations.

Since 2010, Dr. Doucet has presented her research over 380 times in several different settings and has published over 70 multi-authored, peer reviewed manuscripts. Her work appears in renowned health journals such as BMJ, BMC Health Services, and the International Journal of Integrated Care. Her manuscripts contribute high quality evidence and advice for quality patient-centred care. For example, her 2019 manuscript titled Patient Navigation as an Approach to Improve the Integration of Care: The Case of NaviCare/SoinsNavi highlights the utility of patient navigators, a practical and cost-effective intervention, in improving patient access to appropriate resources across a variety of settings. This Her work has appeared in renowned health journals, already been has been cited by multiple celebrated leaders in health sciences, and has been . This work was also used by the World Health Organization’s Observatory on Health Systems and Policy to define patient-centred navigation in a policy brief. through its European arm – the Observatory on Health Systems and Policy.

Dr. Doucet’s work has attracted approximately $72 million in research support, which has
contributed to her establishment of a strong centre and research team. She is a praised community-based researcher, mentor, collaborator and leader. Over the past decade, she has mentored over 100 research trainees, hence, ensuring excellence in the future in her area of study. She has been recognized by the NBIF and NBHRF for her research mentorship work.

A heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Doucet on this recognition.