Dr. Patricia Janssen
Faculty members Patricia Janssen, Professor, School of Population and Public Health, and Shimi Kang, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, have received the 2016 YWCA Women of Distinction Award.
Dr. Patricia Janssen received the award in the Research and the Sciences category. Dr. Janssen conducts research to promote healthy pregnancy and birth, particularly among women marginalized by poverty, addiction and located in remote settings. She undertook the first study in North America to evaluate the safety of planned home births attended by regulated midwives and developed SmartMom, a prenatal education program delivered through text messaging.
As the founder and Director of the Master of Public Health Program at UBC, Dr. Janssen plays a major role in training the next generation of public health researchers. Her research confirming the safety and cost-effectiveness of midwifery care and home birth has changed legislation and policy around the world and was recently showcased at the European Court of Human Rights to support the efforts of midwives to de-criminalize home birth in Eastern European countries.
Dr. Shimi Kang
Dr. Shimi Kang received the award in the Health and Wellness category. Dr. Kang is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, award-winning academic and best-selling author.
As Vancouver Coastal Health’s Medical Lead for Child and Youth Mental Health and the founder of the Provincial Youth Concurrent Disorders Program at BC Children’s Hospital, Dr. Kang has helped thousands of children, adolescents and adults move towards better health and more positive lives. In 2012, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her years of outstanding community service.
The winners were announced June 8 at the Vancouver Convention Centre at the YWCA’s 33rd annual Women of Distinction Awards. More than 1,400 guests and volunteers gathered at the event.