Nancy Edwards
Nancy Edwards
Professor Emerita
Distinguished University Professor

1995: PhD Epidemiology, McGill University
1982: MSc Design, Measurement and Evaluation, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatics, McMaster University
1974: BScN Nursing, University of Windsor



Biography

Nancy Edwards was a full professor in the School of Nursing, University of Ottawa.  She was director of the Community Health Research Unit (1994–2009); director of the Population Health PhD program (2000–2002, 2015–2016); principal scientist, Institute of Population Health; senior scientist, Élisabeth Bruyère Research Institute; and academic consultant, City of Ottawa (Public Health Services). Nancy held a CHSRF/CIHR Chair Award in Nursing (2000–2012). She was scientific director for the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (2008–16).  She held a conjoint faculty appointment at the University of Newcastle (Faculty of Education), Australia (2016–2020).

Dr. Edwards’ leadership and research have been recognized with numerous awards including three honorary doctorates, honorary lifetime memberships in the Canadian Public Health Association and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, and the Canadian Nurses’ Association Centennial Award. She is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Dr. Edwards holds the title of distinguished university professor at the University of Ottawa.

Professor Edwards is not accepting new students for thesis or postdoctoral supervision. 

Website: www.nancyedwards.ca
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Research interests

  • Multiple intervention programs in community health
  • Primary health care in developing countries
  • Fall prevention for seniors
  • Implementation science

Community activities

Since retiring, Dr. Edwards has served as a board member for Family Councils of Ontario (2019–2024) and the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (Ottawa chapter) (2019–present).

She has also served on advisory committees, including:

  • Advisory Council for Harmonized Construction Codes (member and Canadian Public Health Association representative) (2023–26)
  • External Advisory Committee.  Tackling Root Causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development.  University of Bristol, England (2020–2024)
  • Standing Committee for Building Codes, Housing and Small Buildings, National Research Council (voting member) (2019–24)
  • Scientific Advisory Board, Institute for Clinical Evaluation Sciences, Ontario (member) (2017–23)
  • External Advisory Board, National Institutes of Health Research, School of Public Health Research — England (member) (2017–26).

In 2022, Dr. Edwards published a memoir about her nursing experiences in Sierra Leone titled Not One, Not Even One: A Memoir of Life-Altering Experiences in Sierra Leone, West Africa. In 2024, she directed and performed her solo, story-telling play, Rethinking Good Intentions, which is largely based on her memoir. She embarked on her first fringe festival tour in summer 2024.