Amanda Fowler-Woods, PhD, MSc, BA

Research summary

Dr. Amanda Fowler-Woods is an Anishinaabe woman and scholar whose research is rooted in the qualitative collection of Indigenous experiences and knowledge, as well as the collection of administrative health data for research purposes. 

Her interests lie in the pursuit of health and healthcare quality and equity, with a focus on understanding racism as a determinant of health. She advocates for anti-racist healthcare and social justice, encouraging a critical perspective when analyzing data related to Indigenous Peoples and supporting the principles of Indigenous data sovereignty. 

Amanda is a strong advocate for helping others understand how to acknowledge, protect, and honour the rights of Indigenous Peoples involved in research, how to follow guidelines for respectful research, and how to ensure research is culturally safe and yields meaningful outcomes.

 Research groups

• Research scientist, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
• Research scientist, George and Fae Yee Centre for Health Innovation
• Indigenous data team lead, Health Research Data Network Canada

Dr. Fowler-Woods works from an Indigenous paradigm grounded by Indigenous worldviews and driven by a desire to close health equity and healthcare quality gaps among Indigenous people in Canada. She is a member of Couchiching First Nation and proudly celebrates her Ojibwe ancestry in all aspects of her life. She uses methodologies that allow her to honour her worldview and ways of knowing. 

She is guided by the Elders and Knowledge Keepers with whom she has close relationships, and who guide her learning in academia and on the land. Dr. Fowler-Woods enjoys engaging students in exploring health from Indigenous perspectives and incorporates land-based education, ceremonies, talking circles, and conversations with Elders and Knowledge Keepers as learning opportunities. She teaches about the impacts of colonialism on healthcare and Indigenous-specific racism in healthcare, both in the classroom and through guest speaking engagements.

Dr. Fowler-Woods’ long-term involvement in research at the University of Manitoba has led to leadership roles in numerous research and evaluation projects focused on Indigenous health and healthcare. She currently holds the CIHR POR Transition to Leadership Fellow award and has built strong working relationships with Indigenous mentors, colleagues, students, and numerous communities worldwide. Her work focuses on partnering with communities in research and amplifying the voices of Indigenous Peoples.

Some highlights of her recent work include:

• Co-development of a partnership between Ongomiizwin and the Centre for Healthcare Innovation.
• Co-leading an Indigenous Advisory Council consisting of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit members, who developed an Indigenous Healthcare Quality Framework.
• Working closely on all aspects of the strategy for Race, Ethnicity, and Indigenous Identity data collection within the Manitoba healthcare system.
• Establishing an Indigenous Advisory Circle composed of 11 members from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities with lived experience as patients, caregivers, health professionals, researchers, and community advocates to guide and inform her research.
• Leading the Health Data Research Network Canada in co-developing and guiding the implementation of Indigenous data sovereignty and governance in research.
• Establishing a First Nations Advisory Circle to guide research about hip and knee surgery.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy in Community Health Sciences, The University of Manitoba (2023)
• Traditional Medicine Carrier, Matootoo Lake, Peguis Manitoba (2020)
• Master of Science in Community Health Sciences, The University of Manitoba (2009)
• Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, The University of Manitoba (2004)

Awards

2024:

• Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) Rising Star Certificate of Excellence. Canadian Association for Medical Education
• Martha Donovan Award. The University of Manitoba

2023

• Certificate of Innovation and Excellence in Indigenous Health Research. Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (CIHR)
• Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship – Patient Oriented Research (POR) Transition to Leadership Phase 2

2020

• Doctoral Award for Indigenous Students. The University of Manitoba
• Indigenous Award of Excellence - Outstanding Achievement. The University of Manitoba
• Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship – Patient Oriented Research (POR) Transition to Leadership Phase 1
• Indigenous Award of Excellence - Outstanding Achievement; The University of Manitoba

2019

• Prairie Indigenous Knowledge Exchange Network (PIKEnet) Award; The University of Manitoba
• Doctoral Award for Indigenous Students; The University of Manitoba

2018

• Doctoral Award for Indigenous Students; The University of Manitoba
• Emerging Leader Award; The University of Manitoba

2017

• Prairie Indigenous Knowledge Exchange Network (PIKEnet) PhD Fellowship; The University of Manitoba