Sharon Bruce, BN, MA, PhD

Accepting graduate students

• Master's - Yes
• PhD - No

Research themes

• Epidemiology and impact of type 2 diabetes
• Health of Indigenous people
• Community-based participatory research
• Decolonizing research
• Women's health in marginalized contexts
• Medical anthropology
• Health promotion

Research interests

• Diabetes prevention
• Community sovereignty and development of health programs

Research summary

Sharon Bruce’s research program is focused on the epidemiology and impact of diabetes, and development of community-driven public health programs in partnership with First Nations communities. She has longstanding research partnerships with First Nations communities and organizations, and her work is guided by principles of decolonizing research and community sovereignty. Dr. Bruce’s primary research partnership is with the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation with whom she has worked since 2002. The research team established a research governance agreement and Advisory Council that oversees all aspects of the research. In her research partnership with Sandy Bay, they have characterized the continuing diabetes epidemic in the community from the epidemiological, experiential and health systems viewpoints. The current focus of their research partnership is diabetes prevention. Dr. Bruce also has experience in global public health in relation to maternal, newborn and child health care and health services.