• headshot image of Em M. Pijl
  • Assistant professor

    College of Nursing
    Helen Glass Centre for Nursing
    Room 365 - 89 Curry Place
    University of Manitoba
    Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2
    Canada

    Phone: 204-474-7107
    Fax: 204-474-7682
    Email: em.pijl@umanitoba.ca

Research summary

My program of research focuses on the clinical and social value, and public acceptability of, harm reduction services for people engaging in substance use.

Working with community providers of harm reduction services and with interdisciplinary teams, I am advancing knowledge of the health and social value of harm reduction to improve outcomes for people experiencing problematic substance use.

Examples of these outcomes include enhancements in housing stability, reduction of risks and harms associated with substance use, referrals to treatment, and access to health care and social services.

A secondary focus of my research examines the barriers and facilitators to the effective integration of harm reduction into health services and communities at large.

Through exploration of key stakeholder perspectives, I seek to increase the public acceptability of these services through assessing and addressing local concerns and deploying effective public health messaging.

I employ quantitative and mixed research methods.

Research affiliations

Associate member, School of Graduate Studies, University of Lethbridge

Harm Reduction Network

Research groups

Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM) - Prairie Node

Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM) - Emerging Health Threat: Drug Checking Leadership Group

Alberta Health Services Strategic Clinical Network—Addictions and Mental Health

Biography

Originally from Vancouver, BC, Dr. Pijl’s community health nursing practice background includes working with inner city populations who live at risk, use substances and are HIV/HCV positive.

When Dr. Pijl moved to Southern Alberta, she began teaching health care professionals in Lethbridge and a local Blackfoot community.

She also spent several years working with students in community health clinical experiences in First Nations communities and inner-city contexts.

Dr. Pijl is passionate about community health and about nursing education.

Education

PhD, University of Alberta (2015)

Masters of Education, University of Calgary (2007)

Bachelor of Science, Nursing, University of British Columbia (2000)

Awards

2012-2014:

  • Canadian Nurses Foundation, Dr. Dorothy Kergin Scholarship.

2013:

  • Wendy Lipinski Memorial Scholarship.
  • Western and North-Western Region Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, Graduate Student Research Award.
  • Alberta Registered Nurses Education Trust, Power of Scholarship.

2012:

  • Nursing Philosophy Journal, Philosophy of Nursing Postgraduate Essay Prize.
  • University of Alberta, Don Mazankowski Graduate Scholarship in Nursing.

2011-2013:

  • University of Alberta, Doctoral Recruitment Scholarships.
  • Alberta Registered Nurses Education Trust, CARNA President’s Scholarship.

2007:

  • Kainai Nation, Blackfoot Name.

1998:

  • Langara College, Irma Musil Award.

Dr. Em Pijl In the news

Contact us

College of Nursing
Helen Glass Centre for Nursing
89 Curry Place
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry Campus) 
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

204-474-7452
204-474-7682