Rusty Souleymanov

Dr. Rusty Souleymanov is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba, with interdisciplinary training in social work, public health, and psychology.

• Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work and Collaborative Program in Public Health Policy) – University of Toronto, 2018 
• Masters of Social Work – University of Toronto, 2012  
• Bachelors of Science with Honours (Psychology) – University of Toronto, 2009 

‘Social Justice and Good Health for All’: Ensuring that health care, social care, and community-based services are accessible for marginalized people in Canada 

Health and social disparities disproportionately affect Canada's marginalized communities. To address this injustice, Dr. Rusty Souleymanov is committed to improving access to healthcare and social services for these disenfranchised groups. His interdisciplinary research, at the confluence of social work, public health, psychology, and social sciences, investigates the link between socioeconomic injustice and health disparities. His work primarily examines how oppression affects the health and well-being of marginalized and equity-seeking communities, aiming to develop culturally sensitive healthcare and community service models.

His areas of research include:

• Community-based participatory research
• Social work in healthcare
• HIV services and policy
• Decolonizing and Indigenizing health research
• Marginalization, poverty, and access to health and social services
• Sexual health, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections
• Substance use, harm reduction, and drug policy
• Racial, ethnic, and cultural inequities in health
• Community-based research ethics
• Mental Health and social work
• Critical public health and social work

Over the past three years, Dr. Souleymanov's remarkable efforts have secured over $1.7 million in grants from prestigious institutions such as the Federal Government of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. In 2021, Dr. Souleymanov established the Village Lab, an interdisciplinary, community-based research group at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba. The Village Lab's overarching mission is to conduct decolonizing social science and community-based health research to address health and social disparities among equity-seeking and marginalized populations in Canada. Through the Village Lab, Dr. Souleymanov is currently working with, and strengthening the capacity of, key and priority populations, including: 1) First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people; 2) Black, African, and Caribbean communities; 3) refugees and immigrants; 4) 2SLGBTQIA+ communities; 5) people who use drugs; 6) people living with HIV and Hepatitis C. His work also fosters cross-jurisdictional collaborations and partnerships, uniting key stakeholders to utilize research data in the development of services and initiatives for marginalized communities.

Dr. Souleymanov is currently the principal investigator on several research projects and capacity strengthening programs, including:  

• Kotawêw Doula Project

• Ubuntu-Pamoja Study 
• Gigii-Bapiimin Study 
• Migration and Health Study 
• The Manitoba Two-Spirit, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Men’s Health Study 
• The Manitoba 2SGBQ+ and COVID-19 Study 
• Investigaytors Winnipeg 

Dr. Souleymanov's impactful work has garnered attention from influential figures, members of the Canadian Parliament, and health ministers, who recognize the significance of his research in addressing the impacts of social and economic injustice on disenfranchised communities in Canada. Dr. Rusty Souleymanov's dedication to improving the lives of equity-seeking and marginalized populations across Canada continues to leave an indelible mark on social and public health policies and services.

For a detailed list of Dr. Souleymanov’s publications and extensive body of work, please visit his Research Gate page. 

Dr. Souleymanov's is committed to creating educational spaces that centre communities who have been historically excluded in academia. He teaches from a queer-feminist, anti-colonial, and anti-racist perspectives. His teaching interests include community organizing and development, research methods and epistemology, social work practice with groups, and critical social work theory. Dr. Souleymanov is training, supervising, and building capacity among emerging scholars/students who are entering the field of HIV/AIDS, harm reduction, mental health, sexual health, Indigenous health, migrant health, and 2SLGBTQIA+ research and community practice.  

Dr. Souleymanov is currently serving on the Board of Directors of Nine Circles Community Health Centre, Realize Canada, and on the stewardship team of the Manitoba HIV/STBBI Collective Impact Network. He is also a member of University of Manitoba Senate Executive Committee.