Dr. Patti Janssen wins a 2016 YWCA Women of Distinction Award

Dr. Patricia (Patti) Janssen has been named as a 2016 YWCA Woman of Distinction, one of British Columbia’s most distinguished awards for women.

The award recognizes women who have made great and lasting contributions to through their leadership and innovative work. Dr. Janssen was honoured for her work in the Research and the Sciences category.

Dr. Janssen conducts research to promote healthy pregnancy and birth, particularly among women marginalized by poverty, addiction and location in remote settings. She leads Optimal Birth BC, a multidisciplinary group of clinician scientists who promote normal birth by supporting practice change in hospitals and informed decision-making among childbearing families. Optimal Birth has created SmartMom, Canada’s first prenatal education program delivered free of charge to women through text messaging. As the Founding Director of UBC’s Master of Public Health (MPH) Program, and current Director of the UBC School of Population and Public Health’s Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, Patricia plays a major role in training the next generation of public health researchers. Her research confirming the safety and cost-effectiveness of midwifery care has changed legislation and policy around the world and was recently showcased at the European Court of Human Rights.