IWK Health is proud to announce Dr. Justine Dol as the inaugural Accelerate Research Chair in Women+ Health, a new leadership role designed to provide dedicated time and resources to expand and advance IWK’s research program in women’s and gender-diverse health. The position aims to drive broad institutional growth by bridging clinical teams, community needs and emerging research trends to position IWK as a leader in innovative and impactful women+ health research.
“As the inaugural Accelerate Research Chair in Women+ Health at IWK Health, my goal is to improve women+ health outcomes by advancing research that truly reflects their experiences and needs,” said Dr. Dol. “I want to see more evidence generated about women+ health, better care informed by that evidence, and ultimately improved health outcomes. Through this work, I hope to position Nova Scotia as a leader in women+ health research and innovation.”
Dr. Dol leads the EMPOWER program (Enhancing Medical and Psychosocial Outcomes in Women+ and Parents through E-Health Resources), a forward-thinking research initiative focused on improving access to equitable care through digital health innovation. Dr. Dol developed the Essential Coaching for Postpartum text message program, which supports birthing and non-birthing parents during the first six weeks postpartum. With over 90 peer-reviewed publications and funding from local, national and international agencies, Dr. Dol brings a wealth of expertise and a clear vision to the position.
“I want to help ensure that women+ are at the centre of health research and care,” Dr. Dol said. “When we listen to their experiences and use that knowledge to guide research, we can create real and lasting improvements in health.”
The creation of the Accelerate Research Chair in Women+ Health addresses long-standing gaps in health research and care. In Canada, research focused on women’s health comprises only seven per cent of total national funding. Even when women+ are included in health research, sex and gender variables are not always reported, putting women+ and gender-diverse individuals at greater risk for misdiagnosis, ineffective treatment and health risks such as adverse drug reactions.
“Women+, including anyone who identifies as a girl or woman or who was assigned female at birth, continue to face inequities in accessing the information and care they need. Creating this new position is an important step in shifting that narrative,” added Dr. Dol. “It’s about ensuring that women+ health is seen, valued and advanced through focused research and meaningful change.”
One of Dr. Dol’s first priorities as Chair is to bring women+ directly into the research process with the creation of a patient partner panel of women+ who want to get involved in studies aligned with their health and experiences. The panel will help shape research in areas such as perinatal care, menopause, breast health and beyond.
The Accelerate Research Chair in Women+ Health will be fully funded by the IWK Foundation.