nancy
clark
My areas of focus



Immigrant and refugee mental health
Sixty percent of the population risk of illness is linked to the social determinants of health, and immigrant, refugee, ethno-cultural and racialized (IRER) groups are more exposed to these social factors. Twenty percent of British Columbians are racialized immigrants or refugees and suicide is ten times more likely amongst racialized immigrants and refugees. (Hansson,et al 2012). My program of research seeks to inform mental health policy and practice on moving toward equitable and culturally safe mental health services and supports for IRER groups.
Community Engaged Research
My research is community engagement that involves partnerships with immigrant and refugee service organizations to conduct research that produces results that are meaningful to communities and which have an impact on the mental health and wellbeing of immigrant, refugee, ethno-cultural and racialized groups. Community partners include MOSAIC: Options Community Services Society; Diversecity; Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria; WorkBC. I also collaborate with CARES for equitable health, a Community Alliance of Racialized Ethnocultural Services (CARES) BC which works in collaboration with the BC Health Coalition to improve culturally safe and equitable access to primary health care for newcomer and racialized communities.
Health Care Equity and Social Justice
Building on my dissertation work, my program of research focuses on social and structural inequities experienced by under-served population groups including groups negatively affected by displacement, i.e., refugees as well as other groups that experience structural vulnerabilities due to their age, sex/gender, ethnicity/race, class/poverty and their mental health status. As a result of this work, my program of research and scholarship addresses public policy and the mental health of under-served communities.
I am particularly interested in innovative theoretical approaches such as intersectionality which seek to disruptracism, classism, ableism, and sexism and which perpetuate social exclusion, discrimination, and poverty.
Video
Working with community
In this video, I speak about my research, and how I use peers and community members to promote cultural safety and to co develop research  for communities that have experienced forced migration.
About Me
My research and scholarship is informed by social justice, intersectionality and equity oriented health policy. My research area focuses on intersecting determinants of mental health of immigrants and refugees, ethno-cultural and racialized communities. As a first generation immigrant, racialized nurse and interdisciplinary scholar, I come to this work with a deep commitment to improve barriers to healthcare services and the promotion of culturally safe mental health care for groups who may experience structural vulnerability as a result of their migration status and other intersecting determinants of their mental health.Â
BIOSKETCH
Nancy Clark, Ph.D, MSN, RN is an assistant professor in the School of Nursing, at the University of Victoria (UVic). Her research focuses on immigrant and refugee mental health and meaningful inclusion of diverse communities in her work. Nancy has published 15 peer reviewed research articles, and 7 book chapters. Nancy’s funded grants totaling $ 1,301,428 with $163,186 held as Principal Investigator since 2017, including support by granting organizations in Canada (Victoria Foundation, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC),UVic Internal Research and Creative Project Grant,Patient Oriented Research-Canadian Institutes for Health Research Planning & Development Awards, and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. Dr. Nancy Clark has been recognized by the The Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia (CUFA BC) for her achievement as an early career scholar. Nancy received the 2020 outstanding contributions in research Award of Excellence in Advancing Nursing Knowledge & Research from the Association of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (NNPBC).