Dangerous beauty: The history and health hazards of the US cosmetics industry
Today, no country buys or sells more cosmetics than the United States. With annual sales exceeding 89 billion, the US beauty business is one of the most profitable in the world. It is also one of the least well-regulated. In 1938, years after doctors began warning of the rising tide of ‘poisonous’ beautifiers—face creams containing…
Read MoreJuicy knowledge: User-generated information about steroids, 1970-2000s
In 1988, the world was shocked when the “fastest man in the world,” Ben Johnson, failed a drug test after his celebrated victory in the 100-meter dash at the Seoul Olympics. Subsequent inquiries in North America showed that performance-enhancing drug use was common throughout the sporting world. While the literature on doping in sport has…
Read MoreFrom public spectacle to medical practice via “scientific spiritualism”: Zoologist Nikolai Vagner and the early studies of hypnotism in Imperial Russia, 1880-1909
Nikolai’s project seeks to examine the early history of hypnosis in one of the least studied settings in its global history, Imperial Russia. It focuses on the role of Nikolai Vagner (1829-1909), an eminent zoology professor at St. Petersburg University, prolific litterateur, and ardent spiritualist, in the popularization, legitimization, and institutionalization of research and theorizing…
Read MoreToxic work: Workplace safety and industrial hygiene in Canada’s munitions industry during the Second World War
Alex’s project explores how industrial hygiene was mobilized during the Second World War to support Canada’s munitions industry, which manufactured roughly 4.6 billion rounds of ammunition and artillery shells by 1945. His project focuses on the small army of doctors, nurses, and industrial hygienists who monitored working conditions, safety, and worker health. Their medical expertise…
Read MoreColonial landscapes: Public health programming, health districts, and nutrition education in Alberta, 1920s – 1960s
Emily’s dissertation studies the creation and expansion of public health programming with a focus on nutrition in Alberta from the 1920s to the 1960s, primarily in rural and northern areas. In the Prairies, where concerns of land dominated provincial concerns, public health, food, and nutrition were inextricably connected with the land. The discovery of macro-…
Read MoreHyperemesis histories: Patient and policy perspectives in twentieth and twenty-first century Canada
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a pregnancy complication characterized by severe nausea and vomiting that has wide-ranging effects on pregnant people. While historians of women’s health have written at length on pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood, the history of HG and broader nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) remains underexplored, especially in the Canadian context. With AMS…
Read MoreEnabling virtual palliative care supports for family caregivers in rural Ontario navigating dementia and chronic conditions at the end of life through co-design
Kristina’s project aims to understand the needs of caregivers supporting individuals with dementia in palliative care, leading to the development of compassionate virtual-care interventions. By involving both caregivers and healthcare providers, we’ll co-design solutions that prioritize family-centeredness, aligning with the AMS’s focus on integrating technology with compassionate care. As the number of Canadians affected by…
Read MoreNavigating social isolation in older adults living in the community through compassionate digital connections
Attention has been drawn to the global epidemic of loneliness and social isolation. Older adults living in the community are among those significantly affected. A recommendation for addressing this concern is bolstering social connectedness through public health policy and interventions. Technological solutions have expanded to mitigate loneliness and social isolation in older adults. While healthcare…
Read MoreDeveloping tools that enable implementation of compassionate digital health
Carolyn’s project will advance meaningful adoption of digital health services and tools to enable the delivery of high-quality, equitable, and compassionate person-centred integrated care. Her project builds on work done as part of a Canadian Institute for Health Research funded catalyst grant that funded the development of an initial set of value-based prompts designed to…
Read MoreDeveloping compassionate virtually guided infant development abilities (VIDA) monitoring technology with children who were born preterm and their families
Infants who are born early are at high-risk of sustaining developmental disabilities affecting their families’ quality of life. Neonatal follow-up is critical for the early identification of developmental delays to improve outcomes. Traditionally, neonatal follow-up is performed via in-person visits. A myriad of geographic and socioeconomic factors present barriers for numerous families to access the…
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