Dr. Nathan Nickel joins HDRN Canada Executive

Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN Canada) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nathan Nickel, Director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, to its Executive Committee.

Dr. Nickel is an applied population health scientist who uses administrative data to conduct health and social policy research. His research program uses a cross-disciplinary, team-science approach, partnering with scientists, community, and government policy- and decision-makers to generate actionable evidence to improve population health and well-being.

Dr. Nickel’s research interests centre on examining how the social and structural determinants impact population health and health inequities. His work examines parent-child health and mental health outcomes within the contexts of social and structural determinants. Much of his research is done in partnership with First Nations, Métis and Inuit organizations in Manitoba.

“I am thrilled to join HDRN Canada’s Executive. I look forward to working with others to strengthen and enhance our capacity to use the rich health and social data we have in Canada to support improvements in health and well-being,” said Dr. Nickel. “I am also excited to learn from and work with leaders in our field who have dedicated their careers to advancing Indigenous data sovereignty, data equity, and methodologies that centre communities’ lived experiences.”

"We are very fortunate to have Dr. Nickel joining our Executive," said Dr. Kim McGrail, Scientific Director of HDRN Canada. "His experience, interests and perspective will be invaluable, including in making sure that our commitments to principles of IDEA are embedded in all of our work."