The Faculty & Trainee Spotlight Series shines a light on the incredible people who make up the heart of UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Amidst the remarkable achievements and developments within the department, it is a pleasure to share the stories of the dynamic trainees and faculty who bring passion, curiosity, and insight that drive the areas of anesthesiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics forward.
Meet Dr. Annabel Chapman!
Role: Postdoctoral Fellow
Location: UBC Vancouver
Throughout her BSc in Food Science and Nutrition and MSc in Human Nutrition, Annabel Chapman developed a strong interest in the social determinants of health and health equity. She went on to work in the UK charity sector, conducting community-based research focused on patients’ experiences within health and social care services. Wanting to return to academia, she pursued a PhD at the University of Brighton, where her research examined local shared values in communities in Senegal, Indonesia, and India to help inform socially acceptable nutrition interventions. This work ultimately led to her current research focus on implementation science and knowledge translation at UBC.
“I am passionate about working with patients and community members to involve them in the research process and collaborate on co-designed projects.”
— Annabel Chapman, Postdoctoral Fellow, UBC
How did your path lead you to UBC?
During my PhD, working with communities to design more culturally appropriate interventions ignited my interest in intervention design and implementation, and deepened my passion for community-engaged work. I knew I wanted the next stage of my research career to focus on implementation science and knowledge translation, and I was also eager to gain experience outside of the UK. This led me to the Therapeutics Initiative at UBC, which happened to be advertising a postdoctoral position in implementation science—a perfect opportunity.
What areas of research or practice are you most passionate about?
I am passionate about working with patients and community members to involve them in the research process and collaborate on co-designed projects. This feels especially important when patients or community members come from groups that are seldom heard in research. Ultimately, partnering with patients can make research outputs more relevant and more effective.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the hospital or lab?
Enjoying the beautiful natural environment around Vancouver! I love to go for hikes in summer and to ski in winter. This year I am going to attempt to learn to snowboard.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t guess?
I’m from the Isle of Man! A place famous for motorbike races and cats with no tails.