UBC Faculty of Medicine Appoints Dr. Mariana Brussoni as HELP's new Director

The faculty and staff at the Human Early Learning Partnership, along with our colleagues from the UBC Faculty of Medicine and the School of Population and Public Health, are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mariana Brussoni as the Centre’s new Director effective August 1, 2021 until June 30, 2026.

Dr. Brussoni is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and SPPH, a member of the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, and an Investigator at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Research conducted by Dr. Brussoni combines injury prevention, risk and developmental psychology to develop evidence-based interventions for parents, educators, practitioners and policy-makers that support children’s outdoor risky play. Dr. Brussoni has published extensively and has been widely featured in international media. She was awarded the 2019 inaugural Outdoor Play Canada and the 2020 UBC Faculty of Medicine Excellence in Clinical and Applied Research Award.

In her new role, Dr. Brussoni will provide leadership in translating research toward policy and systemic improvements for children and families, and contribute to supporting and nurturing the emergence of new and young academics with interests in interdisciplinary research on child development. Dr. Brussoni will also work with HELP’s Aboriginal Steering Committee and with external First Nations, Métis and Inuit organizational partners.

Dr. Brussoni’s leadership and fundraising will support financial and operational sustainability of HELP’s applied, interdisciplinary research activities, population-level data collection on child and youth development, and HELP’s knowledge mobilization activities. Dr. Brussoni will ensure close collaboration with government, stakeholders in the health and education sectors, and community organizations across B.C.

Over the years, Dr. Brussoni has been an active collaborator with HELP faculty and holds a commitment to balancing both research and knowledge mobilization that is also foundational to the Centre. We are excited to welcome her to HELP.

Dr. Brussoni’s appointment follows the interim leadership of Dr. Martin Guhn, who completed his term on June 30, 2021 and who will remain as a key member of the HELP faculty. We want to sincerely thank Dr. Guhn for his valued contributions and stepping into the role to lead HELP successfully through a year of transition.