Advancing Indigenous health through research and teaching: Jaris Swidrovich announced as Assistant Professor in the Tenure Stream

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is pleased to announce Jaris Swidrovich as Assistant Professor in the Tenure Stream at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, effective November 1, 2024.

A pharmacist and Two-Spirit Saulteaux First Nations man from Yellow Quill First Nation with Ukrainian heritage, Assistant Professor Swidrovich joined the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy as a member of the Teaching Stream in October 2021. Their areas of research and practice include HIV/AIDS, substance use disorders, 2SLGBTQ+ health, Indigenous health, social determinants of health, pharmacy practice, and pharmacy and health professions education.

They are currently principal investigator on multiple funded grants connected to their research and practice areas, including a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Catalyst Grant to explore facilitators, barriers, and opportunities to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis access and use among urban Indigenous Peoples in the Greater Toronto Area.

A recognized leader in chronic pain management research and clinical innovation, they are also principal investigator on a CIHR-funded grant to develop a digital freely accessible chronic pain recommendations map (RecMap) that will integrate and streamline guidelines from around the world regarding opioids, medical cannabis, and interventional procedures for chronic pain. The RecMap will provide decision-makers and insurers with a platform of the best available evidence to inform their decisions and provide plain-language recommendations to support patient-physician shared decision-making.

“Recognizing the unfortunate gaps in health outcomes experienced by Indigenous Peoples versus non-Indigenous people in Canada, I look forward to supporting the pharmacy community in both reducing and closing these gaps through my research and teaching.”

In this new role, Swidrovich looks forward to having a larger proportion of their position dedicated to research and supervision of graduate students. “In an evidence-based profession like pharmacy, research is foundational to how we teach, learn, and practice. Recognizing the unfortunate gaps in health outcomes experienced by Indigenous Peoples versus non-Indigenous people in Canada, I look forward to supporting the pharmacy community in both reducing and closing these gaps through my research and teaching.”

Swidrovich has made remarkable strides in advancing the representation and contributions of Indigenous professionals in pharmacy practice, research, and the development of health policy on Canada. As creator and co-chair of the National Truth and Reconciliation Special Interest Group through the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada, they play a pivotal role in enhancing strategic collaboration across Canadian pharmacy schools to advance reconciliation through integrating Indigenous content and preparing pharmacy graduates to practice culturally safe care.

In 2022, they achieved a significant milestone for Indigenous pharmacy professionals and the profession of pharmacy more broadly by establishing the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC), an organization dedicated to connecting and empowering the Indigenous professionals who will lead pharmacy practice change.

“Through dedicated research, inclusive teaching, and unwavering advocacy, Assistant Professor Swidrovich continues to actively address disparities, drive change, and advance equity and inclusion across academia, patient care, and pharmacy practice,” said Lisa Dolovich, professor and dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.

“We look forward to their ongoing and future contributions in these important areas and how they will help our Faculty continue to grow and innovate in meaningful ways.”