Britney Benoit completed her doctoral degree in May 2019 in the School of Nursing at Dalhousie University and Registered Nurse at the IWK Health Centre. Her doctoral work was supported by a CIHR Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

 

After obtaining her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Human Nutrition at St. Francis Xavier University, Britney went on to complete a direct-entry Master’s of Science (Applied) in Nursing at McGill University. Her Master’s research examining the barriers and facilitators to implementing the Neo-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative was supported by the Quebec Nursing Intervention Research Network. Following her Master’s degree, Britney went on to pursue her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Marsha Campbell-Yeo and Ruth Martin-Misener. Her doctoral research, examining the influence of breastfeeding on cortical and bio-behavioural indicators of procedural pain in full term newborns, builds on her nursing clinical background and training in maternal-newborn care and breastfeeding promotion and support. Other research interests include infant pain assessment, the long-term consequences of unmanaged pain in infants, and the factors influencing health care provider integration of families in infant care.

 

Britney has received funding support from Dalhousie University, the IWK Health Centre, and the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation. She is the recipient of the Dalhousie University Faculty of Health Professions Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research (2016) and the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia Rising Star Award (2016).

 

Having completed her doctoral work, Britney looks forward to securing a post-doctoral position that will support the continued development of the required skills of a successful clinician scientist. Her ultimate goal is to secure an academic appointment in which she is able to implement a clinical research program aimed at optimizing maternal and infant health outcomes.