UPEI graduate wins circumpolar health research award
Julie Bull, a graduate of the University of Prince Edward Island, was named the Canadian recipient of the Hart Hansen Award at a ceremony at the International Union for Circumpolar Health's 14th international congress held recently in Yellowknife, NT.
Bull received the award from the Canadian Society for Circumpolar Health, one of five charter members of the International Union for Circumpolar Health. The Union and its members are dedicated to promoting research, exchanging knowledge, and fostering greater awareness and responsiveness to health issues affecting circumpolar people.
The goal of the Hart Hansen Award is to increase cooperation in circumpolar health research and education by mentoring and encouraging emerging researchers and health-care workers.
Bull received her bachelor of arts (honours) and master of applied health services research degrees from UPEI. She is now working on an interdisciplinary Ph.D. from Dalhousie University with a focus on aboriginal research ethics.
"It was an honour to have such recognition from the Canadian Society of Circumpolar Health. There are so many aspiring young health researchers in Canada deserving of this and I feel privileged to receive this award,' says Bull. 'It is through the support of established researchers, health workers and organizations who have the passion to mentor young people that we will see generations of Aboriginal youth not only working in the health field, but taking control of the research, policy and practice."
Bull is now project manager of aboriginal education at UPEI. Her work involves providing support to current aboriginal students at the university and working on recruitment and retention of new aboriginal students. She also educates university faculty and staff about issues affecting aboriginal students and manages the Mawiomi Aboriginal Student Centre, which opened in January of this year.
Originally from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, Bull was a National Aboriginal Role Model in 2007. The National Aboriginal Role Model Program celebrates the accomplishments of First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth aged 13 to 30. She is involved in the Native Council of PEI and the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island.
