Jen Woodland is reshaping health care in N.B. by turning research and education into action
Dr. Jen Woodland (MA'09, PhD'15) doesn’t just study health problems — she solves them — and she is teaching the next generation of health professionals to do the same.
As a researcher with UNB's Integrated Health Initiative (IHI) and a professor in the bachelor of health program, Jen is a driving force behind the university's bold mission to transform health research, education and care across the province.
Her approach to research is pragmatic and hands-on: identify the gaps, dive into the data, uncover the best solutions and then help put those solutions into action. It is research with purpose and it is focused on producing meaningful outcomes for the people of New Brunswick — a mindset she is passing on to bachelor of health students.
"My formal education is much different from the work I do now. I studied experimental psychology — specifically human sensation, perception and how our senses work together — but I always had this sense that the work could be useful in realworld contexts, especially in health care." While her early research focused on an area without an immediate practical application, Jen saw how it could eventually lead to real solutions. That instinct became the foundation of her work today.
After earning her PhD in experimental psychology from UNB, Jen joined Horizon Health Network, where she helped integrate research into medical training and clinical practice. In this role, she worked closely with health-care providers and students, building programs that supported applied health research in fast-paced clinical environments. This work laid the groundwork for the integrated, solutions-driven approach she now brings to UNB.
For Jen, simply generating knowledge isn't enough. The real challenge lies in making that knowledge accessible and applicable in real-world settings.
"We are reimagining how information is shared. We are making sure the right people, in the right context, can use the information to make change."
That means translating findings into accessible language for policymakers, clinicians and service providers, so they can make informed decisions and ultimately improve care and outcomes of health.
Jen's approach is the very embodiment of the IHI's effort to address complex health challenges by merging research, education and community health. As one of the initiative's key researchers, she leads efforts to ensure that academic research translates into practical, community-driven solutions.
"We are producing research and finding ways to improve health-care outcomes in New Brunswick. We are working directly with communities, clinicians and students to identify needs, conduct relevant research and ensure those findings are put into practice."
In her role as a professor, Jen is training the next generation of healthcare professionals to approach health research critically, strategically and with a solutions-oriented mindset.
"The way we approach problems, the way we collaborate, the way we think about solutions — it is all about impact. I want to show students how they can have that same impact in their careers."
She and her students regularly produce actionable guidelines, policy briefs and other resources that help service providers evaluate their work and deliver better care. Work that has an immediate, tangible impact on the province’s health-care system.
“The way we approach problems, the way we collaborate, the way we think about solutions — it is all about impact. I want to show students how they can have that same impact in their careers.”
"The stakes are real. The work we do isn’t just theory — it directly affects New Brunswickers."
One such project of impact Jen and her team are currently working on is viable treatment management plans for kids living with asthma in New Brunswick.
She and her team are applying basic science principles from psychology to explore the barriers that make sticking to existing treatment plans difficult. Based on this research, they are developing actionable, evidencebased interventions that will improve patients’ lives.
"This touches on all aspects of research. From basic to applied science, it has implications for multiple pillars of health including academic and industry."
Alongside her role at UNB, Jen serves on the board of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation, which keeps her connected to the health-care system's ever-changing needs. This connection is vital to the bachelor of health's mission of integrating research with practical, real-world solutions.
Within the IHI, her innovative approach is a testament to the power of collaborative, applied research and education that prioritizes real world impact. Through her work in the classroom and beyond, she is shaping the future of health care in New Brunswick and ensuring the next generation of health professionals is equipped to meet the challenges ahead.
Originally published on the UNB Newsroom
