Dr. Lisa Best never set out with a map in hand. Her academic journey was less of a carefully plotted course and more of a winding trail one shaped by curiosity, unexpected turns and a willingness to see where the path might lead.
Now, as associate dean of integrated health for the University of New Brunswick's Integrated Health Initiative (IHI), she leads the academic pillar of a movement redefining health education in the province.
Photo credit: Ashley Phinney
Best has played a key role in developing all academic programs within the IHI, including the interdisciplinary bachelor of health degree, which graduated its first full cohort last year. She is also involved in creating innovative academic programs designed to transform how health is understood in New Brunswick.
Born and raised in Minto, Best took her first academic steps at York University before continuing to the University of Arkansas to pursue a master's in applied psychology. From there, she earned a PhD in experimental psychology at the University of Maine, focusing on visual perception and cognition.
It wasn't until years later as a psychology professor at UNB when she supervised a student researching psychological wellness after traumatic brain injury that she found herself pulled in a new academic direction. That experience ignited a deep interest in health research, leading her to IHI.
IHI is a bold and innovative approach to health education, research and community engagement. The initiative aims to create a more holistic and responsive health system for all New Brunswickers by uniting disciplines and fostering collaboration.
"Education within IHI is about equipping students to tackle real-world health challenges head-on," Best said, and the opportunity to change the face of health care in New Brunswick and beyond.
A key milestone for Best and her team of highly skilled researchers is the development of two master's programs the first of their kind in the Maritimes that will include several experiential learning opportunities for students, including practicum and internships in health and a master of public health.
Best envisions IHI and its academic programs as a bridge that creates meaningful connections between students, researchers and the broader community.
Hands-on learning will be key to the long-term success of the program and its graduates.
For Best, education has always been about more than theory it's about experience. IHI strongly emphasizes experiential learning, as illustrated by one of its newest initiatives: a practicum course that offers students real-world exposure while earning academic credits.
"We developed a practicum for which bachelor of health students will receive three credit hours. We have our first group of students taking that class now," she said. "We plan to expand these opportunities with a co-op program that will give students practical experience in health care settings, similar to business co-op programs."
The power of collaboration can't be understated, Best emphasized.
The education pillar of IHI is driven by a dedicated team of faculty members and researchers, each bringing their expertise to the initiative's bachelor of health, and soon, its master's of health. Among them are Dr. Tony Reiman, Canadian Cancer Society research chair; Dr. Jennifer Woodland, an expert in experimental psychology with a focus on multisensory perception with over 10 years of experience in health research; Dr. Maggie Brown, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics whose expertise in statistical analysis and healthcare analytics is fundamental to health research and public health initiatives; Dr. Ziba Vaghri research chair in Child Rights and Child Development.
"We're working on bigger opportunities to connect students with community organizations," Best noted, "and developing partnerships that ensure the work being done through IHI's academic programs have tangible, lasting impacts."
