Jennifer Zwicker

Dr. Jennifer Zwicker

PhD, MPP

Positions

Associate Professor

Faculty of Kinesiology

Director, Health Policy

School of Public Policy

Canada Research Chair (II) Disability Policy for Children and Youth

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Child Health & Wellness Researcher

Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Owerko Centre

Contact information

Background

Educational Background

Ph.D. Physiology, University of Alberta, 2012

Master of Public Policy Health Policy, The University of Calgary, 2013

B.S. Physiology and Developmental Biology, University of Alberta, 2007

Biography

Dr. Zwicker is Director of Social Policy and Health at the School of Public Policy, associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Canada Research Chair (II) in Disability Policy for Children and Youth and Deputy Scientific Officer for Kids Brain Health Network. Her research program assesses interventions and informs policy around allocation of funding, services, and supports for youth with disabilities and their families. Strong stakeholder and government collaboration has been critical in the translation of peer-reviewed publications to policy papers, op-eds and briefing notes for provincial and federal ministries and senate committees. Her work recently informed the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences National Autism Strategy Working Group and Royal Society of Canada Expert Working Group to develop disability inclusive policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been recognized for her policy leadership as an Action Canada Alumni, Governor General Leadership Forum, and Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. 

Research

Areas of Research

Disability Policy for Children and Youth
  • Disability policy
  • Child health and wellbeing
  • Youth mental health
ACHRI Areas of Research
  • Health Services Research
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Policy

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Awards

  • Recruitment of Policy Leaders, Economic Council of Canada.
  • Action Canada Fellow, Action Canada. 2014
  • Andrew Stewart Memorial Graduate Prize, University of Alberta.
  • Graduate Citizenship Award, University of Alberta.
  • GSA Graduate Student Research Outreach Award, University of Alberta.
  • Palmer Diner Award, The University of Calgary. 2013
  • First place poster presentation, University of Alberta Department of Physiology - Physiology Student Research Day. 2010
  • Fred and Jane Bryans Trainee Presentation Award, 17th Western Perinatal Research Conference. 2009
  • CIS Gail Wilson Player of the Year, Canadian Interuniversity Sport. 2008
  • Art Quinney Pandas student athlete scholarship, University of Alberta. 2007
  • Block A Award, University of Alberta. 2007
  • First Team All Canadian, Canadian Interuniversity Sport. 2007
  • National In-Course Excellence Award, Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation. 2007
  • Academic All Canadian, Canadian Interuniversity Sport. 2007
  • Jason Lang Academic Scholarship, Alberta Heritage Fund. 2007
  • Academic Excellence Scholarship, Dean of Science - U of Alberta. 2004
  • T4K Academic Excellence Scholarship, University of Alberta. 2004