Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Faculty Member

Stephanie A. Nixon PhD, MSc, BHSc(Physiotherapy), BA

Research Interests

• HIV and AIDS
• rehabilitation and disability
• global health and globalization
• privilege and power
• public health ethics
• critical social science
• global health education
• Sub-Saharan Africa with focus on Zambia

Other Affiliations

• Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto
• Director, International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation (ICDR), University of Toronto
• Associate Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto
• Associate, Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto

Primary Teaching Responsibilities

• REH3120: International Issues in Disability and Rehabilitation

Honours & Awards

• Dean’s Rising Star Award, University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, 2015
• Graduate Teaching Award for Early Career Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentorship, University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, 2015
• CIHR New Investigator Salary Award, 2012
• Exceptional Achievement Recognition Award for Teaching, Department of Physical Therapy, 2010, 2011, 2012
• Award of Excellence in HIV and Rehabilitation, 2009

Current Research Projects

• 2014-2017 – Postcolonialism and Health: Implications for the Training of Health Care Providers in Canada
• 2014-2017 – Privilege and Power: Building Capacity of Clinicians and Researchers to Recognize, Understand and Mobilize their own Positions of Privilege as a Step toward Health Equity
• 2013-2016 – Development of an E-Module on HIV for Rehabilitation Providers in Sub-Saharan Africa
• 2013-2016 – A Scoping Study of Strategies to Develop Reflexivity among Clinicians and Health Professional Students
• 2011-2016 – The Sepo II Study: A Qualitative Longitudinal Exploration of the Experience of Living with HIV in Zambia Using a Disability Lens
• 2014-2015 – The Shared Innovation Study: HIV and Rehabilitation in Sub-Saharan Africa and Canada
• 2009-2013 – The Sepo I Study: Exploring the Experiences of People With Disabilities in Zambia who are HIV-Positive
• 2012-2013 – The Map Study: Investigating Best Practices for International Clinical Education of Rehabilitation Sciences Students
• 2011-2014 – The International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation’s International Clinical Education Programme of Research
• 2009-2013 – The Poz-Brain Study: Using a Disability Lens to Explore the Experiences of Women and Men in Toronto with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Challenges
• 2007-2012 – Investigating the Linkages Among HIV/AIDS, Economic Globalization and Growth
• 2008-2012 – “Picture This”: The Youth, Disability and Sexual Health Project
• 2008-2012 – Improving Accessibility of Research Ethics Boards for Community-Based Research

Representative Publications

• O’Brien KK, Tynan AM, Nixon SA, Glazier R. Effectiveness of aerobic exercise for adults living with HIV : systematic review and meta-analysis using the Cochrane Collaboration protocol. BMC Infectious Diseases, forthcoming.
• Mesaroli G, Bourgeois AM, Condron A, McCurry E, Petrapanagos, Fraser M, Nixon SA. 2015. Enhanced patient-centred care: perspectives regarding the impact of international clinical internships on practice. Physiotherapy Canada. 67(4).
• Gasparelli K, Crowley H, Fricke M, McKenzie B, Oosman S, Nixon SA. Guest Editorial: Mobilizing Reconciliation: Implications of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report for Physiotherapy in Canada. Physiotherapy Canada, forthcoming.
• Beavis ASW, Hojjati A, Kassam A, Choudhury D, Fraser M, Masching R, Nixon SA. 2015. What all students in healthcare training programs should learn to increase health equity: perspectives on postcolonialism and the health of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. BMC Medical Education 2015, 15:155.
• Nixon SA, Cockburn L, Acheinegeh R, Bradley K, Cameron D, Mue PN, Nyingcho S, Gibson BE. 2015. Using postcolonial perspectives to consider rehabilitation with children with disabilities: the Bamenda-Toronto dialogue. Disability and the Global South. 2(2):570-589.
• Nixon SA, Hunt M. 2015. Guest Editorial: Global health: where do physiotherapy and rehabilitation research fit? Physiotherapy Canada 67(3):217-218.
• Hanass-Hancock J, Myezwa H, Nixon SA, Gibbs A. 2015. “When I was no longer able to see and walk, that is when I affected most”: Experiences of disability in people living with HIV in South Africa. Disability and Rehabilitation 2015 Jul 25:1-11
• Gibson JL, Forman L, Nixon SA. Guest Editorial: Bioethics and the right to health: advancing a complementary agenda. Health and Human Rights Journal 17(1):1-5.
• Njelesani J, Gibson BE, Cameron D, Nixon SA, Polatajko H. 2015. Sport-for-development: a level playing field? Forum: Qualitative Social Research 16(2), Art.12
• Parsons J, Nixon SA, Bond VA. 2015. “Are we not human?” Stories of stigma, disability and HIV from Lusaka, Zambia and their implications for access to health services. PLoS One, DOI: 10.1371/journalpone.0127392.
• Njelesani J, Nixon SA, Cameron D, Parsons J, Menon JA. 2015 Experiences of work among people with disabilities who are HIV-positive in Lusaka, Zambia. African Journal of AIDS Research. 14(1):51-56.
• Worthington C, O’Brien KK, Myers T, Nixon SA, Cockerill R. 2014. HIV and rehabilitation training needs of health professionals in Canada: results of a national survey. Journal of Research in Interprofessional Practice and Education. 4(1):1-17.
• O’Brien KK, Solomon P, Worthington C, Ibanex-Carrasco F, Baxter L, Nixon SA, Baltzer-Turje R, Robinson G, Zack E, and the HIV, Health and Rehabilitation Survey Catalyst Team. Considerations for conducting web-based survey research with people living with human immunodeficiency virus using a community-based approach. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2014;16(3):1-12.
• Nixon SA, Maimbolwa M. Living with HIV and Dying with AIDS: Diversity, Inequality and Human Rights in the Global Pandemic, Book Review. Developing World Bioethics. 2014;14(1):56-57.
• Haro AV, Knight RP, Cameron D, Nixon SA, Ahluwalia PA, Hicks EL. 2014. Becoming an occupational therapist: perceived influence of international fieldwork placements on clinical practice. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 81(3):173-182.
• Flicker S, Nixon SA. The DEPICT model for participatory qualitative health promotion research analysis piloted in Canada, Zambia and South Africa. Health Promotion International. 2015;30(3):616-624, DOI:10.1093/heapro/dat093.
• Yoshida K, Hanass-Hancock J, Nixon SA, Bond V. Using intersectionality to explore experiences of disability and HIV among women and men in Zambia. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2014;36(25):2161-2168.
• Nixon SA, Cameron C, Hanass-Hancock J, Simwaba P, Solomon P, Bond V, Menon JA, Richardson E, Stevens M, Zack E. Perceptions of HIV-related health services in Zambia for people with disabilities who are HIV-positive. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2014;17:18806.
• O’Brien KK, Solomon P, Worthington C, Ibanex-Carrasco F, Baxter L, Nixon SA, Baltzer-Turje R, Robinson G, Zack E, and the HIV, Health and Rehabilitation Survey Catalyst Team. Considerations for conducting web-based survey research with people living with human immunodeficiency virus using a community-based approach. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2014;16(3):1-12.
• Kelland K, Hoe E, McGuire M, Yu J, Andreoli A, Nixon SA. Excelling in the Advocate role: exploring the perspectives of leading Canadian physiotherapy advocates regarding the attributes required for successful advocacy. Physiotherapy Canada;2014:66(1):74-80.
• Cassady C, Mehru R, Chan C, Engelhardt J, Fraser M, Nixon SA. Thinking beyond our borders: investigating ideal competencies for Canadian physiotherapists working in resource-poor countries. Physiotherapy Canada. 2014;66(1):15-23.
• Cleaver S, Nixon SA. A scoping study of ten years of published literature on community-based rehabilitation. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2014;36(17):1385-1394.
• Stevens M, Kirsh B, Nixon SA. Rehabilitation interventions for children living with HIV: a scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation 2014;36(10):865-874.
• Hopcroft L, Bester L, Clement D, Quigley A, Sachdeva M, Rourke S, Nixon SA. “My body’s a 50 year-old but my brain is definitely an 85 year-old”: Exploring the Experiences of Men Aging with HIV-associated Neurocognitive Challenges. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2013;16:18506.
• Wickenden A, Nixon SA, Yoshida K. Exploring the impact of the intersection of HIV, disability and gender on the sexualities of women in Zambia. African Journal of Disability 2013;2(1),Art.#50,8 pages.
• Nixon SA, Casale M, Flicker S, Rogan M. Applying the Principles of Knowledge Translation and Exchange to Inform Dissemination of HIV Survey Results to Adolescent Participants in South Africa. Health Promotion International 2013;28(2):233-243.
• Forman L, Nixon SA. Chapter 4: Human Rights Discourse within Global Health Ethics. In: Upshur RE & Pinto A. An Introduction to Global Health Ethics. Routledge. 2013.
• Cameron D, Cockburn L, Nixon SA, Garcia L, Leotaud J, MacPherson K, Mashaka P, Mlay R, Parnes P, Wango J, Williams T. Global Partnerships for International Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy: Reflection and Innovation. Occupational Therapy International. 2013;20(2):88-96
• Njelesani J, Stevens M, Cleaver S, Mwambwa L, Nixon SA.  International research partnerships in occupational therapy: A Canadian-Zambian Case Study. Occupational Therapy International 2013;20(2): 78-87.
• Njelesani J, Gibson BE, Nixon S, Cameron D, Polatajko, H. Towards a critical occupational approach to research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 2013;12:207-220.
• Hanass-Hancock J, Regondi I, van Egeraat L, Nixon S. HIV-related disability in HIV hyper-endemic countries: a scoping review. World Journal of AIDS. 2013; 3:257-279.
• Cobbing S, Chetty V, Hanass-Hancock J, Jelsma J, Myezwa H, Nixon SA. The essential role of physiotherapists in providing rehabilitation services to people living with HIV in South Africa. South African Journal of Physiotherapy 2013;69(1):22-25.
• Gallagher S, Biro S, Creamer E, Della Rossa E, Collins E, Rourke S, Nixon SA. “It’s a Hidden Issue”: Exploring the Experiences of Women with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Challenges Using a Disability Framework. Disability and Rehabilitation.2013;35(1):36-46.
• Marshall Z, Nixon SA, Nepveux D, Vo T, Wilson C, Flicker S, McClelland A, Proudfoot D. Navigating risks and professional roles: Research with lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer young people with intellectual disabilities. JERHRE 2012;7(4):20-33.
• Landry MD, Nixon S, Raman SR, Schleifer Taylor J, Tepper J. Global Health Experiences (GHEs) in Physical Therapist Education: Balancing Moral Imperative with Inherent Moral Hazard. Journal of Physical Therapy Education 2012; 16(1):24-28.
• Guta A, Nixon S, Gahagan J, Fielden S. “Walking Along Beside the Researcher”: How Canadian REBs/IRBs are Responding to the Needs of Community-Based Participatory Research. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics 2012;7(1):15-25.
• Gallagher S, Biro S, Creamer E, Della Rossa E, Collins E, Rourke S, Nixon SA. “It’s a Hidden Issue”: Exploring the Experiences of Women with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Challenges Using a Disability Framework. Disability and Rehabilitation 2012; Early online: 1-11.
• Nixon SA, Hanass-Hancock J, Whiteside A, Barnett AS. The Increasing Chronicity of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: Re-thinking “HIV as a Long-Wave Event” in the Era of Widespread Access to ART. Globalization and Health 2011; 7(41).
• Nixon SA, Benatar SR. A critical public health ethics analysis of Canada’s international response to HIV. Global Public Health 2011; 6(7):777-793.
• Casale M, Flicker S, Nixon S. Fieldwork Challenges: Lessons Learned from a North-South Public Health Research Partnership. Health Promotion Practice 2011;12(50):734-743.
• Stoebenau K, Nixon SA, Rubincam CC, Willan S, Zembe YZN, Tsikoane T, Tanga PT, Bello HM, Caceres CF, Townsend L, Rakotoarison PG, Razafintsalama V. More Than Just Talk: Implications of Transactional Sex Discourses for Women’s Vulnerability to HIV in Lesotho, Madagascar and South Africa. Globalization and Health 2011; 7(34).
• O’Brien KK, Nixon SA. Evidence-Based Management of an Individual Living with HIV. Physiotherapy Canada 2010 62(3), 202-205.
• O’Brien KK, Nixon SA, Tynan AM, Glazier R. Aerobic exercise interventions for adults living with HIV/AIDS. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD001796. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001796.pub3.
• Gibson BE, Nixon SA, Nicholls DA. Critical reflections on the physiotherapy profession in Canada. Physiotherapy Canada 2010 62(2):98-103.
• Casale M, Nixon S, Flicker S, Rubincam C, Jenney A. Dilemmas and tensions facing a faith-based organization promoting HIV prevention among young people in South Africa. African Journal of AIDS Research 2010 9(2),135-145.
• Crawford E, Biggar JM, Leggett A, Huang A, Mori B, Nixon S, Landry M. Examining International Clinical Internships for Canadian Physical Therapy Students from 1997 to 2007. Physiotherapy Canada 2010 62(3), 261-273.
• Nixon SA, Cleaver S, Stevens M, Hard J, Landry MD. The role of physical therapists in natural disasters: what can we learn from the earthquake in Haiti? Physiotherapy Canada 2010 62(3), 167-168.
• Hanass-Hancock J, Nixon S. The Fields of HIV and Disability: Past, Present and Future. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2009 12(2)8.
• Nixon S, Forman L. Exploring synergies between human rights and public health ethics: a whole greater than the sum of its parts. BMC International Health and Human Rights. 2008 8:2.
• Nixon S. Critical public health ethics and Canada’s role in global health. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 2006 97(1):32-34. Cameron DL, Nixon S, Parnes P, Pidsadny M. Children with disabilities in low-income countries. Paediatrics & Child Health. May/June 2005 10(5): 269-272.
• Rusch M, Nixon S, Schilder A, Braitstein P, Chan K, Hogg RS. Impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions: Prevalence and associations among persons living with HIV/AIDS in British Columbia. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2004 Sept 06 2(1):46.
• Nixon S, Cott C. Shifting perspectives: reconceptualizing HIV disease in a rehabilitation framework.Physiotherapy Canada. 2000 August 52(3).