معرفی
Dr. Cheryl Heykoop serves as Associate Professor and Program Head of the Master of Arts in Leadership - Health Specialization at Royal Roads University's School of Leadership Studies. She maintains significant cross-institutional affiliations as a member of Vancouver Island's Integrated Cancer Care Strategy Council, Innovation Support Unit Scholar at UBC's Faculty of Medicine, founding member of the ResiliencebyDesign Research Lab, and Research Associate with the International Institute for Child Rights and Development.
Her educational foundation includes a Doctorate of Social Sciences (2014) from Royal Roads University, Master of Sciences in Humanitarian Studies (2006) from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Studies (2003) from the University of Guelph.
Heykoop's research centers on participatory action research methodologies, process ethics frameworks, and transformative approaches to patient-centered care within healthcare systems. She specializes in developing ethical protocols for meaningful engagement of vulnerable populations—particularly young cancer patients and youth affected by conflict—with emphasis on narrative approaches that amplify marginalized voices. Her work bridges academic theory and practical implementation through co-creation with communities.
Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent application of arts-based and narrative methodologies across healthcare transformation, post-conflict reconciliation, and disaster recovery contexts. Key thematic threads include ethical innovation in youth engagement, systems-level healthcare redesign, and decolonizing research practices that prioritize participant agency and cultural safety.
Her scientific recognition includes:
- Kelly Outstanding Teaching Award (2016) from Royal Roads University
Heykoop currently secures major funding through Vancouver Foundation and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research grants focused on adolescent/young adult cancer care transformation. Her prior research portfolio includes Sierra Leonean truth commission studies and Northern Uganda post-conflict initiatives. She actively contributes to strategic advisory roles while designing curricula for multiple MA programs (Leadership, Global Leadership, Disaster and Emergency Management) that integrate her research insights into pedagogical practice.
Her research ecosystem includes leadership of the ResiliencebyDesign Research Lab and collaborative networks with UBC's medical faculty and international child rights organizations, demonstrating sustained commitment to translating academic work into systemic community impact.
