معرفی
Dr. Ellen Balka is a Professor in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and Associate Dean in the Faculty of Communication, Arts and Technology. Her work focuses on the design and implementation of health information technologies, emphasizing equity, patient safety, and participatory design. She leads the Assessment of Technology in Context Design Lab (ATIC Lab), which explores the human dimensions of technological systems. Her research has secured over $7 million in grants, including major funding from CIHR and MSFHR. Key projects include the ActionADE initiative, which aims to reduce preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) through improved cross-setting communication.
Education
- Ph.D. (Interdisciplinary: Communications, Computer Science, Women’s Studies), Simon Fraser University (1991)
- M.A. (Women’s Studies), Simon Fraser University (1987)
- B.A. (Geography and Environmental Studies), University of Washington (1981)
Research Interests
- Health Information Technologies and Policy
- Participatory Design and Social Informatics
- Gender and Technology Studies
- Patient Safety and Adverse Drug Events
Awards & Grants
- Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award (2025)
- CIHR Partnership in Health System Improvement Grant ($1.2M+)
- MSFHR and BC College of Pharmacists Funding
Labs & Projects
- ATIC Lab: Investigates human-technology interactions and participatory design.
- ActionADE: Develops software to prevent repeat ADEs through PharmaNet integration.
