Joan Durrant

Dr. Joan Durrant is a Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. As a child-clinical psychologist and senior scholar, her work focuses on preventing child maltreatment through interdisciplinary research spanning public health, developmental psychology, and legal frameworks.

• PhD, Child-Clinical Psychology, University of Windsor

Her research centers on understanding the causes and consequences of parental violence against children, and developing culturally adaptable interventions such as the Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting (PDEP) program, co-created with Save the Children. She investigates how legal reforms and trauma-informed practices can shift societal norms and improve parenting approaches globally.

Dr. Durrant’s work extends across diverse contexts including urban centers, refugee camps, and conflict zones. She collaborates with international partners through initiatives like the Research and Education for Solutions to Violence (RESOLVE) and the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNET).

• 2020 Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Canada
• 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
• 2007 Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching

She currently leads program evaluations and adaptations of PDEP, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, while mentoring professionals worldwide in violence prevention strategies.