معرفی
Dr. Mary Shariff is a Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, where she currently serves as Director of the Master of Human Rights Program (effective July 1, 2024) and previously held leadership positions including Associate Dean (Academic, JD Program) and Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies). She is affiliated with the Centre on Aging, Centre for Human Rights Research, and Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics.
Her research focuses on Law and Aging, Bioethics, End-of-Life Decision Making, Human Rights, Animal Law, Natural Resources Law, and Contract Law. She has made significant contributions to understanding the legal and ethical dimensions of assisted death, palliative care, and the rights of older persons and persons with disabilities.
Dr. Shariff's recent publications reveal consistent engagement with the legal complexities surrounding medical assistance in dying, particularly examining how the Carter decision has reshaped legal frameworks while raising concerns about the impact on palliative care access. Her work demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that legal developments in end-of-life care prioritize patient autonomy while addressing systemic inequalities that affect marginalized populations.
- Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Research Award (2018)
- Students' Teacher Recognition Award (2016)
- Merit Award, Combination Category (Teaching, Service and Research) (2013)
- Walter Owen Book Prize (2011)
- Merit Award (Teaching) (2011)
As an academic leader, Dr. Shariff has secured research funding including a 2022 URGP Research Grant on vaccination decision-making for residents in personal care homes and a 2023 SSHRC Insight Development Grant. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Centre on Aging as Chair and is actively involved with the Canadian Association of Law Teachers and Manitoba Law Reform Commission. Her teaching spans Contracts, Issues in Law and Bioethics, Law and Religion, Animals and the Law, and Human Rights Research and Methods, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to legal education.
Dr. Shariff leads research initiatives through the Centre on Aging and Centre for Human Rights Research, focusing on the legal frameworks that affect vulnerable populations. Her current work examines how systemic issues in healthcare and legal systems impact marginalized communities, particularly older persons and those in care facilities, while advocating for rights-based approaches to end-of-life care and resource allocation during health crises.
