Seonaid Nolan

Dr. Seonaid Nolan serves as an Associate Professor in the Division of Social Medicine within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. She is a core researcher affiliated with the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) and the Transformative Health and Justice initiative, focusing on evidence-based interventions for substance use disorders in high-risk populations including incarcerated individuals and hospital settings.

Her research program addresses critical gaps in addiction medicine through multiple interconnected domains:

• Implementation of opioid agonist therapy and safer supply programs
• Harm reduction strategies in healthcare and community settings
• Overdose prevention among vulnerable populations
• Health service utilization patterns for substance use disorders
• Integration of addiction treatment within hospital systems
• Addressing structural barriers for marginalized groups

Analysis of Dr. Nolan's 2024-2025 publications reveals a concentrated effort to combat Canada's overdose crisis through rigorous evaluation of innovative treatment models. Her work demonstrates particular expertise in extended-release injectable medications, hospital-based interventions, and community-engaged research methodologies. Geographically anchored in British Columbia, her studies frequently employ longitudinal cohort designs and qualitative approaches to examine real-world implementation challenges and patient outcomes during the toxic drug emergency.

Dr. Nolan actively mentors graduate students across UBC's Experimental Medicine program and interdisciplinary fields, supervising research on hospital-based opioid treatment initiation, safer supply dispensing models, and health disparities among sexual minorities with substance use disorders. Her academic leadership extends to developing evidence-based clinical guidelines through the BCCSU and advocating for systemic changes in addiction care delivery.

Through her affiliations with the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use and Transformative Health and Justice initiative, Dr. Nolan contributes to policy-relevant research that bridges clinical practice, community needs, and social justice considerations. Her current work emphasizes creating accessible care pathways from hospital settings to community-based services while addressing the unique challenges faced by incarcerated populations and other structurally vulnerable groups.