معرفی
Valerie Damasco is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Trent University, based on the Durham Campus. She holds an Honours B.Sc., M.A., and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on immigration, work, and racialization processes, particularly examining the interprofessional labour of immigrants and racialized workers in regulated professions like healthcare. She also explores mental health services for marginalized communities, intergenerational inequality, and the socio-political dimensions of healthcare systems and policies across local, national, and international contexts.
Dr. Damasco’s current projects include a SSHRC-funded study on Filipino healthcare professionals’ mental health challenges during the pandemic and a Toronto COVID-19 Action Initiative Grant project addressing structural inequities faced by these workers. She is also developing a book project analyzing historical and contemporary recruitment of Filipino nurses to Canada. Her teaching emphasizes anti-oppression and decolonial pedagogies, integrating experiential learning and community engagement into courses like Work and Social Inequalities and Practicing Social Research.
Her research has garnered media attention, including interviews with CityNews Toronto, OMNI News, and the Toronto Star, highlighting issues of racialized workers’ rights and policy reforms. She collaborates with non-profit organizations, governments, and international partners to advocate for equitable healthcare practices and address systemic barriers through community-based initiatives.
