Darryn DiFrancesco

DiFrancesco, Dr. Darryn

she/her

BA (Simon Fraser), MA (Ottawa), Ph.D. (UBC/Ottawa)

Assistant Professor
Phone
Campus
Fort St. John
Peace River-Liard

Biography

I am a medical sociologist with an interdisciplinary background. I completed a BA in Communication from Simon Fraser University, an MA in International Development & Globalization from the University of Ottawa, and a Ph.D. in Sociology through the University of British Columbia and University of Ottawa. My MA research examined community-driven economic development in a Northern BC Indigenous community, while my Ph.D. research was a digital ethnography exploring the experiences of mothers using Facebook for information about health and parenting. Following my graduate studies, I worked as Qualitative Research Lead at the University of Calgary's Health Technology Assessment Unit in the O'Brien Institute for Public Health, where I studied clinician experiences and perspectives relating to health technologies/interventions as well as preferences around payment models among rural and remote physicians.

Research and Expertise

I am interested in projects related to environmental health, health equity, health systems, and public perceptions of health issues.

I am currently collaborating with Dr. Elyse Caron-Beaudoin from the University of Toronto on a community-based participatory research project tracking contaminants in Indigenous traditional foods in the Peace River Valley.

Research Fields
  • Anthropology
  • Gender and Women's Studies
  • Health
  • Health and Well-being
  • Health Sciences
  • Northern Issues
  • Rural Health Services
Areas of Expertise
Gender, Maternal Health, Family, Social Media, Clinician Experiences, Rural and Remote Healthcare Workforce, Media misinformation
Languages Spoken
  • English
Currently accepting graduate students
Graduate Supervisor Details
I am interested in working with graduate students as supervisor or committee member. Please review my research interests and contact me if you believe I am a good fit for your project.
Available to be contacted by the media as a subject matter expert

Selected Publications