Hometown
Barrie, ON, Canada
Program
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
Research Supervisor
Dr. Susan Holtzman
Awards
Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Graduate Scholarship Master’s Award (CGS-M; 2023)
UBC Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences Graduate Entrance Award (2023)
Public Scholars Initiative
Please describe your research.
My dissertation research focuses on understanding and addressing the support needs of people living with chronic pain (PLCP) regarding the therapeutic use of psilocybin for pain. As a leading cause of disability, chronic pain represents a major public health issue. A paucity of optimal treatment options for chronic pain has prompted research into therapies that may be considered unconventional in Western medicine, including psilocybin (i.e., ‘magic mushrooms’). Although this line of work remains in its nascency, a recent surge of public interest in the clinical applications of psilocybin indicates that there may potentially be a need for public health resources on this topic. PLCP may represent one patient group who may benefit from such resources. The goal of my dissertation is to elucidate insights about the specific perspectives and informational needs of PLCP regarding psilocybin, which will be used to inform the development of an educational resource on this topic for PLCP. More specifically, I will conduct a series of studies that evaluate: 1) the prevalence of therapeutic psilocybin interest and characteristics associated with such interest among PLCP; 2) the specific questions, knowledge gaps, and concerns of PLCP on this topic; and 3) the content and tone of informational exchanges about psilocybin and pain in online communities. Findings from this work, in conjunction with the broader literature on pain and psilocybin and expert knowledge of local clinicians, will be used to guide the development of a publicly available, informational resource on psilocybin and chronic pain.
What does being a Public Scholar mean to you?
To me, being a public scholar means engaging in person-centered research that prioritizes the needs and perspectives of the broader community. All researchers must consider the ‘real-world’ implications of their work — that is, who may benefit from their findings and how their findings may be applied in practical contexts. I believe that public scholars take this process one step further by asking, “How can I implement my findings to serve the community?” Beyond understanding and analyzing an issue, public scholars translate their results into useful resources or solutions for the community. While public scholarship projects may take many shapes and forms, ranging from knowledge translation projects to the implementation of novel community programs, they have a shared goal of imparting a direct positive impact on their populations of study.
In what ways do you think the doctoral experience can be re-imagined with the Public Scholars Initiative?
The Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) offers students an opportunity to engage in research projects that address current societal issues using innovative, collaborative approaches. It is common for PhD research programs to focus on advancing knowledge within a niche area of study, wherein the uptake of a student’s work may be limited to other experts in the field. There is immense value in this conventional academic trajectory, as it is crucial for advancing and refining existing bodies of knowledge. Such peer-to-peer research can also precipitate important academic breakthroughs and discoveries. In contrast, the PSI offers PhD students an opportunity to step outside this traditional pathway to pursue alternative forms of scholarship which may be better suited for their specific training or research goals. For example, instead of a final dissertation product consisting strictly of a written and oral presentation, students in the PSI who are passionate about knowledge translation may opt to present part of their dissertation through a medium that is more accessible to non-academic audiences (e.g., podcasts, documentaries). Further, by supporting students’ collaborative partnerships with communities and organizations outside of academia, the PSI allows students to glean practical skills and experiences working with others who have diverse backgrounds and interests. Thus, these interdisciplinary collaborations can enrich students’ understanding of the issues or populations they are studying, which in turn can guide the focus of their work. Overall, the PSI offers an opportunity for PhD students to engage in non-traditional research projects that engage the broader community in innovative ways.
How do you envision connecting your doctoral work with broader career possibilities?
After graduation, I hope to pursue a career at a public health or non-profit organization focused on improving the resources and supports available for individuals living with challenging/stigmatized health conditions (e.g., chronic pain, substance use issues). Specifically, I would be thrilled to work in a position that allows me to engage in research and knowledge translation activities. I also am interested in teaching psychology courses part-time at a college or university. By developing an educational resource for people living with chronic pain for my PhD, I aim to cultivate new skills in science communication and improve my ability to tailor such messaging to diverse audiences, including academic peers, students, clinicians, and the general public. Additionally, I believe my dissertation will equip me with the skills necessary to design, implement, and evaluate practical, patient-centered resources. Furthermore, given the highly collaborative nature of my PhD work, I aim to further advance my ability to navigate work-related challenges with a diverse group of stakeholders who may all have unique needs and preferences. This represents a critical competency for work at an interdisciplinary health organization. Lastly, I am optimistic that my PhD work will serve as an opportunity to cultivate strong working relationships with individuals and organizations who I may collaborate with later in my career.
How does your research engage with the larger community and social partners?
Throughout my work, I plan to engage with individuals with lived experience of chronic pain, whose feedback and insights will be incorporated throughout my dissertation work (with their consent). While person-centered approaches are useful for many areas of research, it is especially important for my dissertation, given the stigmatized nature of chronic pain and psilocybin. By integrating the insights of those with lived experience, I can help ensure my educational resource communicates information in a thoughtful and respectful tone.
Additionally, I plan to engage in collaborative partnerships with local clinicians in Kelowna who have expertise in chronic pain, psychedelic therapies, and harm reduction. I have developed a working relationship with some of these potential partners through preliminary work in my dissertation. These individuals have agreed to support me in the development of an educational resource on psilocybin and pain (e.g., assisting with content development, providing feedback on drafts, etc.). Once the resource has been finalized and approved by the team of peer and provider advisors, I will share it with organizations and communities who may be interested in disseminating the resource to help amplify its reach and uptake.
How do you hope your work can make a contribution to the public good?
The recent rise of public interest in psilocybin in North America urges an understanding of the perceptions and informational needs of various patient populations regarding this unconventional therapy. The unique cultural positioning of psilocybin, shaped by its illegal status and stigmatized history, likely makes it challenging for interested patient populations to access high-quality information on the topic. My work seeks to address this gap by creating a freely-accessibly, evidence-based educational resource on psilocybin and chronic pain. The goal of this work is to help empower people living with chronic pain to make more informed decisions about this treatment option at a time when misinformation and polarized opinions may be prevalent.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
My decision to pursue a graduate degree was fuelled by a combination of my ambition to create meaningful change for populations in need and my passion for learning. Since a young age, I have fostered a deep sense of curiosity about the world. This love of learning deepened during my undergraduate studies when completing courses in health, neuroscience, and psychology. After completing an undergraduate research course in a neuroendocrinology lab, I recognized that my interests and strengths were well-suited to academic research. I was particularly captivated by the field of health psychology, which led me to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Guelph in psychology. After completing my master’s degree, I moved to Vancouver and worked as a research coordinator on a randomized controlled trial exploring a new pharmaceutical treatment for people with opioid use disorder at UBC. This work sparked an ambition to help improve the psychosocial support resources available to individuals managing stigmatized health conditions, and reinforced my interest in health psychology. I realized that a graduate degree in this area would be critical in preparing me for a career focused on health psychology, and applied to a graduate program at UBC.
Why did you choose to come to UBC Okanagan and study?
My decision to pursue grad school at UBC was primarily based on three factors; 1) my interest in working with my supervisor, Dr. Susan Holtzman; 2) UBC’s excellent academic standing and reputation for high calibre research; and 3) my ambition to study in Beautiful British Columbia. In my search for potential graduate supervisors for my PhD, Dr. Holtzman, a registered psychologist with a special interest in health psychology and social support processes, quickly stood out to me because of our closely-aligned research interests (e.g., the psychosocial support needs of people living with chronic conditions). Her regular involvement in collaborative projects with community organizations and healthcare providers also appealed to me immensely, given my interest in interdisciplinary health research. My interest in working with Dr. Holtzman was further reinforced by UBC’s strong academic reputation and my positive experience working at UBC (Vancouver) as a research coordinator. One final factor influencing my interest in UBC was the geographical location; having moved to BC from Ontario in 2020 to spend more time adventuring in the ‘Great Outdoors’, I was eager to remain in the mountains for my doctoral studies.
Carolyn Crawford is a UBC Okanagan Public Scholar. Learn more about the Public Scholars Initiative (PSI).