Dr. Slaunwhite is a population health researcher who has significant expertise in substance use and mental health. She has over a decade of experience working with administrative health data in North America, and has co-led research projects with people with lived experience of substance use, incarceration and overdose. 

Dr. Slaunwhite is the Scientific Director for Correctional Health Services at BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services where she leads a program of research focused on the delivery of health care in provincial correctional centres. Dr. Slaunwhite is the Director of the Canadian Collaborative for Prison Health and Education at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Slaunwhite holds a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar Award (2022-2027).  

Dr. Slaunwhite holds a PhD in human geography from the University of Victoria (2015) and a master's degree in urban and regional planning from Queen's University (2009). Dr. Slaunwhite completed post-doctoral training in child and youth mental health in the Department of Psychology at the University of New Brunswick (2015-2017).  Dr. Slaunwhite was a Senior Scientist and scientific lead of the BC Provincial Overdose Cohort at the BC Centre for Disease Control from 2018-2024. Dr. Slaunwhite previously worked in applied health research and policy roles at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), and the Parliamentary Information and Research Service. 

Dr. Slaunwhite is dedicated to developing applied health research projects that have a positive impact on the health of incarcerated people, and strengthen correctional health services. Dr. Slaunwhite is committed to working with people with lived/living experiences of substance use, mental health, and incarceration to co-develop and co-lead applied health research projects.