St. Clair Nursing professor secures WE-SPARK grant for research to support student EDI training

Naty Ramirez Reyes of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and St. Clair College Nursing faculty member

Dr. Linda MacDougall at the WE-SPARK grant event on Aug. 27, 2025. (Linda MacDougall/St. Clair College)

A St. Clair College Nursing professor at the Chatham Campus has landed a grant from WE-SPARK Health Institute which aims to promote education and training on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles.

Dr. Linda MacDougall has received $3,000 from the WE-SPARK IDEA Grants program, which focuses on innovative proposals which are low-cost, small-scale pilot studies involving preliminary research projects to drive quality improvement in the healthcare sector.

Dr. MacDougall’s proposal notes an education gap within curricula for Personal Support Worker and Practical Nursing students related to the care of gender and sexually diverse populations, especially those who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

The project aims to introduce educational interventions, including guest speakers and reflective curricula, to increase cultural competence among domestic and international students.

“In many parts of the world and close to home serious human rights concerns are faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ people, where their very existence and expression are criminalized, leading to persecution, discrimination, imprisonment, violence, and death,” said Dr, MacDougall. “Educating people from around the world, St. Clair College can assist students in their unlearning of this hate towards future vulnerable patients in their care.”

Dr. MacDougall points to previous systemic reviews which identify when EDI content is incorporated within curricula, education effectively increases nursing students’ comfort discussing 2SLGBTQIA+ health topics – and by virtue of that – the level of care.

“This IDEAS grant from WE-SPARK will prepare our students to bring care, kindness and compassion to every patient no matter how they identify or who they love,” Dr. MacDougall said.

Dr. MacDougall will be working alongside Naty Ramirez Reyes, who works as the executive lead in senior leadership of equity, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

There will also be a Nursing faculty colleague and Bachelor of Science in Nursing student taking part in the pilot.

The pilot project is already underway, with the goal of implementing the educational intervention with students during the Winter 2026 semester.

The hope is that not only will students be more equipped with the proper training, but it will also enhance health outcomes, reduce discrimination toward marginalized communities, and ultimately make graduates more employable.

“The School of Nursing is proud of Dr. Linda McDougall and Naty Ramirez Reyes for their vision and dedication to our students as future healthcare leaders,” said Corrin Primeau, the Chair of the School of Nursing. “Together, St. Clair College and Chatham Kent Health Alliance strive to continue our commitment to community partnerships and the betterment of our students as they care for our diverse population.”

It’s one of dozens of projects supported recently by the WE-SPARK Health Institute, which is a dynamic partnership between the University of Windsor, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, and Windsor Regional Hospital.

The institute brings together the health research strengths, expertise, and infrastructure of the Windsor/Essex region to foster collaboration and advance healthcare innovation.

In the latest round of funding disbursements, WE-SPARK Health Institute and its funding partners have awarded 32 research grants totaling $499,000 to address pressing health challenges in Windsor-Essex.

Since launching its grants program in April 2020, WE-SPARK has awarded $2.3 million to local health research projects.

“These grants highlight the incredible talent and collaborative spirit in Windsor-Essex,” said Dr. Dora Cavallo-Medved, interim director of WE-SPARK. “Thanks to the generosity and commitment of our local sponsors, we’re able to support bold new ideas and pilot projects that help build the foundation for research aimed at improving health and well-being in our community and beyond.”

For a full listing of projects, click here.

Dr. Linda MacDougall with St. Clair College School of Nursing Chair Corrin Primeau at Chatham Campus on Aug. 28, 2025.

(Rich Garton/St. Clair College)

Courtesy: https://www.stclaircollege.ca/news/2025/st-clair-nursing-professor-secures-we-spark-grant-research-support-student-edi-training