Professor Bukola Salami currents holds the rank of Full Professor in the Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
She is the former Director of the Intersections of Gender Signature Area in the Office of the Vice President Research at the University of Alberta (September 2021 to March 2023). Professor Salami’s research program focuses on policies and practices shaping migrant health as well as Black people’s health. She has been involved in over 80 funded studies totalling over $400 million, including matching funds. She founded and leads the African Child and Youth Migration Network, a network of 42 scholars from four continents.
In 2020, she founded the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program at the University of Alberta. Her work on Black youth mental health informed the creation of the first mental health clinic for Black Canadians in Western Canada (which was founded by Africa Centre and the Alberta Black Therapist Network).
She has presented her work to policy makers (including twice to the Prime Minister of Canada and once to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health). Her work has contributed to policy change, including that related to Black people’s well-being. She has trained over 100 undergraduate and graduate students, including many (~10) who are now Assistant or Associate Professors.
She is involved in several community volunteer initiatives, including the Public Health Agency of Canada Working Group on the Mental Health of Black Canadians and the Bell Let’s Talk Funding Advisory Committee. She is a Board member of the Black Opportunities Fund, Canadian Nurses Association, Black Physicians of Alberta (Vice President), and Black Health Alliance. She is a former Board member of Africa Center (the largest Black organization in Western Canada), Alberta College of Social Workers, and Edmonton Local Immigrant Partnership.
In addition to being an Editor for the Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, she is an Associate Editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) and on the Editorial Board of Nursing Inquiry and Qualitative Health Research. She is an advisory board member of the CIHR Institute for Human Development, Child and Youth Health. Dr. Salami has received several awards for research excellence and community engagement: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Emerging Nurse Researcher of the Year Award; College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) Award for Nursing Excellence; Alberta Avenue Edmonton Top 40 under 40; Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame (the highest research award in nursing); Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing; Killam Accelerator Award (a $225,000 value for research); Top 25 Canadian Immigrants; and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
