Laura Nimmon, PhD
Scientist
Dr. Laura Nimmon is a Scientist at the Centre for Health Education Scholarship (CHES) and Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia. Her research advances critical conversations in medical education on interdependence, power, and relational care. Her contributions have been recognized through multiple awards, including the UBC Faculty of Medicine Award for Excellence in Mentoring (2021), the Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) Champion Mentorship Award (2020), the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education (SACME) Young Researcher Award (2017), and election to Sigma Xi (2024). She also serves as Associate Editor for the journal Perspectives on Medical Education.
Research Interests
My research program has three major strands. First, I challenge assumptions of independence in health professions education by examining the social networks that underpin learning, teamwork, and clinical practice. Through social network analysis and social theories, I have revealed how interdependence, rather than autonomy, is central to effective care. This work has informed invited talks, research papers, and a Medical Education State of the Science paper introducing qualitative ego network analysis to the field.
Second, my program on power dynamics explores how authority and influence shape interprofessional teams and patient care. Supported by a SSHRC Insight Development Grant and an Arthritis Society Salary Award, this research has appeared in leading journals and culminated in high-profile invited contributions to Science (2024) and The Lancet Oncology (2025), positioning medical education within global conversations on ethical and relational care.
Finally, my scholarship on death, dying, and palliative care illuminates relational and temporal dimensions of compassionate practice. Collectively, my work deepens understanding of connection, care, and humanity in medical education during an era of increasing system dehumanization.
Publication Highlights
Please see recent publications via Laura’s Google Scholar page.