Associate Professor
Canada Research Chair in Environment, Nutrition, and Health
Tel.: 514-398-8642
Fax: 514-398-1020
grace.egeland [at] mcgill.ca (Email)
Degrees
- PhD: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 1989
- BA: Luther College, Decorah, Iowa 1981
Awards and Recognitions:
- Canadian Foundation for Innovation (2008)
- Canada Research Chair Renewal (2007)
- Canadian Foundation for Innovation (2002)
- Canada Research Chair (2002)
Professional memberships:
- American Public Health Association
- Canadian Society for Nutritional Sciences
- Canadian Diabetes Association
- Canadian Society for Circumpolar Health
- International Epidemiology Association
Current research:
Dr. Egeland’s work with Indigenous Peoples in Canada has involved Cree and Inuit populations. Egeland is the Principal Investigator of the International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey. The role of the rapid transitions experienced by Indigenous Peoples features prominently in shaping the research being conducted. Examples of Dr. Egeland’s graduate student projects involving Cree and Inuit populations are evaluation of food security, nutrition transition, dietary adequacy, determinants and consequences of emerging obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further, the Inuit Health Survey provides data for research projects led by other faculty members at the SDHN, such as Dr. Hope Weiler’s work on vitamin D, and by faculty at other institutions, such as Dr. H.M. Chan’s (UNBC) work on methylmercury.
In addition to Dr. Egeland’s chronic disease and nutrition epidemiologic research, Dr. Egeland leads a community health promotion initiative in a community in the Baffin Region. The project provides graduate students with opportunities to explore the efficacy of health promotion pilot projects such as the use of youth radio drama and Elder story telling in a DVD format. The overarching goal is to find culturally appropriate nutritional health promotion tools for combating the nutrition and epidemiologic transition now occurring in Inuit communities.
Dr. Egeland also has a study evaluating the trans-generational nature of gestational diabetes mellitus together with co-P.I. Dr. Sara Meltzer which evaluates shared mother-daughter risk factors, such as behavioral eating (together with Dr. Louise Thibault) and oxidative stress (together with Dr. Stan Kubow).
Publications
To view a list of Dr. Egeland's publications, click here.
Other selected publications:
Egeland GM, G Charbonneau-Roberts, J Kuluguqtuq, J Kilabuk, L Okalik, R Soueida and HV Kuhnlein. Chapter 8: Back to the Future - Using Traditional Food and Knowledge to Promote a Healthy Future among Inuit . In: HV Kuhnlein, B Erasmus and D Spigelski, eds. Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems: the many dimensions of culture, diversity, environment and health. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2009.
