Angela Russolillo

MSc, PhD

Bio

Dr. Angela Russolillo is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia, specializing in health services research. Her clinical training and experience inform her research program, which focuses on health services use among individuals with psychiatric and substance use disorders. Dr. Russolillo aims to reduce disparities in mental health and substance use treatment through health services reform, advocacy, and the integration of evidence-based practices. 

As a Michael Smith Health Research: Health Professional–Investigator affiliated with Providence Health Care’s Mental Health Program and Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Russolillo collaborates on initiatives to improve patient outcomes by promoting comprehensive and compassionate care. Her research not only advances academic knowledge but also influences health policy and practice, providing practical solutions for better health services delivery and patient care.

Profile

Educational Background

• BPN, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
• MSc, Simon Fraser University
• PhD, Simon Fraser University

Affiliations & Links

• Director Mental Health Clinical Research, St. Paul’s Hospital 
  Program Head, Psychiatry, Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes

Honours & Awards

2021-2024            Early Career Investigator Award, Providence Research 
2022-2026          Health Professional Investigator Award, Michael Smith Health Research BC
2019                       Excellence in Nursing Award, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC            

Area of Research

Research Interests

My research explores how people with mental health and substance use issues access, engage and respond to health services and interventions. I use quantitative methods to examine health services use and related health outcomes with focus on people experiencing multimorbidity, homelessness or criminal justice involvement. My research aims to reduce disparities in access to care, improve treatment outcomes and inform policy and practice changes. 

Current Projects

Project: Redesigning Health Care for Concurrent Disorders – The Role of Multimorbidity in Complex Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders (Care for CCD)
Role: PI 
Funded by: Michael Smith Health Research BC
www.careforccd.ca 

Patient Acuity and Complexity Study – Inpatient Psychiatric Admission and Diagnosis Trends 2016-2023
Role: PI
Team: Julia Raudzus, Michelle Carter, Pulkit Singh 
Unfunded

High Support Housing for People with Serious Mental Illness in Canada: Promoting Mental Health Recovery and Social Inclusion
Role: Co-I
PIs: Stergiopoulos, Vicky; Kerman, Nicholas; Latimer, Eric A; Sirotich, Frank; Woodhall-Melnik, Julia R
Team: Aubry, Tim D; Distasio, Jino; Gicas, Kristina M; Kidd, Sean A; Kozloff, Nicole; Lesage, Alain D; Nixon, Lara; Piat, Myra; Russolillo, Angela L; Sylvestre, John C; Tibbo, Philip G
Funded by: CIHR Project Grant

Treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder among individuals with opioid use disorder: A cross-provincial population-level analysis
Role: Co-I
Team: Nosyk, Bohdan PI; Co-investigator(s):Gomes, Tara; Marsh, David C; Morin, Kristen; Puyat, Joseph H; Rotenberg, Martin A; Russolillo, Angela; L, Sylvestre, John C; Tibbo, Philip G
Funded by: CIHR Project Grant

Completed Projects

Developing a Model That Works: Integrated Care for Individuals with a Concurrent Disorder – A Delphi Study
Role: PI 
Team: Michelle Carter, Elisabet Brynjarsdóttir
Funded by: Providence Research 

Patient Experiences of Virtual Care for Reproductive and General Mental Health Outpatient Psychiatry Visits – Measuring Climate Impacts 
Role: PI
Team: Michelle Carter, Ellia Zhong, Elisabet Brynjarsdottir
Funded by: PHC Environmental Stewardship Team

Reimagining Perinatal Mental Health Services: Collaborative Development Of An Integrated Model Of Care
Role: Co-I
Team: Emily Jenkins (PI); Michelle Carter (Co-lead); Wendy Hall; Angela Russolillo; Brittany Bingham; Christine Ou; Valerie Rychel; Shelia Duffy; Nicole Fairbrother
Funded by: Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research – Convening and Collaborating Grant 

Implementation of Harm Reduction Practice in Acute Psychiatry
Role: PI
Team: Maja Kolar (co-lead); Elizabeth Dogherty (co-lead); Aaron Leung; Michelle Carter
Funded by: Providence Health Care Knowledge Translation Challenge

Implementation of a Clinical Tool Kit for the Care of Patients on Clozapine in Acute Psychiatry Acute Psychiatry Knowledge Translation 
Role: Co-I
Team: Joseph Puyat (PI); Michelle Carter; Angela Russolillo (Co-I) Dr. Katelyn Halpape Co-I); Tamara Mihic (Co-I)
Funded by: Providence Health Care Knowledge Translation Challenge

Publications

Selected Publications 

Chisholm A, Russolillo A, Carter M, Steinberg M, Lambert L, Knox A, Black A. Advancing evidence-based practice through the Knowledge Translation Challenge: Nurses' important roles in research, implementation science and practice change. J Adv Nurs. 2024 Aug 1. doi: 10.1111/jan.16362. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39087775.

Russolillo, A., Spidel, A., Kealy, D. Lack of identity and suicidality: The mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 212(2):p 122-128, February 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001731 

Russolillo, A., Carter, M., Guan, M., Singh, P., Kealy, D., & Raudzus, J. (2024). Adult psychiatric inpatient admissions and length of stay before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large urban hospital setting in Vancouver, British Columbia. Frontiers in health services, 4, 1365785. https://doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2024.1365785

Russolillo, A., Guan, M., Dogherty, E.J. et al. Attitudes towards people who use substances: a survey of mental health clinicians from an urban hospital in British Columbia. Harm Reduct J 20, 7 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00733-w

Russolillo, A., Carter, M., Brynjarsdóttir, E. (2024). Redesigning care for concurrent disorders: An integrated and recovery-oriented model of care. Available at: https://www.careforccd.ca/resources-for-clinicians

Teaching

Teaching Interests

Creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students are encouraged to explore critical concepts, engage in evidence-based discussion and develop practical skills relevant to their future careers in nursing. 

Current Teaching

NURS 303; NURS 180

Supervisor Eligibility

MN, MSN-thesis, MSN-non-thesis, PhD