Jose Benito Tovillo

PhD, RN

Profile

Educational Background

• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing - University of Alberta (2018-2024).
• Master of Nursing (Bypass to PhD) - University of Alberta (2017-2018).
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing - MacEwan University (2011-2015).

Postdoctoral Fellowship

• Postdoctoral Fellow. University of Northern British Columbia - Faculty of Human & Health Sciences (07/2025-Present). University of Victoria - School of Public Health and Social Policy (06/2024-06/2025). Supervisor: Dr. Nathan Lachowsky. Funding: MITACS Elevate Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.

Honours, Awards, and Scholarships

• Genevieve Gray PhD Medal in Nursing (2024)
• Golden Key International Graduate Scholar Award (2023)
• FGSR Mary Louise Imrie Graduate Student Award (2023)
• Dr. Gary McPherson Leadership Scholarship (2022)
• Ronald Gordon Rowswell-O'Connor Graduate Award (2022)
• Dr. Florence Myrick Graduate Scholarship in Nursing (2021)
• Inez Poole Nursing Graduate Scholarship (2020)
• Alberta Registered Nurses Educational Trust Scholarship (2020)
• Dr. Shirley Stinson Scholarship in Nursing History (2020)
• Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (2019)
• Margaret Baxter Memorial Graduate Scholarship in Nursing (2019)
• Don Mazankowski Graduate Scholarship in Nursing (2018)
• Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship (2018)

Affiliations

• International Union Against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUASTI)
• British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)
• Canadian Association of Nurses in HIV/AIDS Care (CANAC)
• Canadian Association for HIV Research (CAHR)
• Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC)
   

Area of Research

Dr. Tovillo’s research focuses on equitable access to HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) treatment and prevention, particularly among Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ community. His doctoral work used narrative inquiry to explore the experiences of Canadian young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in relation to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access. He has also contributed to research examining the experiences of Canadian immigrants and refugees living with HIV, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV/AIDS service providers. Currently, Dr. Tovillo is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Northern British Columbia (formerly at the University of Victoria) and supports projects focused on innovative HIV/STBBI treatment and prevention strategies: doxycycline as an STBBI prevention method and long-acting injectable HIV treatments for sexual minorities in Canada.

Dr. Tovillo continues to collaborate with provincial and national HIV/STBBI researchers, leaders, and stakeholders to advance public health in Canada. He remains actively engaged in research, education, and community service initiatives aimed at promoting the sexual health and well-being of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and addressing the HIV/STBBI epidemics across Canada.

Publications

Dela Cruz, A., Puri, R., Tovillo, J. B., Hayden, A., & Caine, V. (2022). Experiences of migrants living with HIV from HIV-endemic Sub-Saharan African countries: A systematic review of qualitative research studies. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 25(1), 219-231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-022-01340-w

Marriette, N., Dhungel, R., Karki, K. K., & Tovillo, J. B. (2025). Challenges and resiliency: Social determinants of health, COVID-19, and the disproportionate impact on immigrants and refugees living with HIV. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(1), 114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010114

Tovillo, J. B. M. (2024). A narrative inquiry into the experiences related to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Canada [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Alberta]. Education and Research Archive. https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-1xj1-hh67

Tovillo, J. B. (2023). A narrative inquiry into the experiences related to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Canada [Published Abstract]. Canadian Association for HIV Research. https://www.cahr-acrv.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CAHR2023-Abstract-B…

Trombetta, T., Tovillo, J. B., & Caine, V. (2021). Troubling silences: Reflecting on findings from an integrative review on access to PrEP [Published Abstract]. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 97(1), A126-A126. https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2021-sti.330 

Teaching

Teaching

Dr. Jose Benito Tovillo earned his PhD in Nursing from the University of Alberta in 2024 and has more than eight years of post-secondary teaching experience across institutions in Alberta and British Columbia. He also has over a decade of experience as a registered nurse in emergency, medicine, psychiatry, and geriatrics – all of which inform his approach to teaching and nursing education.

Dr. Tovillo’s passion for nursing education began during his undergraduate studies, leading him to pursue a Master of Nursing (Teaching Stream) at the University of Alberta in September 2017. Prior to transitioning into the PhD in Nursing program after his first year of MN studies, he completed the core teaching courses and earned a Graduate Embedded Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education.

Dr. Tovillo has taught a wide range of nursing and healthcare courses since, including classroom lectures, seminars, laboratories, simulations, and clinical instruction. These experiences have enhanced his ability to provide high-quality nursing education and effectively prepare future registered and advanced practice nurses in Canada.

Teaching Philosophy

Dr. Jose Benito Tovillo’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that education should be student-centred, fostering a learning environment that is supportive, empowering, and conducive to the exploration of each student’s potential. He values multiple ways of knowing and incorporates Indigenous perspectives, anti-racist pedagogy, and cultural safety principles into his teaching.

Dr. Tovillo also believes in tailoring teaching methodologies to accommodate the unique needs of each student, ensuring their success in the learning process. Overall, his goal is to prepare nursing students with strong clinical skills and the confidence, compassion, and critical consciousness required to provide equitable care and to advocate for patients, families, and communities in British Columbia and Canada.
 

Current Teaching: NURS 427: Consolidated Practice Experience (Winter 2026)