Rachel Ollivier

PhD, NP(F)

Bio

Dr. Ollivier practices clinically in the areas of complex gynecology and women’s cardiovascular health in addition to her role as the Nurse Practitioner Lead for the new Menopause & Midlife Health Program at the BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre. She is also a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) as of June 2024. Dr. Ollivier is passionate about bridging research and clinical practice in women’s health. 

Educational Background

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan (2016) 
PhD in Nursing, Dalhousie University (2022)
Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Diploma, Queen’s University (2023) 

Affiliations & Links

Director at Large, Board of Directors, Canadian Association of Perinatal & Women’s Health Nurses (CAPWHN)
Vice-President, Board of Directors, Options for Sexual Health 
CAPWHN Representative, Immunize Canada 
Full Member, Women’s Health Research Institute
Member, UBC Women’s Health Research Cluster
Volunteer Workshop Speaker, Dress for Success Vancouver 
Member, Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance 
Member, Scientific Planning Committee, PeerVoice Canada/Canadian Nurses Association  

Honours & Awards

2023  Top 25 Women of Influence Award, Women of Influence+
2021  Top 100 Health Care Leaders, Optimyz Magazine 
2020  Emerging Leader (Canadian Women in Global Health List), Canadian Society for International Health
2020  Dr. Ron Stewart Award for Student Leadership in Global Health, Office of Community Partnerships & Global Health, Dalhousie University 
2020  Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) 
2020  Frederick Banting & Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship: Doctoral Award (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)- Declined
2019  Nurse to Know, Canadian Nurse (Feature:  Rachel Ollivier: Opening the door on conversations about women’s sexual health (cna-aiic.ca))
2019  Nurse to Know, IWK Health Centre 
2019  Emerging Leader Award, Canadian Association of Perinatal & Women’s Health Nurses 
2019  Rising Star Award, Nova Scotia College of Nursing 
2019  Rising Star Award, College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta 
2019  Dal Impact Award: Faculty Leadership Award (Faculty of Health), Dalhousie University 
2019  TD Meloche Monnex Doctoral Award, Canadian Nurses Foundation 
2019  President’s Award, Dalhousie University 
2019  Killam Predoctoral Scholarship- Level II, Killam Trust/Dalhousie University 
|2018  Student Poster Presentation Award, Canadian Association of Perinatal & Women’s Health Nurses 
2018  Scotia Scholar Award (Doctoral), Research Nova Scotia 
2018  Helen Watson Memorial Scholarship, School of Nursing, Dalhousie University 
2018  Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral), Faculty of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University 
2018  Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship, Dalhousie University 
2017  Margaret Cragg Award, School of Nursing, Dalhousie University 
2016  School of Nursing Award, UBC Okanagan 
2016  Valedictorian, UBC Okanagan Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Class of 2016) 

Area of Research

Research Interests

Dr. Ollivier’s research focuses predominantly on postpartum sexual health and global maternal health, though she has been involved with a number of other women’s health projects. From a methodological perspective, her expertise is in the use of feminist post-structuralism informed by discourse analysis. She is also involved in creative, patient-centered knowledge translation strategies, having developed the first-ever patient educational tool discussing sexual health after birth in Canada. She has also appeared on numerous podcasts and televised interviews to share her research. 

Completed Projects

The Virtual Village: How Do Videoconferencing Technologies Influence Experiences of Postpartum Education During a Pandemic? 
Co-Investigator 
Aston, M., Price, S., MacLeod, A., Benoit, B., Tomblin-Murphy, G., Etowa, J., Marcellus, L., Sim, M., Joy, P., Jack, S., & Iduye, D. 
Funding: SSHRC Insight Grant

Exploring Postpartum Sexual Health in Nova Scotia Using Feminist Poststructuralism 
Principal Investigator 
Aston, M., Price, S. Sheppard-LeMoine, D., & Steenbeek, A. 
Funding: Dalhousie School of Nursing, Dalhousie Faculty of Graduate Studies, Killam Trust, Canadian Nurses Foundation, Research Nova Scotia, CIHR, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship 

Mapping and Understanding Mothers’ Social Networks (MUMS) 
Co-Investigator 
Aston, M., Price, S., Tomblin-Murphy, G., Etowa, J., Sim, M., Joy, P., & Iduye, D.
Funding: Dalhousie University School of Nursing Research & Development Fund

Publications

ResearchGate Link

Selected Publications not Indexed in PubMed

Ollivier, R. (2019). Tackling the taboo: Sex in acute care settings. Canadian Nurse. Tackling the taboo: sex in acute care settings (cna-aiic.ca)

Ollivier, R., Aston, M., & Price, S. (2018). From participants to video stars: Engaging families in research. CASNNotes on Nursing Scholarship. Notes-on-Nursing-Scholarship-Nov-2018-SB.pdf (casn.ca)

Teaching

Dr. Ollivier has experience teaching primarily in clinical simulation and skills laboratory settings with a medical-surgical focus. She has also mentored several undergraduate nursing students while in clinical practicums. Dr. Ollivier regularly guest lectures in various programs across Canada, including but not limited to MN-NP, MD, and BSN programs.