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Amplifying Voices, Transforming Care: Jamie Boisvenue’s Research on Type 1 Diabetes

When Jamie Boisvenue walks across the convocation stage to receive his PhD in Medicine from the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø, he carries with him not only years of rigorous academic work, but also the voices and stories of countless people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

A proud Edmontonian and graduate from the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jamie’s research took a different path than traditional lab work. His thesis, Amplifying the voices of type 1 diabetes through community-based participatory research for clinical quality improvement, explored what respectful, safe, and supportive health care really looks like, according to those who live with T1D every day. It was featured in Folio, the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø’s flagship publication, and it was shared with the public through a

“I worked with people who live with T1D and their doctors to better understand how to make health care feel human,” Jamie explains. “Active listening, creating trusting relationships, and recognizing the often unrecognized burden of managing the day-to-day with T1D, were key aspects that emerged from my research. We also found that the age at which someone is diagnosed has an impact on how they experience medical trauma."

Using creative tools like storytelling and visual art, Jamie and his collaborators didn’t just study experiences—they brought them to life. Their innovative methods sparked meaningful conversations and led to tangible policy changes at the provincial level, even before the study was completed.

In a world where medical research can feel disconnected from real-world impact, Jamie’s work stands out. His dedication to advocacy, collaboration, and patient-centred care earned him seven prestigious awards, including the Alberta SPOR Graduate Studentship, the Diabetes Action Canada Doctoral Scholarship, and international recognition through the Society of Quantitative Ethnography.

Jamie shared his research at 13 local, national and international conferences...from Edmonton, Alberta to Copenhagen, Denmark...and his research was published in the journal Health Expectations with a paper titled “.” 

But beyond the accolades and publications, Jamie is most inspired by the people who shared their stories with him.

“The individuals who contributed to my research were my greatest teachers,” he says. “Even just sitting down for coffee with someone who has lived experience with a specific disease can lead to the most valuable insights.”

As he closes this chapter, Jamie leaves a message for future graduate students: “Ask yourself where someone with lived experience of the disease you are studying might contribute to your research. You’ll be surprised at how powerful that collaboration can be.”

When he wasn’t changing the landscape of diabetes care, Jamie found balance in hiking, his favorite distraction and a reminder that every step, no matter how small, is part of a greater journey.

Congratulations, Dr. Jamie Boisvenue, your work is helping reshape health care for the better, one story at a time.