I received my PhD in Philosophy from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1999. Since then I've taught in multiple philosophy departments, Social Justice and Peace Studies, and in two Medical programs. I also spent over 3 years working as a clinical and public health bioethicist focussing on First Nations Health, bullying and harassment education, and Aged care. Under the auspicies of Lakehead University's Centre for Healthcare Ethics, this work was carried out across 6 different healthcare institutions in Northwestern Ontario.

My research interests are focussed around understanding violence and its ecological, social and interpersonal impacts, above all in healthcare.  How to respond effectively to violence, and how to behave ethically under intersectional conditions of privilege and oppression are the main drivers of my thinking and teaching.  Specific subdisciplines include

• Intersectionality of privilege and oppression
• Violence, whether epistemic, systemic, interpersonal or internalized,
• Colonialism and its ethical implications
• Medical ethics
• Health ethics with Indigenous peoples

I have published a book The Absolute Violation: why torture must be prohibited, as well as a variety of articles on medical ethics, torture, and social justice and music education.