VP research and innovation

Dr. Alice B. Aiken, CD, PhD, MSc, BScPT, BSc, ICD.D is a full Professor in the Faculty of Health. Her research focuses on health systems transformation and evidence-informed policy-making with a focus on military and Veteran health.  

She was formerly the Dean of the Faculty of Health at Dalhousie. She is a co-founder and the former Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, a unique consortium of over 48 Canadian and 13 international universities dedicated to researching the health needs of military personnel, Veterans and their families based at Queen’s University. 

She received her PhD and Master from Queen’s University, Canada, her Physical Therapy degree from Dalhousie University, and a BSc in Kinesiology from the University of Ottawa. She completed the Directors Education Program through the Rotman School at University of Toronto, and the ICD. She also proudly served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 14 years, first as a ship’s navigator in the Royal Canadian Navy, then as a physiotherapist. 

In recognition of her research leadership in military health, she is currently the Honorary Captain (Navy) for Canadian Forces Health Services Atlantic and a Dame of the Order of St George. She was elected to the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada. She has also received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Queen’s University, the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Chapel of the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion (USA).