Award Recipients

Dr. Polly Ford-Jones’ scholarly work has had a profound influence on the evolving role of paramedicine within mental health crisis response and trauma-informed care. Her peer-reviewed publications consistently address systemic gaps in care delivery, particularly for marginalized and underserved populations. ​

Through both academic and applied research, Dr. Ford-Jones challenges traditional biomedical and entrenched historical frameworks, offering equity-informed alternatives grounded in community collaboration and lived experience. Her flagship initiative, an Integrated Crisis Care Framework, is now informing provincial and national discussions on emergency mental health response. Complementing this, her education-focused scholarship - such as the De-escalation and Crisis Training for Paramedic Students pilot - has reshaped paramedic curriculum at Humber Polytechnic and influenced faculty development in trauma- and violence-informed pedagogy.​

​By integrating applied research into teaching, community partnership, and policy consultation, Dr. Ford-Jones has established herself as a national thought leader in crisis care and paramedicine education. Her work directly enhances the capacity of students, educators, and frontline providers to deliver compassionate, evidence-informed care.​

Dr. Polly Ford-Jones exemplifies what it means to advance a research program that is rigorous, responsive, and deeply rooted in community need. Her work bridges the gap between research, education, and social impact - empowering both students and professionals to enact change in the systems they serve.