About Founder (Dr. Erica (Samms) Hurley)
Dr. Erica (Samms) Hurley is a Mi’kmaq scholar and an Assistant Professor at Memorial University’s Faculty of Nursing and is Cross- Appointed with Humanities at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is connected to community through both parents but has a stronger connect through her father’s side. With a deep commitment to Indigenous health, her academic and professional work is rooted in decolonizing research methodologies and promoting culturally safe healthcare practices.
Educational and Professional Background
Dr. Hurley’s academic journey is distinguished by her focus on addressing health inequities faced by Indigenous peoples. She has been advocacy work and engaged in policy work since she was a teenager. She holds a Ph.D. in Nursing, where her doctoral research focused on the exploring what heart means to Mi’kmaq women. Her work aims to create more culturally appropriate understanding of health interventions associated with needs of Mi’kmaq people.
Before joining Memorial University, Dr. Hurley gained extensive experience as a registered nurse, working in various clinical settings. This practical experience has profoundly shaped her research and teaching, allowing her to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world application in healthcare. Additionally, she has been teaching University programming since 2009.
As an Assistant Professor, Dr. Hurley is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders, including healthcare leaders. She teaches courses that range from Med/Surg nursing to Indigenous health, but often teaches content surrounding cultural competence, cultural safety, and anti-Indigenous racism. She is also a passionate mentor for students, including Indigenous students who she provides guidance and support to help them succeed in their academic and professional pursuits. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, empathy, and social justice.
Research and Scholarly Contributions
Dr. Hurley’s research is driven by a passion for Indigenous health and well-being. Her work explores several key areas, including:
Indigenous Health and Wellness: Focusing on holistic health approaches that incorporate traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
Decolonizing Health Research: Advocating for research that is community-led, reciprocal, and respectful of Indigenous ways of knowing.
Culturally Safe Nursing Education: Developing curricula and teaching strategies that prepare nursing students to provide care that is respectful and responsive to the cultural needs of Indigenous patients.
Her scholarly contributions have been published in reputable academic journals, and she is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences on topics related to Indigenous health and nursing.
List of Publication
Msit No’kmaq: An exploration of positionality and identity in Indigenous research
ES Hurley, M Jackson
Witness: The Canadian Journal of Critical Nursing Discourse 2 (1), 39-50 39, 2020
The next seven generations: at the heart of care alongside Mi’kmaw women
ES Hurley
AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples 20 (1), 189-193 1, 2024
Contemplating place in nursing: ontological understandings
E Hurley, K King, M Jackson, V Caine 1 2023
Understanding Kamlamunikk (Heart): A Journey Home
EJ Hurley 2023
What are the relationships between nursing students’ characteristics and how they percieve using high fidelity simulation for attaining pediatric learning outcomes?
EJ Hurley 2014
Teaching and Mentorship
As an Assistant Professor, Dr. Hurley is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. She teaches courses on topics such as Indigenous health, cultural competence, and nursing theory. She is also a passionate mentor for Indigenous students, providing guidance and support to help them succeed in their academic and professional pursuits. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, empathy, and social justice.
Community Engagement
Dr. Hurley is actively involved in her community and serves on several committees and advisory boards focused on improving health outcomes for Indigenous peoples. Her work extends beyond the university, as she collaborates with Indigenous communities and organizations to ensure her research directly benefits those it is intended to serve.
To know more about her, visit social and professional profiles:
https://www.mun.ca/oceansandnorthern/newsletter/erica-samms-hurley
https://www.ofi.ca/tca-projects/the-rethinking-project
Marine Biomass Innovation Project