Dr. Francine Darroch PhD

Dr. Francine Darroch is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Carleton University. She is an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in qualitative health research, public health, inequities in access to physical activity, and the intersections of gender, substance abuse, trauma, and structural violence. Dr. Darroch leads participatory action research that focuses on leveraging physical activity to improve the quality of life. Her current work aims to address inequities in physical activity for parenting individuals and families through trauma- and violence-informed approaches to physical activity. While Dr. Darroch’s research is predominantly focused on self-identified women and children, her work also extends to exploring and advocating for gender-sensitive programming for fathers living in marginalizing circumstances. Dr. Darroch’s main overarching goal is to co-create programs and resources to increase access to physical activity, enhance social cohesion, community connections, and improve overall health by way of addressing individual, systemic, and structural barriers to health and well-being. She has been a member of the Men’s Health Research Program for four years.