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Barbara Chyzzy

Barbara Chyzzy

Assistant Professor
OfficeRoom DCC-582-C, Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex
Phone416-979-5000, ext. 556326
Areas of ExpertiseCommunity health nursing; Vulnerable pregnant and postpartum populations; Perinatal mental health; Homelessness; Peer support/social support theory; Mobile phone-based interventions; Pilot randomized controlled trials.

Biography

Barbara Chyzzy (she/her) is an assistant professor and Year 3 Lead of the undergraduate Collaborative Nursing Program at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing. She holds a PhD in Nursing (2019) from the University of Toronto and completed her Master of Nursing (Health in the Community stream) with a Collaborative Specialization in Community Development at the University of Toronto and Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Manitoba. Chyzzy has a diverse clinical background that has spanned acute care, primary care and home care nursing within Canada and Asia.

For her doctoral research, Chyzzy conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile phone-based peer support intervention for adolescent mothers. Her current research is focused on homelessness and food insecurity during pregnancy using a gender-based analysis (GBA+). Chyzzy is dedicated to pursuing research and community partnerships that address the social determinants of health for vulnerable perinatal populations including women and gender diverse people.

Chyzzy is appointed to the Yeates School of Graduate Studies and able to supervise and sit on thesis committees for graduate students.

Teaching responsibilities

  • NSE 311: Maternal-Child Health Clinical Practice
  • NSE 31 A/B Community Nursing Theory
  • NSE 32 A/B Community Nursing Practice
  • NSE 306 Leadership and Change
  • NUR 600 Epidemiology and Major Health Problems

Teaching interests

  • Community health nursing / social determinants of health
  • Perinatal health
  • Health assessment

Since 2011, Dr. Chyzzy has been a member of the No Fixed Address (YPNFA) network in Toronto. She collaborates with YPNFA agencies on various advocacy and research projects related to vulnerable pregnant and postpartum populations.

Research interests

  • Vulnerable pregnant and postpartum populations
  • Social determinants of health (social support, housing, food insecurity)
  • Gender-based analysis (GBA+)
  • Mobile health interventions
  • Access to health care
  • Pilot randomized controlled trials

Reserch projects

External funding

  • 2022-2023: Chyzzy, B (PI), Schwan, K., Guruge, S., & Dos Santos, E. Symposium and Webinar Series on Homelessness during Pregnancy. Funding Source: SSHRC Connection Grant ($26,580).
  • 2018-2019: Vandermorris, A. (PI), Roberts, Y., Zhang, J., Bernstein, J., Begun, S., Chyzzy, B., Thompson, G., LeBeuf, S. Collaborative Knowledge Sharing: Developing and Disseminating a Visual Representation of Standards of Care for Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents in the Greater Toronto Area. Funding Source: Women's Xchange $15 K Challenge Award ($14,926.25).
  • 2015-2016: Chyzzy, B., Nelson, L. E., Stinson, J., Vigod, S., & Dennis, C. L. Mobile Phone Based Peer Support in the Prevention of Postpartum Depression Among Adolescent Mothers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Funding Source: Women's Xchange $15 K Challenge Award ($14,000).

Internal funding

  • 2021-2023: Chyzzy, B., Ziegler, E. (co-PIs), Campbell, K., Juando-Prats, C., Kuri, E., Stewart, S. Program Coordinator, Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre Chiodo, N. Transgender men and chestfeeding: An interpretive description qualitative study. Faculty of Community Services COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Grant. Toronto Metropolitan University. ($6,000).
  • 2021: Chyzzy, B. (PI), Juando-Pratts, C., Ng, R. (student). Service provider experiences working with pregnant and postpartum people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity during COVID -19. Toronto Metropolitan OVPRI Undergraduate Research Opportunity. ($10,471.80).
  • 2021-2022: Chyzzy, B., Bailey, A., Espin, S., Hart, C., Montague, J., Ord Lawson, S., Rose, D. Santa Mina, E., Ziegler, E. Black youth mental health/trauma virtual gaming simulation. Funding Source: FDC Foundation, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing. Toronto Metropolitan University. ($30,000).
  • 2020-2021: Chyzzy, B., Gurgue, S., Gucciardi, E., Bennett, N., Ewan, A. Exploring the experiences of homelessness and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant and postpartum women in Toronto. Funding Source: Faculty of Community Services COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Grant. Toronto Metropolitan University. ($10,000).

Journal articles

  • Abbass-Dick, J., Chyzzy, B., McCutcheon, M., Nesbitt, M., & Lemonde, M. (2022). Examining students’ knowledge of infant feeding: A non-experimental descriptive study. International Health Trends and Perspectives, 2(3), 371-384.
  • Kvasnak, K., Brunton, G., Lemonde, M., Chyzzy, B., & Abbass-Dick, J. (2021). Considerations for the design of a perinatal mindfulness intervention for adolescents based on a systematic review of the literature. International Health Trends and Perspectives, 1(2), 226-248.
  • Abbass-Dick, J., Chyzzy, B., Newport, A., Huizinga, J., Xie, F. (2020). Designing an eHealth breastfeeding resource with young mothers using a participatory design. Journal of Transcultural Nursing. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32909517
  • Chyzzy, B., Nelson, L. E., Stinson, J., Vigod, S., & Dennis, C. L. (2020). Adolescent mothers’ perceptions of a mobile phone-based peer support intervention. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 52(2), 129-138. (invited manuscript)
  • Chyzzy, B., Dennis, C.L, Nelson, L., Stinson, J., & Vigod, S. (2019). Mobile phone-based peer support to prevent postpartum depression in adolescent mothers: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64(2), S8-S9 (abstract).

Conference Presentations

  • Chyzzy, B., Sanders, T., Fillion, F., Chircop, A, Schofield, R, van Dalen Smith, Love-Jovett, B, Miller, C.A., Currie, G. (June 10, 2022). Understanding the current state of community/population health nursing education: An exploration of the erosion and devaluation of community/population health theoretical and clinical education in Canadian Nursing programs. [Oral Presentation]. Community Health Nurses Conference. Virtual.
  • Chyzzy, B., Guruge, S., Gucciardi, E., Bennett, N. Ewan, A.R. (June 9, 2022). Exploring the Experiences of Homelessness and Food Insecurity During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Pregnant and Postpartum people in Toronto. [Oral Presentation]. Community Health Nurses Conference. Virtual.
  • Chyzzy, B., Guruge, S., Gucciardi, E., Bennett, N. Ewan, A.R. (September 24, 2021). Exploring the Experiences of Homelessness and Food Insecurity During the Covid-19 Pandemic Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Toronto. [Oral Presentation]. Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nursing (CAPWHN). Virtual.
  • Chyzzy, B. (September 24, 2021). Service Provider Experiences Working with Pregnant and Postpartum Women Experiencing Homelessness and Food Insecurity During Covid-19 in Toronto. [Oral Presentation]. Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nursing (CAPWHN). Virtual.
  • Chyzzy, B., Guruge, S., Gucciardi, E., Bennett, N. Ewan, A.R. (June 15, 2021). Exploring the Experiences of Homelessness and Food Insecurity During the Covid-19 Pandemic Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Toronto. [Oral Presentation]. IUHPE European Conference on Health Promotion. Virtual.
  • Jiang, J. & Chyzzy, B. (May 19, 2021). Transformative Learning: An Approach to Improving Community Health. [Poster Presentation]. Ryerson University Learning and Teaching Conference. Virtual. (Graduate Student Project)
  • Chyzzy, B., Guruge, S., Gucciardi, E., Bennett, N. Ewan, A.R. (October 23, 2020). Exploring the Experiences of Homelessness and Food Insecurity During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Pregnant and Postpartum people in Toronto. [Oral Presentation]. Trillium Primary Healthcare Research Day, Toronto, ON.
  • Chyzzy, B., Dennis, C.L, Nelson, L., Stinson, J., & Vigod, S. (March 6, 2019). Mobile Phone Based Peer Support to Prevent Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [Oral Presentation]. Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
  • Chyzzy, B., Dennis, C.L, Nelson, L., Stinson, J., & Vigod, S. (October 23, 2018). Mobile Phone Based Peer Support to Prevent Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [Poster]. Canadian Mental Health Association Conference, Montreal, QC.
  • Chyzzy, B., Dennis, C.L, Nelson, L., Stinson, J., & Vigod, S. (October 12, 2018). Mobile Phone Based Peer Support to Prevent Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [Oral Presentation]. Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nurses Conference, Ottawa, ON.
  • Chyzzy, B., Dennis, C.L, Nelson, L., Stinson, J., & Vigod, S. (6, 2018). Mobile Phone Based Peer Support to Prevent Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [Oral Presentation]. Trillium Primary Healthcare Research Day, Toronto, ON.
  • Chyzzy, B., Dennis, C.L, Nelson, L., Stinson, J., & Vigod, S. (November 6, 2015). Mobile Phone Based Peer Support to Prevent Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [Poster]. Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nurses Conference, Quebec City, QC.
  • Chyzzy, B., Dennis, C.L, Nelson, L., Stinson, J., & Vigod, S. (October 9, 2015). Mobile Phone Based Peer Support to Prevent Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [Tabletop Presentation]. International Association of Youth Mental Health Conference, Montreal, QC.
  • Chyzzy, B., Dennis, C.L, Nelson, L., Stinson, J., & Vigod, S. (June 3, 2014). The Use of Text-Messaging in Health Promotion Interventions: A Literature Review. [Oral Presentation]. 8 th National Community Health Nurses Conference, Ottawa, ON.
  • Chyzzy, B., Dennis, C.L, Nelson, L., Stinson, J., & Vigod, S. (June 3, 2014). Postpartum Depression Among Adolescent Mothers: A Literature Review. [Oral Presentation]. 8 th National Community Health Nurses Conference, Ottawa, ON.
  • Chyzzy, B. & Dennis, C.L. (March 27, 2014). The Use of Text-Messaging in Health Promotion Interventions: A Literature Review. [Oral Presentation]. Nursing Leadership Network of Ontario (NLN.ON), Toronto, ON.
  • Chyzzy, B. (2014). Cell phone-based peer support to prevent postpartum depression among adolescent mothers: A feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial Doctoral Research Symposium, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Toronto, ON.
  • Chyzzy, B & Dennis, C.L. (Nov. 23, 2013). Postpartum Depression Among Adolescent Mothers: A Literature Review. [Oral Presentation]. Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nurses 3 rd National Conference, Niagara Falls, ON.
  • Crawford, J., Chyzzy, B., Dilworth, K., Tonn, J. & Kennedy, B. (May 15, 2012). Collaborating to Provide Community Health Nursing Professional Development. [Oral Presentation]. 6 th National Community Health Nurses Conference, Toronto, ON.
  • Chyzzy, B. (2011). Community development and capacity building in primary health care: A comparative analysis of Brazilian and Canadian policies. Advancing Nursing Practice Scholarship Symposium, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Toronto, ON.

  • Leadership Award in Student Mentorship, RNAO (nominated), 2020
  • Women’s Exchange Spring Event Best Presentation, Women’s College Hospital, 2019
  • Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Student Travel Award, University of Toronto, 2018
  • Prenatal & Parenthood Education Services Research Award, 2016
  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology, 2015
  • University of Toronto Fellowship, 2015
  • Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Doctoral Award in the Care of Children, 2015
  • Provincial Nurses Educators Interest Group Research Award, 2015
  • Nursing Leadership Network of Ontario Research Award, 2015
  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology, 2014
  • University of Toronto Fellowship, 2014
  • Nursing Research Interest Group Graduate Scholarship, 2014
  • Community Health Nurses Initiatives’ Group Conference Bursary, 2014
  • Community Health Nurses Initiatives’ Group Research Award, 2014
  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology, 2013
  • University of Toronto Fellowship, 2013
  • Maternal Child Nurses & Interest Group Doctorate Scholarship, 2013
  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology, 2012
  • University of Toronto Fellowship, 2012
  • Betty Burcher Memorial Award in Nursing, 2012
  • Nursing Leadership Network of Ontario: Educational Award, 2010
  • Community Health Nurses Initiatives’ Group Educational Bursary, 2009