Over the years, Elaine Carty’s research and scholarship work has focused on changing the healthcare system to meet women’s needs. She has been active in the efforts towards the regulation of midwifery for 40 years, studied the integration of midwives into the BC health care system and was the founding Director of the Midwifery Program at the University of British Columbia.
Other research focused on early postpartum discharge from the hospital, women’s experiences of long-term antenatal hospitalization, resources for women with disabilities and the impact of drug advertising on women’s health.
In recognition of her major contributions to health care for women in Canada she was inducted into the Order of Canada, and into the Order of British Columbia, in 2017.
In June 2023, Elaine was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) to recognize her outstanding contributions to and leadership in medicine and health sciences that have led to extraordinary improvements in human health. The CMHF’s tribute to Elaine, describing her many contributions to the professionalization of midwifery in BC, along with a timeline of her career and contributions are at: https://www.cdnmedhall.ca/laureates/elainecarty.
Elaine has been the recipient of:
- Honourary Doctorates from McMaster (D.Sc.) and University New Brunswick (D.Litt.)
- Registered Nurses Association of BC Award of Excellence in Nursing
- UBC Killam Prize for teaching excellence
- UBC Applied Science Dean’s Medal of Distinction
- Yale University Distinguished Alumnae Award
- University of New Brunswick Alumni Award of Distinction
- UBC Honourary Alumni Award
Education
Yale University, CNM
University of New Brunswick, BSN (Nursing)
| 1992 | UBC – Nursing Undergraduate Society, Teaching Award UBC –Killam Teaching Prize |
| 1997 | UBC – Nursing Undergraduate Society, Teaching Award UBC –Killam Teaching Prize |
| 1998 | Yale University – Distinguished Alumnae Award |
| 1990 | World Health Organization Fellow (UK Study Tour) |
| 1993 | Registered Nurses Association of BC – Award of Excellence in Nursing |
| 1996 | Canadian Nursing Research Group – Award for the Promotion of Research Based Practice |
| 2000 | Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship (Bellagio Residency) |
| 2005 | BC Health Association – Legacy Award for contribution to Midwifery Education |
| 2005 | Midwives Association of BC – Honorary Life Membership |
| 2005 | College of Midwifes of BC – Honorary Registration # 001 |
| 2013 | McMaster University – D.Sc. [Honourary Doctorate of Science] |
| 2017 | Dean’s Medal of Distinction, UBC Applied Science |
| 2017 | Member of Order of British Columbia |
| 2017 | Member of Order of Canada |
| 2018 | Alumni Award of Distinction, University of New Brunswick |
| 2019 | UBC School of Nursing Centenary Medal |
| 2022 | UBC Honorary Alumni Award |
| 2022 | University of New Brunswick Honorary Doctorate of Letters |
UBC Alumni 2022 Achievement Awards
Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Inductee 2023
Research Interests
1) Examination of the beliefs and attitudes of university students around childbearing
2) The use of humanities (art, poetry, and literature) in health professional education and practice.
Peer-reviewed publications:
2014 Stoll K, Hall W, Janssen P, Carty E..(2014) Why are young Canadian’s afraid of birth? A survey study of childbirth fear and birth preferences among Canadian university students. Midwifery. Feb;30(2):220-6.
2013 Ellis, C. Stoll, K., Schummers, L. Carty, E., Vedam S., (2013). Assessment of the Midwifery Education Program at the University of British Columbia – A Survey of Graduates and Midwife Mentors.Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice, 2013
2012 Harris, SJ, Janssen,PA, Saxell,L, Carty EA, MacRae, GS, Peterson, KL. (2012) Effect of a collaborative interdisciplinary maternity care program on perinatal outcomes. Canadian Medical Association Journal,Nov. 20, 184(17);1885-92.
2012 Fairbrother N, Stoll K, Schummers L, Carty E. (2012). Obstetrician, family physician, or midwife: Preferences of the next generation of maternity care consumers. Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research & Practice; Accepted November, 2011; in press.
2012 Carty E. (2012). Educating midwives with the world’s first simulator: Madame du Coudray’s eighteenth century mannequin. Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research & Practice, 9(1): 35-39.
2009 Hall WA, Hauck YL, Carty EM, Hutton EK, Fenwick J, Stoll K. (2009). Childbirth fear, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep deprivation in pregnant women. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 38(5): 567-576.
2009 Stoll K, Fairbrother N, Carty E, Jordan N, Miceli C, Vostrcil Y, Willihnganz L. (2009). “It’s all the rage these days”: University students’ attitudes toward vaginal and cesarean birth. Birth, 36(2): 133-140.
2009 McBurney S, Carty E. (2009). Using multiple mini-interviews to assess nursing school applicants. The Canadian Nurse, 105(1): 8-10.
2006 Janssen PA, Still DK, Klein MC, Singer J, Carty EA, Liston RM, Zupancic JA. (2006). Early labour assessment and support at home versus telephone triage: A randomized controlled trial. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 108(6): 1463-1469.
2006 Hall WA, Saunders RA, Clauson M, Carty EM, Janssen PA. (2006). Effects of an intervention aimed at reducing night waking and signaling in 6- to 12-month-old infants. Behave Sleep Med, 4(4): 242-261.
2006 Palmer L, Carty E.(2006). Deciding when it’s labor: The experience of women who have received antepartum care at home for preterm labor. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 35(4): 509-515.
2006 Hall W, Clauson M, Carty E, Janssen P, Saunders R. (2006). Effects on parents of an intervention to resolve infant behavioral sleep problems. Pediatr Nurs, 32(3): 243-250.
2006 Hall, W. Saunders, R. Clauson, M., Carty, E., Janssen, P. Effects on parents of an intervention to resolve infant behavioral sleep problems. Pediatric Nursing. Pediatr Nurs. 2006 May-Jun;32(3):243-50.
2006 Janssen P, Carty E, Reime B. (2006). Satisfaction and planned place of birth among midwifery clients. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 51(2): 91-97.
2003 Peppin P, Carty E. (2003). Signs of inequality: Constructing disability in antidepressant drug advertising. Health Law Journal, 11(Special Edition): 161-184.
2003 Janssen PA, Iker CE, Carty EA. (2003). Early labour assessment and support at home: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada, 25(9): 734-741.
2003 Kornelsen J, Dahinten VS, Carty E. (2003). On the road to collaboration: Nurses and newly regulated midwives in British Columbia, Canada. J Midwifery Womens Health, 48(2): 126-132.
2002 Klein M, Johnston S, Christilaw J, Carty E.(2002). Mothers, babies, and communities: Centralizing maternity care exposes mothers and babies to complications and endangers community sustainability. Can Fam Physician, 48(7): 1177-9, 1183-5.
2002 Kornelsen J, Dahinten VS, Carty E, Gillespie EM. (2002). Physicians attitudes towards midwifery in British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice, 1(1): 6-12.
2001 Peppin P, Carty E. (2001). Innovation, myths and equality: Constructing drug knowledge in research. Sydney Law Review, 23(4): 543-576.
2001 Peppin P, Carty E. (2001). Semiotics, stereotypes and women’s health: Signifying inequality in drug advertising. Canadian Journal of Women and the Law, 13: 326-360.
1998 Carty, E.M. (1998) Disability and childbirth: Meeting the challenges. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 159(4), 363-369
1997 Thorne, S., McCormick, J. & Carty, E. (1997). Deconstructing the gender neutrality of chronic illness and disability. Health Care for Women International. 18(1), 1-16.
1996 Carty, E., Bradley, C. & Winslow, W. (1996) Women’s perceptions of fatigue during pregnancy and postpartum: The impact of length of hospital stay. Clinical Nursing Research. 5(1), 67-81.
1993 Hall, W.A., & Carty, E. (1993). Managing the early discharge experience: Taking control. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 18, 574-582.
1990 Carty, E., & Bradley, C. (1990). A randomized controlled evaluation of early postpartum discharge. Birth. 17(4), 199-204. (reprinted in Breastfeeding Review, Australia).
1990 Carty, E., Conine, T. & Hall, L. (1990). Comprehensive health promotion for the pregnant woman who is disabled: The role of the midwife. Journal of Nurse-Midwifery.35(3), 133-142
1989 Carty, E., & Tier, D. (1989). Birth planning: Confidence building enhanced by a reality based script. Journal of Nurse-Midwifery. 34(3), 111-114.
1988 Carty, E., & Conine, T. (1988). Disability and pregnancy: A double dose of disequilibrium. Rehabilitation Nursing. 13(2), 85-87/
1987 Conine, T., Carty, E., & Wood -Johnson, F. (1987). Nature and source of information received by women with rheumatoid arthritis on preventive maternal and child care. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 78(6), 393-397.
1986 Carty, E., Conine, T. & Wood-Johnson, F. (1986). Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy: Helping women to meet their needs. Midwives Chronicle.
1986 Conine, T., Carty, E. & Wood-Johnson, F. (1986) Provision of preventive maternal health care and childbirth education for disabled women. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 77, 123-127.
1983 Green, C., Carty, E. & Murphy, A. (1983). Skeletons in the closet: Exploring personal family background as a prerequisite for family nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 8, 191-200.
1978 Gordon, I. & Carty, E. (1978). Sexual adjustment of postpartum couples. Canadian Family Physician
Non peer-reviewed
2009-23 Carty E. Writes a short article on an artist or artistic theme for the centerfold of each issue of the Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice. To date the topics have been: Paula Modersohn-Becker, Louise Bourgeois, Midwives in Renaissance Italy, Frida Kahlo, The Beauty of Sculpture.
2002 Carty E. Health care for women with disabilities in British Columbia. Disability, pregnancy and parenthood international, 40: 11.
2001 Kornelsen J, Carty E. Challenges of integration: Perspectives on the regulation of midwifery in British Columbia. Centres of Excellence for Women’s Health Research Bulletin, 1(2): 15-16.
Book Chapters
2018 Carty, E. (2018) “Birth and its Meanings,” in Comprehensive Midwifery: The role of the midwife in health care practice, education and research, McMaster University e-book.
2004 Kornelsen, J. & Carty, E. (2004) “Challenges to Integration: Interprofessional Relationships and the Experience of Midwifery in British Columbia” in Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, Cecilia Benoit & Robbie Davis-Floyd (eds.) Reconceiving midwifery: The “new” Canadian model of care . Montreal: McGIll-Queens Press
1995 Carty, E. (1995). Disability and pregnancy in Alexander, J., & Roch, S. (Eds.) Midwifery Practice Vol.5, London: MacMillan. (48-68).
1987 Carty, E. (1987). Prenatal Assessment (4-7), Support of Role Transition to Parenthood (14, 15), Support of Family Functions and Relationships (16, 17), Gestational Diabetes (34, 35), Insulin-Dependent Diabetes (36, 37), Prenatal Infection (38-41), Premature Rupture of the Membranes (54, 55), Preterm Labour (100, 101), Ruptured Uterus (136, 137). In: Emily Knor (Ed). Decision making in obstetrical nursing. Burlington: Decker Publishing Company.
1985 Gordon, I., & Carty, E. (1985). An alternative birth center proposal: The struggle to introduce maternity care options into the Canadian health care system in D. J. Mason & Talbot, S.W. (Eds), The political action handbook for nurses (pp 564-568), Addison Wesley
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