Dr Lydia Wytenbroek

I am a historian of health, medicine and nursing situated within the School of Nursing. I would like to connect with other historians as I will not have that opportunity within my department. I'm interested in research collaborations with others at UBC.

Lydia is an historian of health and medicine, with a particular interest in how race, gender and politics shape the nursing profession and access to healthcare. Her current writing projects include a book manuscript on American nursing imperialism and internationalism in twentieth-century Iran, and an article on whiteness and Canadian nursing. Her next book project will explore the history of the operating room in Canada, using the analytical concept of space to explore three interrelated themes - socialization, specialization and standardization - with an emphasis on perioperative nurses' agency and innovation. Her teaching interests include
histories of epidemics, public health, racism, ethics, science, medical technology, global health, social justice and nursing activism. She completed her PhD in History (York University) in 2018 and has taught nursing and medical history to graduate and undergraduate nursing, public health and medical students.