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Dr. Shela Hirani (COINN Board Member) Receives SHRF Impact Award for Advancing Breastfeeding Support in Saskatchewan, Canada
The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) has awarded its prestigious 2026 Impact Award to Dr. Shela Hirani, COINN Board Member and Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Regina, at the 2025–26 Santé Awards on January 29, 2026. This distinguished honour recognizes her exceptional leadership and sustained contributions to maternal and infant health, particularly her transformative impact on breastfeeding support in Saskatchewan, Canada.
The SHRF Impact Award celebrates researchers whose work demonstrates measurable and lasting benefits to health systems, communities, and policy. Dr. Hirani’s selection reflects both the excellence of her scholarship and the significant real-world impact of her work locally, nationally, and globally. SHRF Impact Award 2026 stands as a testament to Dr. Hirani’s vision, leadership, and lasting influence.
An internationally respected researcher, lactation consultant, educator, and advocate, Dr. Shela Hirani leads a globally recognized program of research focused on improving breastfeeding supports for immigrant, refugee, and vulnerable families. As Founding Director of the Breastfeeding Advocacy Research Programs, Policies and Practices Lab and Founder of the Advocacy Hub on Voices of Migrant Families, she has translated evidence into action, informing policy, shaping practice, and strengthening culturally responsive, trauma-informed care. Dr. Hirani has also demonstrated outstanding leadership in building research capacity and mentoring the next generation of scholars and practitioners. Through strong collaborations with health authorities, migrant settlement agencies, and community partners, she has established sustainable networks that continue to expand equitable supports for families across Saskatchewan and beyond.
Her contributions have reached a remarkable scale. She has developed over 300 evidence-based breastfeeding resources supporting more than 200,000 families worldwide, advanced Baby-Friendly initiatives across diverse settings, and created inclusive breastfeeding spaces in post-secondary institutions. She also developed the first validated Perceived Breastfeeding Support Assessment Tool, now used in over 20 countries to inform policy and workplace practices. During crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, her rapid-response resources ensured continued support for vulnerable mothers.
Dr. Shela’s accomplishments have garnered widespread recognition. She was named by the World Health Organization among the world’s Top 100 outstanding women nurses and has received over 80 national and international honors, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023), Canada’s Most Powerful Women- WXN Top 100 Award (2024), Dr. Garth Pickard Award for Post-Secondary Education Excellence in Education for Sustainable Development from RCE Network (2025), the Saskatchewan Multicultural Leadership Award (2022), and the YWCA Regina Women of Distinction Award (2022).
Beyond her many achievements, Dr. Hirani is a committed mentor, inspiring and guiding the next generation of healthcare leaders and nursing professionals globally.
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