Lucinda's Research
I use my lived experience as a Black woman, a historical perspective, my poetry, my art, and my research into racial disparities to offer an reproductive justice lens to improve racial disparities in maternal health.
My research interest include addressing maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among Black women, eliminating racial disparities in reproductive health, promoting diversity in nursing, developing anti-racism initiatives and historical research in nursing and midwifery. I am exploring how the arts can illuminate and help integrate experiences of Black women during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and motherhood.
Storytelling is an important aspect of my research.
Current Research Projects
- Developing anti-racism initiatives in nursing
- RNs Reckoning with Racism in Nursing documentary project - https://reckoningwithracisminnursing.org/
- Contextualizing racial disparities in maternal health using county-level birth data
- Theory development: Using structures that oppress us to liberate us, Lucinda's House as an initiative to improve maternal health outcomes on a structural level
- Historical research on the contributions of Black nurses and midwives
Selected Publications
Iradukunda, F., & Canty, L. (2023). Decolonizing nursing education and research to address racial disparities in maternal health. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 00, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15624
Canty, L., Iradukunda, F., Valderama‐ Wallace, C., Shasanmi‐Ellis, R. O., & Garvey, C. (2023). What nurses of color want from nursing philosophers. Nursing Philosophy, e12423. https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12423
Canty, L. (2023). Decolonizing nursing through the lens of Black maternal health. Nursing Philosophy, e12424. https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12424
Vo, T., & Canty, L. (2023). Global mental health experiences of single mothers: A mixed methods research synthesis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79, 68–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15461
Canty, L. (2022). The lived experience of severe maternal morbidity among Black women. Nursing Inquiry, 29(1) e12466–e12466. https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12466
AJN On the Cover The American Journal of Nursing
Canty, L., Nyrati, C., Taylor, V. & Chinn, P. L. (2022). Overdue Reckoning on Racism in Nursing. The American Journal of Nursing. 122(2) 26-34. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000819768.01156.d6
Mokel, M. J., & Canty, L. (2020). Educational outcomes of an online educational intervention teaching cultural competency to graduate nursing students. Nurse Education in Practice. 46 (102832) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2020.10283
Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health (JMWH) – Contributing Editor for Share with Women column (soon to be Asked the Midwife): Postpartum Problems https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmwh.13451
Selected Presentations
The Power of Intergenerational Anti-racism Work to Promote Health Equity. Anti-Racism Storytelling through the Arts & Media. Live virtual event. 2022 the 7th Annual Anti-Racism Preconference Session: Boston, MA. November 5, 2022
Maternal health workforce: Nurse-Midwifery. New England Maternal Health Summit: Community-Led Triumphs: How Community Advances Maternal Health and Wellbeing in New England. September 12, 2022. Hosted by US Department of Health and Human Services - Region 1 (New England).Video Recording
What Nursing Chooses Not to Know: Epistemic Silencing. The Silencing of Nurses of Color. 2022 International Nursing Philosophy Conference. August 19, 2022: Irving, California.
Midwives leading the healthcare team to address racial disparities in perinatal health. 2022 American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Diversity and Inclusion Conference. August 8, 2022
Decolonizing Nursing: What? Why? How? Center for Nursing Philosophy University of California, Irvine, September 27, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erq_FN1vlN0
The Lived Experience of Severe Maternal Morbidity among Black Women. Presented at the American College of Nurse‐Midwives’ 66th Annual Meeting. Winner Best Podium Presentation. May 2021.
Student Research
It is important to engage nursing students in research at all levels - undergraduate to doctoral level. I have worked with students on various research projects. Here some of the issues addressed: Black maternal health, postpartum education, vaping use among adolescents, suicide awareness among nursing students.
Recent Scholarship Activities
RNs Reckoning with Racism
April 3, 2023
Guest speakers: Favorite Iradukunda PhD, RN, Rebecca O. Shasanmi‐Ellis MPH, MS, RN, PhD Candidate, Lucinda Canty PhD, RN, CNM, FACNM, Crystal Garvey MScN, BScN, RN, PhD Candidate, Gayle Robinson, PhD, RN and Claire Valderama‐Wallace PhD, MPH, RN.
Black Maternal Health
April 11, 2023
Faculty Members of the University of Amherst Community participated in our first annual Black Maternal Health event (left to right):
Dr. Charmaine A. Nelson, FRSC, Provost Professor of Art History, Ciara Venter, PhD student, Clinical Psychology Lucinda Canty, PhD, CNM, FACNM, Associate Professor, Elaine Marieb College of Nursing Lindiwe Sibeko, PhD, Chair and Associate Professor of Nutrition, Tegemea Mwalingo, PhD, RN, Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, Yolanda Covington-Ward, PhD, Professor and Department Chair, W.E.B. DuBois Department of Afro-American Studies, Cheryl A. Swanier, PhD, EdD, Mdiv, Professor, Researcher, Author, Motivational Speaker, Activist, Theologian, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS), Gabrielle P Abelard, DNP, PMHNP, PMHCNS-BC, RN, BSN, Clinical Associate Professor, Director of Master’s Programs and Certificates, Elaine Marieb College of Nursing; Jallicia A. Jolly, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor of American Studies and of Black Studies, Amherst College, Shannon Roberts PhD, Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Favorite Iradukunda, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, Felicia D. Griffin-Fennell, PhD, (Not pictured) Director of the SBS RISE Program, Lecturer, Sociology Department, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
