On March 3, 2026, St. Francis Xavier University highlighted the work of Dr. Britney Benoit, a researcher in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, who is finding new ways to improve health care for mothers and their babies. Her research focuses on creating better starts for families by using proven health practices in hospitals and local communities.
Dr. Benoit, who works at the university’s nursing school, is looking at how to better support breastfeeding through a program called the Baby Friendly Initiative. This work helps set up supportive environments for families during the important transition period after a child is born.
As part of her research, Dr. Benoit is working with Nova Scotia Health to study how breastfeeding can be used to help manage pain for infants in the northeastern part of the province. This study aims to identify and fix problems that prevent families from getting the resources they need for successful infant care.
According to St. Francis Xavier University, Dr. Benoit has secured over $20 million in research funding throughout her career. This includes $12 million where she serves as a lead researcher on projects meant to improve health systems for new parents and their children.
