Rusty Souleymanov

Dr. Rusty Souleymanov is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba. His work focuses on health equity, HIV, sexual and reproductive health, harm reduction, and support for marginalized communities. He is the Director of the Village Lab, where he leads community-based research, teaching, and mentorship.

• Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work and Collaborative Program in Public Health Policy) – University of Toronto, 2018 
• Masters of Social Work – University of Toronto, 2012  
• Bachelors of Science with Honours (Psychology) – University of Toronto, 2009 

Dr. Souleymanov’s academic and research training reflects a deep and sustained commitment to interdisciplinary, equity-oriented scholarship. In 2018, he completed the Collaborative Program in Public Health Policy at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, where he gained expertise in population health and public health policy. In 2015, he served as a Research Associate Fellow at the Comparative Program on Health and Society at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, an interdisciplinary initiative supporting scholars in global and comparative health. In 2013, he completed the highly regarded CIHR Strategic Training Program in HIV/AIDS Community-Based Research, Universities Without Walls, a national leadership initiative that equips scholars to conduct innovative, community-driven HIV research across Canada.

Dr. Rusty Souleymanov’s interdisciplinary research examines how social and economic inequities shape health outcomes for marginalized and equity-seeking communities. His work aims to improve access to healthcare and social services by informing culturally responsive models of care and community support.

As Director of the Village Lab, Dr. Souleymanov leads a nationally recognized research network focused on community-led health equity, HIV, and harm reduction research. His work has been supported by funding from major institutions, including the Government of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Gilead Sciences, the Winnipeg Foundation, and the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation.
Over the years, his program of research has explored a wide and evolving range of critical issues, including:
 

• Community-based participatory research
• Social work in healthcare
• HIV services and policy
• Health and healthcare communication
• Decolonizing and Indigenizing health research
• Marginalization, poverty, and access to health and social services
• Sexual health, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections
• Substance use, harm reduction, and drug policy
• Racial, ethnic, and cultural inequities in health
• Gender, sexuality, and health
• Community-based research ethics
• Mental health and social work
• Critical public health and social work

Dr. Souleymanov is currently a Research Affiliate with the Centre for Social Science Research and Policy at the University of Manitoba, and the Community-Based Research Centre. 

For a detailed list of his publications and broader body of work, please visit his Research Gate page.

Dr. Souleymanov's Research Gate page

Dr. Souleymanov is committed to creating educational spaces that centre communities historically excluded from academia. He teaches from queer-feminist, anti-colonial, and anti-racist perspectives. He is actively involved in training, supervising, and building capacity among emerging scholars and students entering the fields of HIV/AIDS, harm reduction, mental health, sexual health, Indigenous health, migrant health, and 2SLGBTQIA+ research and community practice. Dr. Souleymanov’s dedication to fostering inclusive and transformative learning environments was recognized in 2024 when he received the Outstanding University of Manitoba Teacher Award from the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

Dr. Souleymanov has served as a steward of the Manitoba HIV-STBBI Collective Impact Network since 2019, working collaboratively to advance HIV and STBBI care and policy across the province. Dr. Souleymanov served as Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs in the Faculty of Social Work from 2023 to 2025. Dr. Souleymanov is also member of the Canadian National Action Plan Committee on the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women Living with HIV, where he contributes to co-creating a national call to action to advance the rights and well-being of women living with HIV. Nationally and provincially, he holds positions on the Boards of Directors for Nine Circles Community Health Centre, and Realize Canada.