Arnel Borras
Arnel Borras and his family immigrated to Canada in 2008. His first job was general labour in a factory. Then he worked as a personal support worker, registered practical nurse, and registered nurse in a long-term care facility in Ontario. While pursuing his Ph.D. in Health, specializing in Health Policy and Equity at York University, he was employed as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Health, School of Health Policy and Management. Before completing his doctorate in 2022, he earned his Master’s in Health degree in 2016 and an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Nursing for Internationally educated Nurses from York University in 2012. In addition to his Canadian education, he has a BSc in Nursing degree and a BA in Economics degree from the Philippines.
Arnel’s doctoral research addresses how and why health inequities, especially class, race/ethnicity, and gender health inequities, persist in Canada and how to reduce such differences through public policy action. He examines theories of public policy and policy change, namely pluralism, discursive institutionalism, and critical political economy in relation to social determinants of health and health inequities. His dissertation supervisor was Dr. Dennis Raphael, and committee members were Dr. Marina Morrow and Dr. Jessica Vorstermans.
Arnel’s research interests include but are not limited to the social determinants of health, public policy, and the political economy of health inequities. He has conducted research on food, housing, and questions of inequities in health and health care systems and services.
