Where Health Research meets
Cinematic Storytelling
The Healing Lens Research Lab is a transdisciplinary research and creative practice lab in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary. The Lab explores how Digital Stories and Documentary Films, when created and mobilized with care, can shape education, influence practice, support wellbeing, and contribute to more humanistic health systems.
Lab Director
Dr. Mike Lang
Dr. Mike Lang is a health researcher, award winning documentary filmmaker, digital storytelling facilitator, and Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary. His work explores the use of Digital Storytelling and Film as visual methods across the research continuum, from generating knowledge through participatory storytelling to translating lived experience and research evidence into professionally produced films capable of reaching public, healthcare, and educational audiences. Grounded in over 15 years of filmmaking and digital storytelling facilitation in health and wellness contexts, Dr. Lang has developed a rigorous and ethical approach to multimedia creation that enables its effective integration into in health research, education, advocacy, and therapeutic contexts.
Creative Outputs
Documentary Films
To extend its work beyond the academy, the Healing Lens Research Lab has established a co-production company called Healing Lens Media. This allows us to work with film industry, community, and health system partners to finance and produce compelling health and wellness documentary films, web series, and educational curriculums that combine research insight, cinematic craft, and ethical participatory film production practices.
Digital Stories
Dr. Mike Lang has facilitated the creation of over 1,000 digital stories with patients, family caregivers, healthcare providers, researchers, students, and community partners over the past 15 years. He continues to train digital storytelling facilitators through Common Language Digital Storytelling, helping others develop the ethical, relational, and creative skills required to support meaningful story work.
Impact Campaigns
After producing compelling, research-based participatory films and digital stories, the Healing Lens Research Lab places equal emphasis on the impact campaigns that surround each creative output. These campaigns are designed to help stories reach the audiences they were created for, spark meaningful dialogue, inform education and professional practice, and contribute to policy and systems change.Our Research Domains
