About the Healing Lens Research Lab
The Healing Lens Research Lab (HLRL) is a transdisciplinary research and creative practice lab dedicated to advancing documentary film and digital storytelling as rigourous, ethical, and impactful methodologies in health and wellness contexts. Situated within the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary, the Lab brings together health researchers, clinicians, filmmakers and digital storytelling facilitators, educators, and community partners to explore how stories, when created and mobilized with care, can shape education, influence practice, and support individual and collective wellbeing.
Dr. Mike Lang
Lab Director
Dr. Mike Lang is a health researcher, award winning filmmaker, Digital Storytelling facilitator and assistant professor at the UCalgary Faculty of Nursing. He has directed and produced three feature-length documentaries, four short documentaries, and three web series about the human health experience in addition to numerous health education curricula. Mike has also facilitated the creation of over 1000 digital stories with a diverse cross-section of patients, family caregivers, and health care professionals around the world. His professional and research focus is on using digital storytelling and documentary filmmaking in education, advocacy, research, and a therapeutic capacity within healthcare and wellness contexts.
The Healing Lens Research Lab focuses on Dr. Mike Lang’s academic research program at the University of Calgary. To learn more about his broader storytelling, training, and film production work, visit:
Mike Lang Stories
Personal site featuring Mike’s broader digital storytelling, facilitation, and research work.
Common Language DST
Digital Storytelling Facilitation Training and Mentorship For Wellness Changemakers.
Healing Lens Media
Film production company focused on crafting premium health and wellness content.
Research Coordinator
Linda Day is an experienced healthcare professional, researcher, educator, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing health and wellness at both local and global levels. Her diverse background includes experience as a registered nurse, research nurse, educator, public speaker, certified yoga instructor, humanitarian, and research coordinator. She is committed to lifelong learning and values collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare and research. Linda is passionate about supporting individuals in sharing their lived experiences and contributing to knowledge development that promotes health, well-being, meaningful connections, and holistic care.
Linda Day
What we do
At the heart of the Lab’s work is the use of digital storytelling and documentary film as both methods of inquiry and forms of knowledge translation. The Healing Lens Research Lab examines how visual and narrative practices can be responsibly integrated into health research, professional education, advocacy, and therapeutic settings, with particular attention to participatory processes, relational ethics, and power-sharing with story creators. The Lab recognizes storytelling not simply as a communication tool, but as a form of scholarly and clinical practice that carries emotional, ethical, and social consequences.
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We study documentary film and digital storytelling as methodologies in health and wellness research.
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We develop and examine film- and story-based approaches to inquiry, education, advocacy, and care.
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We explore how stories can help research reach and resonate with patients, families, clinicians, educators, communities, and decision-makers.
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We support learning about ethical storytelling, digital storytelling, documentary film, Health Humanities, and story-based methods.
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We work with community organizations, health systems, researchers, clinicians, artists, and trainees across disciplines.
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We examine the impact of story-based education, curated digital story libraries, facilitated screenings, and other narrative interventions.
Collaborate with us
The Healing Lens Research Lab welcomes opportunities to collaborate with researchers, clinicians, educators, trainees, artists, health systems, and community organizations interested in ethical storytelling, documentary film, digital storytelling, Health Humanities, and story-based approaches to health and wellbeing.