Research Interns 2004

Nancy Brookes
Nurse Scholar, Royal Ottawa Hospital
Adjunct professor, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa
nbrookes@rohcg.on.ca

Dr. Brookes is Nurse Scholar, Royal Ottawa Hospital where she is responsible for research in nursing, overseeing education for nursing staff and students, and related projects. Nancy received her PhD in Education from the University of Ottawa in 2001. Her nursing background includes stints as staff nurse, clinical teacher, education coordinator, clinical nurse specialist and nursing practice coordinator. Nancy's interests are psychiatric and mental health nursing, with a particular interest in geropsychiatry and community mental health nursing. She participated in implementation of the Tidal Model of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing in three of the Royal Ottawa Hospital's programs. The Hospital hosted the North American launch of the Tidal Model in 2003. Nancy is a member of the Royal Ottawa Hospital Research Ethics Board and a working group member of the College of Nurses of Ontario Practice Setting Consultation Program.

Sherrill Conroy
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
sherrill.conroy@ualberta.ca

Dr. Conroy completed doctoral studies at the University of Oxford in 2001. Both her master's and doctoral work were directed at understanding how health care students understood health care ethics and how they were taught ethical practice by classroom and clinical tutors. Sherrill is involved in research into aesthetics in nursing, looking more deeply into what comprises Graceful Competent Care in neonatal intensive care nursing. She has served as staff nurse and public health nurse in Ottawa and Montreal, and has undertaken senior management roles in various nursing education enterprises. Sherrill is associated with the International Association for Bioethics, the Canadian Bioethics Society, the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain, and numerous nursing organizations.

Donna Gallant
Assistant Professor, Community Health, Saint Francis Xavier University
dgallant@stfx.ca

Ms. Gallant teaches theory and clinical practice in community nursing at St. Francis Xavier University. She is working towards completion this summer of her PhD in Nursing at the University of Calgary. Her doctoral research aims to investigate the reasons why nurses are reluctant to receive the influenza vaccine. Donna's research activities include health and literacy issues in rural Nova Scotia, and partnership development within the Antigonish community. Her community service activities include memberships in: Best Practices National Advisory Committee for Diabetes Prevention; Nova Scotia Public Health Association Board of Directors; and Chair of the Jurisdictional Review Committee, Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia.

Jean Groft
Graduate Research Assistant, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge
grofjn@uleth.ca

Ms. Groft is a PhD candidate at the University of Alberta. She obtained her MN from the University of Calgary in 1998. Jean has held appointments as staff nurse; childbirth educator; campus health nurse; palliative care nurse clinician/consultant; and faculty positions at Lethbridge Community College and University of Lethbridge. She has participated in research projects involving aboriginals; homeless; HIV-infected and -affected; and Kanadier Mennonites. Her PhD research will focus on rural HIV-positive mothers. Jean is an abstract reviewer, Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (2004 Conference); and a member of the curriculum committee, Nursing Education for Southwestern Alberta. She also participates in the Oncology Nurses Interest Group of Alberta; SupportNet Advisory Committee, Better Beginnings Initiative, Chinook Health Region; Community Harm Reduction Network; Palliative Care Association of Alberta; and Lethbridge HIV Connection Society. Jean is a volunteer canvasser for the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Anne Hofmeyer
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
anne.hofmeyer@ualberta.ca

Dr. Hofmeyer is the Year 2 Coordinator of the Collaborative Nursing Undergraduate program at the University of Alberta. She obtained a Master of Primary Health Care (specializing in palliative care) in 1995, and a PhD in Nursing in 2002, from Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia). Her doctoral thesis was a critical philosophical inquiry into the relationship between nursing and social capital theory. Anne's research activities have been in the areas of: discharge planning for older people; caregivers of people with dementia; older people and constipation; palliative care for people with non-cancer diseases; and evaluation of emergency department triage for people with mental health issues. Her nursing practice has been in the areas of teaching, research, project management, consultation and administration. She has extensive experience in clinical practice in operating/recovery room nursing, acute care, aged care, oncology, and fourteen years in palliative care. Anne was commissioned to establish a hospice unit in 1990 (Modbury Hospice & Community Palliative Care, Adelaide, SA). Dr. Hofmeyer's professional affiliations include the Canadian Bioethics Society; Kennedy Institute of Ethics (Georgetown University, Washington); Canadian Association for Nursing Research; International Network on Feminist Approaches to Bioethics; Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association; and International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care.

Katharina Kovacs Burns
Director of Research Planning & Development, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
kathy.kovacsburns@ualberta.ca

Dr. Kovacs Burns' responsibilities as Director of Research Planning & Development include establishing and directing a comprehensive strategic plan to build research capacity within the Faculty of Nursing, and an administrative system for enhancing research excellence. She manages a continuing program of research capacity building, recognition and communication. Kathy obtained master's degrees from Simon Fraser University and the University of Alberta, and completed her doctoral studies in the area of process analysis of programs and policies involving stakeholders at the University of Alberta. She expects the internship to help her further develop her skills in community health research with nurses and others; develop grantsmanship skills with interdisciplinary research teams; and enhance her work with decision-makers, particularly around government policies. Dr. Kovacs Burns is Co-Chair of Best Medicines Coalition of Canada; a director of the HIV Network of Edmonton Society; and a member of the National Advocacy Council, Canadian Diabetes Association.

Mary Ann Murray
Advanced Practice Resource Nurse, SCO Health Service, Ottawa
mmurray@scohs.on.ca

Mary Ann has a broad base of clinical nursing experience including assignments as staff nurse, clinical instructor, workshop facilitator, organ donor coordinator, nursing supervisor and nurse consultant palliative care team. She is currently a member of the Corporate APN Resource Team (Palliative Care), primary mentor for RNAO fellow (8th cycle) and a member of the mentorship team (6th & 7th cycles). She holds a joint appointment to the School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, as academic consultant. Mary Ann seeks to influence best care and outcomes for patients and families through leadership, modelling and moving forward exemplary nursing practice. Her most recent focus has been end of life care and she has worked in this area with internship alumnus Dr. Christine McPherson. Ms. Murray is a member of several committees of the College of Nurses of Ontario; member of Capital Pain Group; and a member of Canadian Nurses Association working group for Palliative Care.

Joseph Osuji
Faculty, Mount Royal College, Calgary (Nursing)
jcosuji@yahoo.com

Mr. Osuji teaches full time in the field of community health nursing, and aims to begin doctoral studies in this area at the University of Calgary. His career goal is to combine academics and nursing research. Joseph has a background of several years of professional nursing experience in Nigeria, Italy and Canada. He has been involved in clinical teaching as well as course organization, delivery and student evaluation of a web based nursing course. He has participated in and presented various professional development and academic seminars. Joseph is licensed by the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses and certified by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, Philadelphia, PA.

Solina Richter
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
solina.richter@ualberta.ca

Dr. Richter received her PhD in Community Nursing Science from Rand Afrikaans University (South Africa) in 2001. Her research interests focus on health promotion of vulnerable groups in the family--women and children. Solina's nursing experience includes periods as unit manager of a midwifery unit, psychiatric hospital nursing, and nursing on a mobile clinic. She has been an exchange lecturer with the Blekinge Institute of Technology (Sweden), and practiced as a private nurse practitioner for a number of years. Solina would like to gain experience in conducting research in a group/interdisciplinary context, enhance her grantsmanship skills, and develop abilities in the area of writing for publication.

Christine Rieck Buckley
Advanced Practice Resource Nurse, SCO Health Service
crieck@scohs.on.ca

Christine has focused on gerontology and restorative or rehabilitative care for the past several years. She has a particular interest in the concepts of caring and the therapeutic relationship. She would like to play a part in the continued development and advancement of the nursing profession through consultation, education, clinical practice and research. Christine has over twenty years nursing experience in various clinical settings, having held positions in administration, teaching, and research. She is a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, and Gerontological Nurses Association of Ontario. She has recently undertaken work on Phase II of the Canadian Certification for Rehabilitation Nurses with the Canadian Nurses Association.

Deborah Roberts
Clinical Nurse Specialist,
School of Nursing, University of Prince Edward Island
daroberts@upei.ca

Deborah is looking to the internship as a learning opportunity and platform upon which to further develop her research skills with the aim of examining and expanding her current knowledge so as to invest in new ways of thinking and establish collaborative research networks. Deborah's career features periods as staff nurse in surgical and paediatric units and operating theatres; public relations assignments; clinical educator (perioperative suite); and sessional lecturer at the School of Nursing, UPEI. She is a member of the Advocacy Committee, Association of Nurses PEI; Preceptor, Senior Nursing Students; a member of the Invigilator Annual Certification committee, Canadian Nurses Association; and chaired the School of Nursing UPEI 1st community parade float entry, 2003. Deborah's professional affiliations include American Operating Room Nurses Association; Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada; Canadian Nurses Association; and International Consortium of Parse Scholars.

Susan Roelofs
Assistant Director, Operations, Sino-Canadian Project for Strengthening Maternal and Child Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa
sroelofs@uottawa.ca

Ms. Roelofs has worked in the field of international community health for the past several years, on projects in Yunnan and Tianjin, China. Susan's participation in the most recent project will present her with an opportunity for involvement in research initiatives in China working with Canadian and Chinese researchers. She will use the experiences, competencies and networks developed through the internship as a foundation for her work. Susan has developed expertise in logical framework analysis and results-based management methods. Her background includes assignments in project management; coordination of training and development initiatives; field experience in China; and coordination of international conferences. While Susan's first language is English, she is comfortable in French and Mandarin Chinese, and has a basic knowledge of Japanese. Susan is a Zen Monk, Northern Mountain Order, White Wind Zen Community, based in Ottawa.

Hélène Sabourin
Nursing Policy Consultant, International Policy and Development, Canadian Nurses Association
hsabourin@cna-aiic.ca

Mme Sabourin a reçu sa maîtrise en Gestion des Services de Santé de l'Université d'Ottawa. Elle aimerais s'inscrire au programme de doctorat pour mieux comprendre la place qu'occupent les soins infirmiers dans la santé des populations, les soins de santé et les systèmes de soins de santé. Hélène a l'expérience récente au Vietnam et au Kosovo, où elle travaillait directement à la mise en oeuvre de projets pour renforcer les associations nationales d'infirmières de ces pays. Elle a aussi travaillé comme gérante, programme de certification, AIIC ; Coordonnatrice executive au Président, MSA General Hospital, BC; infirmière a des hôpitals, à la GRC/RCMP, et au département de santé, Ville d'Ottawa. Hélène est coordonnatrice du Projet de Verdissement à l'École Ste-Élisabeth, membre de l'AIIC, et du Conseil international des Infirmières et infirmiers.

Janis Seeley
Coordinator, Collaborative Degree Program, Confederation College
seeley@confederationc.on.ca

Janis has been a college nursing teacher for 20 years and has a passion to conduct research both in the community and educational setting that has affirmative meaning for students and other health care professionals. Janis completed her M.Ed. at Lakehead University, and is currently enrolled in the MScN program at the University of Ottawa. Her nursing background includes assignments as staff nurse in Port Arthur, Thunder Bay and Toronto, and as Acting Head Nurse, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto. Janis is a member of the Canadian Nurse Protective Society adjudication committee. She is a member of the Accreditation Committee, Confederation College; member of the Smart Lab committee, Lakehead University; and is a mentor for new sessional teachers in psychiatry.

Michelle Spadoni
Faculty, Nursing team, Confederation College
mspadoni@confederationc.on.ca

Ms. Spadoni received her M.A., Nursing from the College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, Minnesota) in 2002, and has continued to pursue research courses to enhance her research skills. Michelle intends to apply for doctoral studies in the future. She sees the internship as part of her professional development in the areas of grantsmanship and proposal writing, peer-review writing and technical report writing. During the internship, she would like to identify nursing research needs in the community setting to work in collaboration with her peers. Michelle is a member of several provincial nursing interest groups; the RNAO; College of Nurses of Ontario; Canadian Nurses Association; Thunder Bay Center for Health Care Ethics; and member of the Board of Directors of Hospice Northwest. She is on the Nursing Promotion Committee, Confederation College, and is involved with the International Red Cross Field Disaster Nursing program.

Shane Strickland
Professor/Lecturer, School of Nursing, Lakehead University
shane.strickland@lakeheadu.ca

Mr. Strickland recently completed the combined MSc.N / Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Ottawa. As a researcher in the early stages of developing his career, Shane expects the internship to provide opportunities to develop strategic links between new investigators and decision makers, and to become more competitive in grantsmanship as well as exploring innovative approaches for enhanced research uptake. Shane has been a clinical staff nurse in Thunder Bay and was a member of the relief staff, Outpost Nursing in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, for 2 years. He is a member of several Nurses Associations, the RN Graduate Student Association Committee, and is on the Advisory Committee for the School of Nursing, Confederation College. Shane participated in a Habitat for Humanity build in Ottawa in 2002 and has been an Examiner for the Royal Lifesaving Society.

Margot Thomas
Clinical Educator, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
thomas@cheo.on.ca

Ms. Thomas completed her MSc.N at the University of Ottawa and holds certification in Critical Care Nursing from the Canadian Nurses Association. As Clinical Educator she is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of orientation and continuing education programs for the PICU, and is coordinator for student nurse placement (consolidation) in the PSU. She holds a joint appointment as clinical instructor at the University of Ottawa. Margot expects the internship to further develop her skills in initiating nursing research projects at CHEO, disseminating research in ways that promote the utilization of new knowledge by clinical nurses, and networking with colleagues to explore various approaches of bringing research closer to the clinical nurse. She participates in several hospital committees and is a member of the Pediatric Nurse Interest Group (RNAO).

Ellen Vogel
Adjunct Professor & Research Associate, School of Health Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
ellen.vogel@uoit.ca

Dr. Vogel was the first doctoral student to graduate from the University of Alberta in the area of Community Nutrition. Her thesis was entitled “A Case Study of a Prenatal Nutrition Program Based on Education, Community Participation, and Capacity Building”. In addition to her association with the UOIT, Ellen is Adjunct Professor with the System-Linked Research Unit on Health and Social Service Utilization at McMaster University. She holds a postdoctoral fellowship with Health Canada (Office of the Chief Scientist). Ellen is interested in becoming a faculty member at UOIT School of Health Science. UOIT is Ontario's first laptop university. An emerging area of research interest pertains to describing and understanding transformational practices resulting from the adoption of new information and communication technologies for teaching and learning. Dr. Vogel looks to the internship program to increase her awareness of multiple intervention program design and evaluation issues; hone grantsmanship skills; strengthen relationships with established interdisciplinary teams working on community-based research projects; and build capacity in the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.