research chairs

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Research Chairs

Researchers from the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing hold an astounding eight research chairs, more than any other nursing faculty in Canada. Research chairs are achieved by faculty members who have demonstrated global leadership in their field in both academic excellence and research scholarship. Several of the research chairs held within the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing are funded from National peer-reviewed competitions while others are endowed research chairs in collaboration with affiliated academic health science centers.

Current Chairholders

Dr. Ellen Hodnett		Heather M. Reisman Chair in Perinatal Nursing Research
Dr. Bonnie Stevens		The Signy Hildur Eaton Chair in Paediatric Nursing Research
Dr. Doris Howell		The RBC Chair in Oncology Nursing Research
Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis		Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Community Health (Tier 2)
Dr. Arlene Bierman		Ontario Women's Health Council Chair in Women's Health
Dr. Patricia McKeever		Bloorview Kids Foundation Chair in Childhood Disability Studies
Dr. Sean Clarke		The RBC Financial Group UHN Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research
Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis		Shirley Brown Chair in Women's Mental Health Research

Former Chairholders

Dr. Linda O'Brien-Pallas		CHSRF/CIHR Chair in Nursing Human Resources
Dr. Carles Muntaner		CAMH Psychiatric and Addiction Nursing Research Chair

Heather M. Reisman Chair in Perinatal Nursing Research

Canada’s first endowed chair in nursing, the Heather M. Reisman Chair in Perinatal Nursing Research, was established in 1996 to advance studies into forms of care for child-bearing women. Dr. Ellen Hodnett, the inaugural chair holder, is currently in her second five-year term of the chair. Dr. Hodnett is a professor with the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, is cross-appointed in the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, and appointed in Nursing at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Hodnett’s research program focuses on rigorous evaluations usually through multi-centre, randomized controlled trials examining the impact of nursing care on women before, during and after childbirth.

The Signy Hildur Eaton Chair in Paediatric Nursing Research

Established in 2000, the first endowed chair in paediatric nursing in Canada, the Signy Hildur Eaton Chair in Paediatric Nursing Research supports an outstanding nurse scientist in the development of a research program in paediatric nursing at The Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Bonnie Stevens is the premiere and current holder of this chair as well as a professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Stevens’ research interests include the assessment and management of pain in infants and children, the impact of various health care delivery models on child and family quality of life, and knowledge translation.

The RBC Financial Group Chair in Oncology Nursing Research

As Canada’s first endowed chair in oncology nursing research, The RBC Financial Group Chair in Oncology Nursing Research is supported jointly through affiliations with Cancer Care Ontario, the Canadian Cancer Society (Ontario Division), University Health Network, and the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Dr. Doris Howell was appointed to hold the chair in October 2004, and is working on enhancing research in cancer nursing through the implementation of evidence-based approaches to care, examining the effectiveness of nursing interventions in the reduction of the severity of symptoms and distress and improving the patient and family experience through evaluation of the implementation of holistic models of care that focus on the individual patient’s need.

Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Community Health (Tier 2)

Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis, Associate Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto began a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Community Health in September 2007. Dr. Dennis’ research program is directed towards rigorously evaluating interventions to improve the care of pregnant and postpartum women including multi-site randomized controlled trials related to the prevention and treatment of postpartum depression. Dr. Dennis’ research provides evidence-based information to address health problems that many pregnant and postpartum women experience with the goal of promoting a healthy transition to motherhood.

Ontario Women’s Health Council Chair in Women’s Health

Created in 2001, the Ontario Women’s Health Council Chair in Women’s Health focuses on identifying and addressing the health care needs of women who are vulnerable due to socioeconomic and ethno-cultural factors. The chair works in partnership with St. Michael’s Hospital and its program on inner city health. Dr. Arlene Bierman is the inaugural Ontario Women’s Health Council Chair in Women’s Health. A geriatrician and health services researcher, Dr. Bierman’s research interests include women’s health, access to care and aging. As chair holder and professor in the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing with a cross-appointment to the Faculty of Medicine, she teaches and conducts research on disadvantaged populations.

The Bloorview Kids Foundation Chair in Childhood Disability Studies

Dr. Patricia McKeever, Senior Scientist at Bloorview Kids Rehab and Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto was named the inaugural holder of the Bloorview Kids Foundation Chair in Childhood Disability Studies in November 2007. This chair builds on Dr. McKeever’s research program addressing sociospatial, philosophical and policy aspects of childhood disability and chronic illness, and focuses on the physical, social and policy barriers to inclusion that Canadian children with disabilities and their families encounter.

The RBC Financial Group Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research

The RBC Financial Group Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research is supported jointly through the University Health Network which has Canada’a premier cardiovascular institute, and the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Dr. Sean Clarke was appointed as the inaugural chairholder beginning in July 2008, and his research program focuses on expanding research in cardiovascular nursing to examine outcomes for cardiovascular patients across the continuum of care, examining organizational influences on nurses’ clinical decision-making and on interdisciplinary team functioning in acute cardiac care, and on studying outcomes of the use of advanced practice nurses in various roles.

The Shirley Brown Chair in Women's Mental Health Research

The Shirley Brown Chair in Women’s Mental Health Research is supported by a partnership between Women’s College Research Institute, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis, Associate Professor was appointed to the chair beginning in March 2011. Providing a focal point for advocay on women’s mental health issues, the chair supports an internationally recognized program of research and takes the leading role in Canada in the drive to improve women’s mental health and the treatment and prevention of serious mental illnesses.