Following an extensive international search, Professor Robyn Stremler, a renowned nursing researcher, will become the University of Toronto’s next dean of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
Stremler, who is currently the acting dean for the Faculty, will serve a five-year term which commences May 15, 2024 and extends until June 30, 2029.
“As a Bloomberg Nursing alumni and faculty member, I am honoured to serve as Dean and I am extremely proud to be a part of such a diverse community of students, faculty, staff and alumni who consistently strive for excellence and innovation in nursing research, education and practice,” says Stremler. “We are the top-ranked school of nursing in Canada, and I look forward to seeing our growth and progress ahead as we continue to inspire and educate future nurse leaders.”
Stremler will be replacing former Dean Linda Johnston, who completed a ten-year term and led the Faculty through many changes including the challenges of the COVID19 pandemic, and was committed to initiatives that supported the values of the Faculty including the creation of the Doctor of Nursing program and the establishment of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigenous Reconciliation Committee.
“I want to thank Linda Johnston for her immense contributions to Bloomberg Nursing in her time as dean,” says Stremler, “her leadership and advocacy, has positioned the Faculty for continued to success and elevated its reputation as a leading academic and research institution,” says Stremler.
A prominent researcher in sleep science
Stremler is an accomplished clinician, researcher, and adjunct scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children and is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking research in infant and adolescent sleep.
Her scholarly work and program of research, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), focuses particularly on improvements in pediatric and adolescent sleep quality and sleep promotion using digital and wearable technological interventions.
Some of her recent research, includes a team grant with the Sleep Research Consortium examining sleep equity and intersectional theoretical frameworks to optimize sleep health for all Canadians. For her distinguished scholarly contributions, Stremler has earned coveted and prestigious fellowships from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Nursing, and awards for her leadership in research excellence from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation and Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) among others.
“I am delighted that Professor Stremler has been named as the new Dean of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing,” says Trevor Young, vice-president and provost. “Professor Stremler is a dedicated clinician and researcher who is passionate about the nursing profession and about providing our students with the skills and resources they need. A committed educator and mentor, she has been an active leader in the Faculty since 2015, and has been a tremendous force in supporting the professional development of students at all levels, as well as front-line nurses.”
Committed to student engagement and inclusive excellence
From 2015 to 2018, Stremler served as the Director of the of PhD program at Bloomberg Nursing and in 2023 she served as the Associate Dean Academic. Throughout her term in both roles, Stremler was intentional and committed to the betterment of nursing education at the Faculty, through curriculum improvements and collaboration with key partners in nursing education including the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network (TAHSN).
Her unique ability to build strong relationships with students across the undergraduate and graduate programs, will be instrumental in sustaining a strong sense of community and focus on equity. Stremler is looking forward to expanding the Faculty’s investment in future nurse leaders who will improve health care and health systems worldwide.
Nursing, as a profession, is undergoing significant change as it addresses both the challenges of retention and recruitment as well as equitable access to health care for all. In addition to educational expansion, Bloomberg Nursing is also home to leading nurse scientists and over 11,000 alumni at the top of their fields, many of whom actively work in collaboration with partners from around the world to improve quality of life and treatment options for populations across the life span.
“Bloomberg Nursing has always been a leader in cutting-edge research and innovation exploring the relevant healthcare challenges of our time, which includes our ability to sustain a healthy and engaged nursing workforce,” says Stremler.
“Our commitment to nursing excellence will continue to be centered around the dismantling of barriers to equitable access to care, and an evidence-based approach to ensuring the voices of nurses are at the forefront of health system change.”