Research Chairs
The Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing holds 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 centres.
Current Chairholders
Dr. Kimberley Widger
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Palliative Care
Dr. Samantha Mayo
RBC Financial Group Chair in Oncology Nursing Research
Dr. Lindsay Jibb
Signy Hildur Eaton Chair in Paediatric Nursing Research
Dr. Aaron Conway
RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research
Dr. Martine Puts
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Care of Frail Older Adults
Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis
Women’s Health Research Chair
Dr. Kristin Cleverley
CAMH Psychiatric and Addiction Nursing Research Chair
Dr. Jennifer Stinson
Mary Jo Haddad Chair in Child Health Research
Currently vacant
Heather M. Reisman Chair in Perinatal Nursing Research
Former Chairholders
Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Community Health
Dr. Doris Howell
The RBC Chair in Oncology Nursing Research
Dr. Lianne Jeffs
St. Michael’s Hospital Volunteer Association Term Chair in Nursing Research
Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis
Shirley Brown Chair in Women’s Mental Health Research
Dr. Bonnie Stevens
The Signy Hildur Eaton Chair in Paediatric Nursing Reseach
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. Linda O’Brien-Pallas
CHSRF/CIHR Chair in Nursing Human Resources
Dr. Carles Muntaner
CAMH Psychiatric and Addiction Nursing Research Chair
Dr. Ellen Hodnett
Heather M. Reisman Chair in Perinatal Nursing Research
CAMH Chair in Mental Health Nursing Research
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Chair in Mental Health Nursing Research will develop a new and innovative program of research in mental health nursing, the goal of which is to increase awareness, dialogue and new knowledge in the field of mental health nursing and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Kristin Cleverley, Assistant Professor, has been appointed to the chair, beginning on July 1, 2015. Dr. Cleverley is particularly interested in youth with mental illness, and she seeks to understand the enablers and barriers youth with mental illness face as they transition into adulthood. She has outstanding clinical expertise, having worked extensively with children and youth with mental illness.
Canada Research Chair in Care Of Frail Older Adults
Professor Martine Puts, Associate Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, began a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Care of Frail Older Adults in Fall 2018. Professor Puts’ research program focuses on improving the quality of life and health outcomes of older adults, particularly those with cancer. Adults over 65 are a growing sector of the Canadian population, and many will face a cancer diagnosis. Yet, few older adults are included in clinical studies of cancer, which means there is limited evidence about which treatments work best for this population. Professor Puts aims to address this gap, developing and implementing interventions and online tools that patients/caregivers and clinicians can use to improve the health care of this group of patients.
Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Palliative Care
Dr. Kimberley Widger, Associate Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto began a five-year Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Palliative Care in July 2020.
Dr. Widger’s program of research focuses on examining and enhancing the structures, processes and outcomes of care provided to children living with a life-threatening condition and their families. Her research has had a national impact on enhancing the quality of care for children who are facing a life-threatening conditions and their families as well as supporting health professionals to provide this care. During her tenure as Chair, Widger will address key knowledge gaps in this area to advance the understanding and delivery of high-quality pediatric palliative care.
Mary Jo Haddad Nursing Chair in Child Health Research
Established in the fall of 2013, the Mary Jo Haddad Nursing Chair in Child Health Research supports an outstanding nurse scientist in the development of a research program in paediatric child health nursing at The Hospital for Sick Children.
Dr. Jennifer Stinson, Associate Professor (Status) at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto, is the inaugural holder of this chair, effective July 1, 2014. Dr. Stinson’s research interests are in the area of pain and symptom management, and the use of e-health (internet) and m-health (mobile phones) technologies to improve the assessment and management of pain and other symptoms in children with chronic illnesses.
RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing
The RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research at the University of Toronto and University Health Network supports the integration of research, education and clinical work to advance cardiovascular nursing research, particularly focusing on patient experience.
Professor Aaron Conway was appointed to the Chair September 1, 2018. His primary research interest is in patient safety during procedural sedation and analgesia, and in early research, conducted a series of studies related to improving nurse-administered sedation practice in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.
RBC Financial Group Chair – 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. The RBC Chair in Oncology Nursing Research was Canada’s first endowed chair in oncology research.
Dr. Sam Mayo was appointed to hold the chair in July 2019. She leads research that seeks to optimize the long-term health of cancer survivors, by understanding patterns and predictors of late and long-term effects, investigating biological mechanisms and designing interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of these effects. Her work has a particular focus on cancer-related cognitive impairment (“chemobrain”) after treatment for blood cancers.
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. Lindsay Jibb, Assistant Professor, was appointed to the Chair April 1, 2019. She leads research into pain management among children and adolescents with cancer, with a particular focus on the use of mHealth and eHealth technologies.
Women’s Health Research Chair
The Women’s Health Research Chair at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital (funded by the University of Toronto, Ministry of Health and Long-term Care and St. Michael’s Hospital) will lead a program of research and education in women’s health; the Chair will also have an international aspect, encouraging exchange and partnership with clinicians and researchers around the world.
Professor Cindy-Lee Dennis was appointed to the Chair in 2016. This appointment will enable Prof. Dennis to continue leading an extensive program of research in women’s health, with a particular emphasis on improving breastfeeding outcomes, addressing perinatal depression and anxiety, examining the health of immigrant women and children, and developing interventions that involve fathers.