For information on how to become a trainee member of the IKTRN, please contact us here.
Postdoctoral fellows
Jenny Leese

Training institution: University of Ottawa and Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Supervisor: Ian D Graham
Project title: Patient engagement in research at the Canadian Cancer Society: Incorporating a relational ethics lens
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; ethics; patient engagement in research
Research profile: Available here
Majidullah Shaikh

Training institution: University of British Columbia – Okanagan
Supervisor: Heather Gainforth
Project title: Advancing research partnerships in sport
Research interests: Research partnership; knowledge translation; sport science; youth sport; positive youth development; trauma-informed practice; mixed methods; program evaluation
Research profile: Available here
Alexandra Walters
Training institution: University of British Columbia – Okanagan
Supervisor: Heather Gainforth
Project title: Strengthening Research Partnerships: A Guide to Evaluating Meaningful Engagement
Research interests: research partnerships; disability partnerships; physical activity for persons experiencing disability; implementation science; behavioural science
Doctoral Trainees
Megan Churchill
Training Institution: Dalhousie University
Supervisor: Christine Cassidy
Project Title: Sustaining Transitions in Care Innovations for Youth using Knowledge Translation Interventions
Research Interests: Pediatrics; maternal health; implementation science; integrated knowledge translation; dietetics
Connie Clark
Training Institution: University of British Columbia
Supervisor: Sandra Lauck
Project Title: Optimization of British Columbia’s New Graduate Nurses’ Transition into Practice: Evidence to Inform Workforce Planning Strategies and Enhance Early Career Development (OPT-NGN-BC)
Research Interests: Integrated knowledge translation, implementation science, health policy, health systems, workforce planning, education, new graduate nurse transition, nursing education
Leah Crockett

Training institution: University of Manitoba
Supervisor: Kathryn Sibley
Project title: Understanding the current state of integrated knowledge translation and health research partnership strategies, outcomes, and impacts in child health research
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; research partnerships; child health
Research profile: Available here
Maddie Gallant

Training institution: Dalhousie University
Supervisor: Christine Cassidy and Megan Aston
Project title: A mixed-methods approach to evaluating the Eat, Sleep, Console Model of Care in one rural and one urban health care facility
Research interests: Maternal/child; nursing; integrated knowledge translation; implementation science; evaluation research; nursing models; neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome; opioid use disorder
Semhal Gessese

Training institution: University of Ottawa
Supervisor: Krystina B. Lewis
Project title: Culturally Tailored Decision Support for African, Caribbean, and Black Populations with Brain-Heart Conditions
Research interests: Health equity, shared decision making, decision support, cardiovascular nursing, brain-heart healthcare
Meghan Gilfoyle

Training institution: University of Limerick
Supervisor: Jon Salsberg
Project title: Evaluating inter-organisational collaboration for public and patient involvement in health research; Understanding the mechanisms and impact of meaningful involvement in participatory health research
Research interests: Participatory health research; primary health care; social network analysis; public health
Emily Giroux

Training institution: University of British Columbia
Supervisor: Heather Gainforth
Project title: Investigating the role of spinal cord injury community-based organizations research partnerships
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; implementation science; research partnerships; spinal cord injury; community-based organizations; behavioural science; research to practice
Research profile: Available here
Michelle Legasto

Training institution: University of Toronto
Supervisor: Nancy Salbach
Project title: Optimizing aerobic fitness testing and aerobic exercise training in in-patient stroke rehabilitation
Research interests: Stroke; physiotherapy; aerobic exercise; rehabilitation; knowledge translation
Research profile: Available here
Erin McConnell

Training institution: Dalhousie University
Supervisors: Christine Cassidy and Audrey Steenbeek
Project title: Improving Post-Transplant Teaching for Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients to Increase Vaccine Uptake: A Mixed Methods Study
Research interests: renal transplant/nephrology; integrated knowledge translation; patient-oriented research; implementation science; nursing
Nicole MacKenzie

Training institution: Dalhousie University
Supervisor: Christine Chambers
Project title: A multi-method examination of partnerships for knowledge translation within pediatric pain
Research interests: Knowledge translation; pediatric pain; partnerships
Research profile: Available here
Elsa-Lynn Nassar

Training institution: McGill University
Supervisor: Brett Thombs
Project title: Partnering with patients to build an evidence base on the best methods for communicating research results to patients: A “living” evidence synthesis and series of “learning” trials
Research interests: Patient engagement; knowledge translation; knowledge dissemination; knowledge synthesis; clinical trials; mental health; meta-research
Research profile: Available here
Jessica Reszel

Training institution: University of Ottawa
Supervisor: Ian D Graham
Project title: Facilitating the use of evidence-informed maternal-newborn care: Development and evaluation of an implementation capacity-building toolkit
Research interests: Maternal-newborn care; integrated knowledge translation; implementation science; quality care
Research profile: Available here
Wilmer John Santos

Training institution: University of Ottawa
Supervisor: Janet Elaine Squires & Ian D Graham
Project title: Gaining conceptual clarity on the concept of champions (those who facilitate implementation in health care) and Developing key competencies and supports required by effective champions: A multi- and mixed-methods project
Research interests: Champions; facilitation; knowledge translation; knowledge mobilization; equity
Research profile: Available here
Hwayeon Danielle Shin

Training institution: University of Toronto
Supervisor: Gillian Strudwick
Project title: Implementation of an app-based suicide safety planning intervention (the Hope App) in a psychiatric emergency department
Research interests: Suicide prevention; implementation science; information communication technology; behaviour change; co-design
Research profile: Available here
Alanna Shwed

Training institution: University of British Columbia
Supervisor: Heather Gainforth
Project title: How, when and why? Prospectively examining and supporting adoption of IKT Guiding Principles and partnered research among researchers
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; implementation science; research partnerships; behavioural science
Research profile: Available here
Eleni Sofouli

Training institution: McGill University
Supervisor: Myra Piat
Project title: Identifying and exploring sustainability determinants of mental health recovery-oriented interventions: A mixed methods study
Research interests: Mental health; implementation science; recovery-oriented services; sustainability of healthcare innovations; qualitative research; integrated knowledge translation; knowledge synthesis; mixed-methods research; cultural adaptation of interventions and implementation strategies
Research profile: Available here
Marco Zaccagnini

Training institution: McGill University
Supervisor: Aliki Thomas
Project title: Understanding registered respiratory therapists’ role as scholarly practitioners: Optimizing professional practice and patient outcomes
Research interests: Health professions education; knowledge synthesis; Scholarship of practice
Research profile: Available here
Qian Zhang

Training institution: University of Ottawa
Supervisor: Dawn Stacey
Project title: Decision support for adults considering COVID-19 vaccination: A multiple methods research study
Research interests: Shared decision aids; patient decision aids; nursing
Research profile: Available here
Master’s Trainees
Charlena Degen

Training institution: University of Ottawa
Supervisor: Ian D Graham
Project title: What makes a successful pharmaceutical industry-academic collaboration
Research interests: Collaborative research; joint innovation; drug development
Cheryl Moser

Training institution: University of Manitoba
Supervisor: Kathryn Sibley
Project title: Exploring the experience of physiotherapists engaged as knowledge users in an integrated knowledge translation research collaboration to advance balance measurement practices in Canadian public rehabilitation hospitals: a qualitative descriptive exploration
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; knowledge translation; digital innovation; health promotion; health-care delivery; health-care systems; human behaviour change; implementation science; kinesiology; neuroscience
Research profile: Available here
Trainee Alumni
Fraser Bell

Current position: Vice President Planning, Quality and Information Management, Northern Health
Research interests: Guideline implementation; change management; organizational change; integrated knowledge translation
Divya K Bhati

Current position: Research Coordinator, Applied Behavior Change Lab, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; patient engagement; primary health care; public health; interdisciplinary research
Research profile: Available here
Laura Boland

Current position: Research Scientist, Evidence Synthesis and Knowledge Translation Unit, Public Health Agency of Canada
Research interests: Knowledge translation; integrated knowledge translation; implementation science; systematic and rapid reviews; shared decision making
Research profile: Available here
Christine Cassidy

Current position: Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University
Research interests: Knowledge translation; integrated knowledge translation; pediatrics; nursing; implementation science; vaccine hesitancy
Research profile: Available here
Aislinn Conway

Current position: Senior Health Technology Assessment Analyst, Health Information and Quality Authority, Ireland
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; evidence-informed practice and policy; patient-focused; dissemination (practice and science); implementation (practice and science); user-centred; partnership; collaboration; co-design; engagement
Research profile: Available here
Olivia Daub

Current position: Knowledge Translation Specialist, BORN Ontario
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; outcome measurement; test development; co-production evaluation
Research profile: Available here
Megann Dong

Current position: Research Assistant, CAMH
Research interests: Health communication; knowledge translation; patient engagement; health policy; health equity
Clayon Hamilton

Current position: Regional Practice Lead in Research & Knowledge Translation, Fraser Health Authority; Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Research interests: Patient and family engagement; evaluation; measurement; long-term care; health system improvement
Research profile: Available here
Janet Jull

Current position: Assistant Professor, Queen’s University
Research interests: Collaborative research; equity; shared decision making
Research profile: Available here
Celia Laur

Current position: Scientific Lead, Office of Spread and Scale, Women’s College Hospital
Research interests: Implementation sustainability; implementation science; health services research
Research profile: Available here
Claire Ludwig

Current position: Executive Director, Clinical Operations, The Ottawa Hospital
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; patient engagement in research; shared decision making; health services research
Research profile: Available here
Robert McLean

Current position: Senior Program Specialist, International Development Research Centre, Canada
Research interests: Evaluation; global health; knowledge translation; co-production; scaling science
Research profile: Available here
Priscilla Medeiros

Current position: Knowledge Mobilization and Community Engagement Specialist, Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children
Research interests: Gender and health; community-based research; building capacity in knowledge translation/implementation science; health promotion
Tram Nguyen

Current position: Disability Researcher, March of Dimes Canada; 2021-2022 Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Arctic Studies
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; collaborative research approaches; research partnerships; partnership evaluation
Ilja Ormel

Current position: Senior Manager Health Intelligence, Research and Development, Canadian Red Cross
Research interests: COVID-19; humanitarian assistance; illness experiences; qualitative research; disease outbreaks; health promotion; behaviour change; participatory research; cholera; accountability; Ebola
Research profile: Available here
Nedra Peter

Current position: Adjunct Professor / Research Associate, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Research interests: Poverty; occupational justice; integrated knowledge translation; equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
Research profile: Available here
Emily Ramage

Current position: Clinical Researcher, The Florey Institute
Research interests: Stroke; integrated knowledge translation; physical activity; co-design; complex intervention development
Research profile: Available here
Jessica Ramlakhan

Current position: Research Associate, University Health Network
Research interests: Women’s health; patient-centred care; implementation science; healthcare organizational behaviour; knowledge translation; mental health
Research profile: Available here
Yehudis Stokes

Current position: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Research interests: Trauma-informed care; integrated knowledge translation; psychological safety; nursing; art therapy; mental health
Research profile: Available here
Brianne Wood

Current position: Associate Scientist, Social Accountability and Learning Health Systems, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Research interests: Learning health systems; social accountability; rural, remote, and northern health
Research profile: Available here
Sarah Wu

Current position: Strategic Lead, Alzheimer Society of B.C.
Research interests: Mealtimes; long-term care; dementia; family caregiving; qualitative methods; integrated knowledge translation; mixed methods
Research profile: Available here
Maria Zych

Current position: Instruction and Liaison Librarian, Dentistry Library, University of Toronto
Research interests: Integrated knowledge translation; IKT partnership formation; access to healthcare information
