Our Researchers
Information Box Group
Cheryl A. Sadowski
BSc (Pharm), Pharm.D., FCSHP
Jean A.C. Triscott
Geriatrician, MD, CCFP, FAAFP, FCFP-Geriatrics
Professor
University of Alberta, Department of Family Medicine
Co-Investigator / Researcher/Clinician
Noori Akhtar-Danesh
PhD
Associate Professor
McMaster University, Biostatistics
Co-Investigator
Norm Archer
Professor Emeritus
McMaster University, DeGroote School of Business
Co-Investigator
Sue Baptiste
MHSc, OT Reg (ON)
Professor Emeritus
McMaster University, School of Rehabilitation Science
Co-Investigator
Michelle Butt
Associate Professor
McMaster University, School of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Sinéad Dufour
Assistant Clinical Professor
McMaster University, School of Rehabilitation Science, School of Nursing
Co-Investigator / Past Trainee
Wendy Duggleby
PhD, RN, ACCN
Professor
University of Alberta, Faculty of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Sid Feldman
MD, CCFP, FCFP
Associate Professor
University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Co-Investigator / Researcher/Clinician
Kathryn Fisher
MSc, PhD
Data Analyst
McMaster University, School of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Kimberly Fraser
RN, PhD
Retired Associate Professor
University of Alberta, Faculty of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Amiram Gafni
PhD
Professor
McMaster University; Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis;, Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Co-Investigator
Sunita Ghosh
PhD, PStat
Assistant Clinical Professor
University of Alberta, Department of Oncology
Co-Investigator
Lauren Griffith
Assistant Professor
McMaster University, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Co-Investigator
Andrea Gruneir
PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Alberta, Department of Family Medicine
Co-Investigator
Gail Heald-Taylor
Caregiver Stakeholder
Aging, Community and Health Research Unit
Co-Investigator
Sandra Hirst
RN, PhD, GNC(C)
Associate Professor
University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Bill Johnson
Patient Stakeholder
Aging, Community and Health Research Unit
Co-Investigator
Sharon Kaasalainen
RN, PhD
Associate Professor
McMaster University, School of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Nick Kates
Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences
McMaster University
Co-Investigator
Anita Kothari
Associate Professor
Western University, School of Health Studies
Co-Investigator
John Lavis
Director
McMaster Health Forum
Co-Investigator
Carrie McAiney
PhD
Associate Professor, Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia
University of Waterloo, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Co-Investigator
Janet McElhaney
Vice President of Research & Scientific Director
Health Sciences North Research Institute
Co-Investigator
Melissa Northwood
Assistant Professor, Co-Investigator ACHRU
McMaster University, School of Nursing
Co-Investigator / Past Trainee
Lawrence Ogden
Caregiver Stakeholder
Aging, Community and Health Research Unit
Co-Investigator
Alain P. Gauthier
Associate Professor
Laurentian University, School of Human Kinetics
Co-Investigator
Christopher Patterson
MD, FRCPC, FACP, FRCP (Glasg.)
Professor
McMaster University, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Co-Investigator / Researcher/Clinician
Shelley Peacock
MN, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Diana Sherifali
Associate Professor
McMaster University, School of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Lehana Thabane
MSc, PhD
Professor / Associate Chair
McMaster University, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Co-Investigator
Ross Upshur
MD, MSc
Professor
University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Co-Investigator / Researcher/Clinician
Diana Urajnik
Senior Research Associate ?
Laurentian University, Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research
Co-Investigator
Isabelle Vedel
Assistant Professor
McGill University, Department of Family Medicine and Division of Geriatrics
Co-Investigator
Lorraine Venturato
RN, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Allison Williams
PhD
Associate Professor
McMaster University, School of Geography & Earth Sciences
Co-Investigator
Patricia Wilson
Professor of Primary and Community Care
University of Kent, Canterbury, England
Co-Investigator
Jennifer Yost
Associate Professor
Villanova University, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing
Co-Investigator
Our Staff
Information Box Group
Rebecca Ganann
RN, PhD
Co-Scientific Director, Aging, Community and Health Research Unit
Our Trainees
Information Box Group
Megane Bouchard
Undergraduate Research Assistant
McMaster University
Current Trainee
Patricia Julian
Master of Science in Nursing Student
McMaster University, School of Nursing
Current Trainee
Katie Lee
Undergraduate Research Assistant
McMaster University, School of Nursing
Current Trainee
Maggie MacNeil
Post-doctoral Fellow, Citizen and Community Engagement Methods and Evaluation
McMaster University, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact
Current Trainee
Megan Racey
Post-doctoral Fellow
McMaster University, School of Nursing
Current Trainee
Carly Whitmore
PhD Student
McMaster University, School of Nursing
Current Trainee
Patient and Public Research Partners
Gail juggles the demands of being a family caregiver and yet still makes time to be an Aging, Community and Health Research Unit caregiver research partner. In this short video she shares her experience and perspectives about caregiving and sheds light on what researchers really need to know when working with caregivers as research partners. Listen as she reveals what has worked well in partnering with research teams and the benefits she sees of being a caregiver research partner.
Patient & Public Research Partners
Jim Austin
Lynne Austin
Joachim Brouwer
Glenn Deans
Patient Research Partner Profile: Patricia
Like many older adults with several different chronic conditions, Patricia knows what it’s like to have countless medical appointments, tests and procedures with different medical specialists. Navigating the health system is one of the biggest challenges for older adults, she says. Often, seniors don’t think their questions are important or worth the time for medical staff.
But over the years she says she has learned to give her input and ask the right questions. These skills assist her in her role as a patient research partner with the Aging, Community and Health Research Unit (ACHRU). She wants to help others, so she shares her knowledge and experience from a patient’s perspective with ACHRU’s research teams. She says involving patients in the research process is a positive step. She attends workshops and team meetings she has been invited to, gives verbal and written feedback, and is not afraid to ask questions.
Sometimes it’s difficult to incorporate the patient’s perspective, but it’s important, she says.
“A lot of things are being thought out well and the researchers are addressing the issues. It’s academic (writing style) though, so they need to translate it into the language of the people.”
Caregiver Research Partner Profile: Brenda
Brenda was a professional caregiver for many years as a nurse, but when she retired several years ago it coincided with the need to become a family caregiver to her father. She noticed her Dad and step-mom were having difficulty living at home on their own, so she and her husband decided to move closer to them and eventually her parents moved in.
She says the biggest challenges older adults face is the loss of many things like their independence, mobility, cognitive abilities and social interactions. “My stepmom was starting to have a lot of falls and she was doing things like leaving a pot on the stove and going to have a nap.” The retired nurse knew they were no longer able mange on their own, but she wanted them to maintain an optimal quality of life. So her parents moved into the main floor of the house and she and her husband moved to the basement.
“I didn’t want to do everything for them. I wanted to help them be independent and still have control over their life.”
