Dr. Dorothy J. Kergin Fellowship Award

My clinical background is in emergency and mental health. I chose nursing because it is a very flexible profession that has been and is continuing to evolve. I believe that wherever we are—whether that is the bedside, research labs, forensics, informatics, leadership positions or education—the collective efforts of nurses make a tangible difference in the outcomes of patients and health systems. This is my favourite part of the profession that gives me pride.

I completed my master’s thesis, conducting a scoping review to identify and characterize interventions implemented to change suicide prevention care provisions or professional behaviour (i.e., practice, knowledge and attitude) related to suicide prevention in emergency department. Currently as a PhD student at the University of Toronto, I will be developing theory-informed strategies for implementation, ensuring successful delivery of the safety planning mobile application for suicide prevention at an emergency department in Canada. Beyond doctoral studies, I hope to build a program of research focused on bridging the gap between research and clinical practice related to suicide prevention. I feel truly honored and grateful to receive the Dr. Dorothy J. Kergin Fellowship Award to support my ongoing studies.