2025 Research & Scholarship Day

On October 22, the University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Nursing hosted its fourth annual Research & Scholarship Day, showcasing the impactful research and scholarly work being led by faculty, students, and collaborators across USask Nursing.

The day began with a powerful keynote address titled Reconciliation Research Pathways: Opportunities for DEBWEWIN (Truth) and Institutional ALLYSHIP, delivered Dr. Bernice Downey (PhD), associate professor (adjunct) from the Faculty of Health Sciences, Indigenous Health Learning Lodge at McMaster University. 

Alongside the keynote address, the event featured faculty and student poster presentations, two dynamic panel discussions, and a pair of fast-paced PechaKucha sessions.

The first panel, Two Worlds of Health: Exploring Rural and Urban Challenges, featured College of Nursing master’s thesis student Nicole Edmundson, Dr. Schroder Sattar (PhD), associate professor at USask Nursing, Dr. Anne Hyde (PhD), lecturer at USask Nursing, and Dr. Michelle Pavloff (PhD), director of the Centre for Health Research, Innovation and Scholarship, and institutional research chair in the Faculty of Nursing, Health Sciences and Community Services at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

The second panel, Unequal Beginnings: How Inequities Shape Maternal and Child Health, featured USask Nursing PhD Candidate Rosina Darcha, Dr. Sithokozile Maposa (PhD), assistant professor at USask College of Nursing, Dr. Jodie Bigalky (PhD), assistant professor at USask Nursing, and Dr. Maryam Mehtar (MBBCh, FRCPC) division head, Social Paediatrics, Paediatric School-Based Health at USask College of Medicine.

The two PechaKucha presentations captivated the audience with their unique and thought-provoking topics. The first, Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) Overcoming RN Registration Challenges in Canada – A Case Study from the Context of Pakistan, and the second, Green Care Farms: Caring in Relation, both sparked curiosity and left attendees eager to learn more about these emerging areas of research.

With around 85 attendees, the event provided an excellent platform to spotlight nurse scientists whose research and scholarly work are shaping the future of healthcare and nursing education.

 “Research & Scholarship Day was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the impressive work being carried out by our faculty and students, while also fostering collaboration and innovation among researchers with the aim of addressing contemporary healthcare challenges in Saskatchewan, Canada, and around the world,” said Dr. Louise Racine (PhD), associate dean of research and graduate studies at USask College of Nursing.

“This Research & Scholarship Day demonstrates that USask College of Nursing nurses are at the forefront of bringing solutions to improve health outcomes and healthcare delivery within a diversity of  populations and from community to acute care settings.”

“The insightful keynote address, relevant poster presentations, engaging panel discussions, and fast-paced PechaKucha sessions collectively left me with a deep sense of inspiration and profound admiration for the work of my colleagues. The day not only strengthened my passion for research, but also extended my enthusiasm for the future of nursing practice, research, and education. It was a powerful reminder of how innovation, collaboration, and meaningful work shape the discipline and nursing profession of nursing today and in the years ahead.”

The day wrapped up with the presentation of student awards for best abstracts in the Undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral categories. Congratulations to the following award recipients.

The Undergraduate Student Research Award was given to Ava Bahrey for her submission entitled, “Exploring Motivating Factors in Postpartum Recovery from Substance Use: Implications for Nursing Practice and Care.” 

The Master’s Student Research Award recipient was Olubunmi Okunola for her work, “Exploring the Perceived Health and Social Concerns of Older and Retired African Immigrants in Canada and Their Considerations for Re-Migration: A Narrative Review”.

The final award, the Doctoral Research Award, was presented to Emma Addai for her work, “Parents’ Communication Needs in the Disclosure of Congenital Anomaly Diagnoses: A Scoping Review”.

To showcase the diverse range of research and scholarship underway at the College of Nursing, the USask Nursing Research and Scholarship Snapshot is updated annually.

The 2025 College of Nursing Research & Scholarship Day was hosted by the Nursing Unit for Research and Scholarship Excellence (NURSE).