Biography

A globally aging population has positioned dementia to become the world’s leading cause of disability and dependency among older adults, bringing physical, psychological, social and economic challenges for families. Emma Bartfay, PhD, has devoted her much of her research to stemming the effects of dementia on individuals living with the conditions and their caregivers. An Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at UOIT since 2005, Dr. Bartfay’s teaching and research has been guided toward this specialty.

Dr. Bartfay completed her Bachelor of Science at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba in 1990, and in 1994, she earned her Master of Science from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. As a graduate student she developed a love of research and was inspired by many professors who mentored her. She credits her role as a teaching assistant with fuelling her interest in teaching and mentoring others. In 1998, she completed her Doctorate in Epidemiology at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, and followed her passion for teaching and research to pursue a career in academia where she could engage in both avenues.

In 1999, Dr. Bartfay began her career as a scientist in the Cancer Research Institute in the Division of Cancer Research and Epidemiology, and an assistant professor in the Department of Oncology, both at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. In 2000, she became an assistant professor in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at Queen’s. Then in 2003, she was appointed assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Windsor, in Windsor, Ontario.

Dr. Bartfay’s noted research has garnered many additional awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and National Cancer Institute of Canada. She is a member of the International Epidemiological Association and the Canadian Society of International Health.

Industry Expertise (5)

Health Care - Services

Elder Care

Education/Learning

Research

Mental Health Care

Areas of Expertise (9)

Aging

Epidemiology

Global Health

Population Health

Health Services Utilization

Caregiver Burden

Cancer Care

Dementia Care

Gerontology

Accomplishments (4)

Technical Committee, Annual Global Healthcare Conference (professional)

2016-01-01

For two years, Dr. Bartfay has been a member of the conference's technical committee. The 2018 conference theme focuses on the differences in health care across societies, and how government, private sector and public health collaboration is needed to ensure its accessibility and affordability for everyone. It also examines the role of health researchers and developers in advancing health care and medical science.

Editorial Board, Journal of Community Medicine and Health Care (professional)

2016-01-01

This is an open access, peer reviewed, scholarly journal dedicated to publish articles covering all community medicine and health care. The journal aims to promote research communications and provide a forum for doctors, researchers, physicians and healthcare professionals to find most recent advances in all areas of community medicine.

Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, UOIT (professional)

2005-07-01

Dr. Bartfay received the 2013 Faculty of Health Sciences nominee, UOIT Teaching Excellence Award (Core Faculty), and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in areas of Global Health, Issues in Health Care, and Epidemiology. She serves on numerous internal committees including UOIT’s Community Health Working Group.

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Career Scientist Award in Health Services Research (professional)

2001-01-01

Receiving this prestigious award early in her career enabled her to conduct groundbreaking research to advance the body of knowledge related to public health practice and policy.

Education (3)

University of Western Ontario: PhD, Epidemiology 1998

University of Waterloo: MSc, Science 1994

Brandon University: BSc, Science 1990

Affiliations (2)

• Canadian Society of International Health
• International Epidemiological Association

Media Appearances (2)

Vacation time means vaccination time

UOIT News  online

2017-05-31

If you plan to travel out of the country this summer, or even if you opt to stay close to home, a University of Ontario Institute of Technology researcher advises you to ensure your vaccines are up to date. “An abundance of viruses circulate the world at any given time,” says Emma Bartfay, PhD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences. “Unfortunately, many of us only pay attention when infections make headlines in the media.”

view more

Caregiver burden and understanding dementia care

Elizz Caregiver Support and Home Care Services  online

2016-06-27

Dr. Emma Bartfay, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), is a researcher who has dedicated many years of her career to understanding dementia care and caregiver burden.

view more

Event Appearances (9)

A comparison of residential care facility and home care clients on dementia diagnosis in Ontario, Canada

Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC)  Copenhagen, Denmark

2014-07-13

Cognitive impairment and dementia diagnosis among institutional care facility residents in Ontario, Canada

The 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics  Seoul, South Korea

2013-06-23

Interactive and preferential learning approach for global health education

HLSC Annual Poster Day, UOIT  Oshawa, Ontario

2013-04-11

A comparison of cognitive function at dementia diagnoses among facility residents with or without pre-existing condition in Ontario, Canada

The 11th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases (AD/PD 2013)  Florence, Italy

2013-03-06

Impact of global economic crisis on the health and well-being of laid-off automobile industry workers in Durham, Ontario

Canadian Conference on Global Health, Canadian Society of International Health  Ottawa, Ontario

2012-10-21

The health and well-being of laid-off automobile industry workers in Durham, Ontario

XIX IEA World Congress of Epidemiology, Edinburgh  Scotland, UK

2011-08-07

Quality of life of family caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients

26th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International  Toronto, Ontario

2011-03-26

The effects of the global economic downturn on GM autoworkers psycho-social health in Ontario, Canada: A phenomenological study

31st World Conference on Stress & Anxiety Research, STAR 2010  Galway, Ireland

2010-08-04

A comparison of the effects of adult day programs on the quality of life of Alzheimer’s disease patients

25th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International  Thessaloniki, Greece

2010-03-10