Katherine Kortes-Miller
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work and Palliative Care Division Lead, Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health (CERAH) | Lakehead University
Thunder Bay , ON, CANADA
An unconventional death educator and researcher with a passion for palliative care and improving end of life care for all
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Biography
Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller is an assistant professor at the School of Social Work and the Palliative Care Division Lead at the Centre for Education and Research On Aging and Health (CERAH) at Lakehead University. Her research interests include enhancing palliative and end-of-life care for all Canadians, interprofessional education, high fidelity simulation and mentorship. She recently completed a two year research fellowship with the Canadian Frailty Network (CFN) and worked with Pallium Canada co-leading their Compassionate Communities initiative. Kathy is also the past chair of the board of directors for Hospice Northwest.
Industry Expertise (4)
Research
Education/Learning
Health Care - Providers
Program Development
Areas of Expertise (8)
Gerontology
Palliative Care
End-Of-Life Care
Interprofessional Education and Care
LGBTQ
High Fidelity Simulation
Qualitative Research
Social Work
Accomplishments (4)
Technology Evaluation in the Elderly Network Research Fellowship - $100,000
2014 - 2016
Thunder Bay Citizenship Spirit Award (personal)
2016
SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship - $40,000
2012 - 2014
Faculty Research Award - $ 8640
2012 - 2013
Education (2)
Lakehead University: PhD, Education 2015
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies Specialization in the Social, Cultural & Political Contexts of Education Dissertation: Death Education: Simulating the End of Life to Beginning Healthcare Providers. Supervisor: Dr. Lisa Korteweg
Lakehead University: BSW (Hons.), Social Work 1998
ON Clinical Placement: Thunder Bay Sexual Assault/ Sexual Abuse Counselling and Crisis Centre *Graduated with First Class Standing
Affiliations (1)
- Past Chair, Board of Directors, Hospice Northwest
Links (2)
Media Appearances (2)
Podcast - Talking about death won't kill you!
Death Goes Digital online
2016-10-24
Podcast by Peter Billingham
Death Education
The Current CBC radio
"I think it's time that we take death out of the closet," says Kathy Kortes-Miller, an assistant professor at Lakehead University's School of Social Work.
Research Grants (6)
Speaking Up and Speaking Out: A toolkit for healthcare professionals caring for older LGBT adults facing the end of their lives
Retired Teachers of Ontario $24,750
2017 Co-Principle Investigator
Valuing the perspectives of LGBT older adults in Canada: An evidence based approach to developing inclusive research and policy agendas
SSHRC Insight Development Grant $63,687
2016 - 2019 Co-Principle Investigator
Dying alone: perspectives on the final stage of life from LGBT elders living in Ontario
Law Society of Ontario $15,000
2016 Co-Principle Investigator
Improving Public Engagement in Advance Care Planning through peer- facilitated group activities
Canadian Frailty Network $100,000
2016 Co-Investigator
Interdisciplinary End-of- Life Care Education Using High Fidelity Simulation in Long Term Care.
Technology Evaluation in the Elderly Network (TVN)
2014 - 2016 Research Fellow
Good medicine: Supporting elderly individuals at home in Northwestern Ontario
Thunder Bay Community
2008 - 2013 Co-Investigator
Articles (4)
Dying with Carolyn: Using simulation to improve communication skills of unregulated care providers working in Long-Term Care
Journal of Applied Gerontology2016 This article examines the development, implementation, and evaluation of a pilot project utilizing high-fidelity simulation (HFS) to improve frontline staff members' confidence and skills to communicate about death and dying in long-term care homes.
Developing and implementing peer-led intervention to support staff in long-term care homes manage grief
SAGE Open2016 Front-line staff in long-term care (LTC) homes often form strong emotional bonds with residents. When residents die, staffs' grief often goes unattended, and may result in disenfranchised grief...
OA6 Talking about death won't kill you; introducing die-alogues
BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care2015 Death holds a significant place in societies despite not being a direct or first-hand experience for many. Fewer people now die in their homes surrounded by family, and we have distanced ourselves from death by geography and the medicalisation of death...
Development of a palliative care education program in rural long-term care facilities
Journal of Palliative Care2007 In North America, people 85 years and older are the fastest growing age cohort and long-term care homes are increasingly becoming the place of end-of-life care. This is especially true in rural communities where services are lacking...
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