Dr. Elizabeth Anne聽Kinsella聽will be a Full Professor at the聽Institute of Health Sciences Education聽starting January 1, 2021.
An award-winning teacher with extensive experience supervising graduate students, Dr.聽Kinsella聽is currently a faculty member at the University of Western Ontario with a broad interdisciplinary research portfolio focused on reflective approaches to health sciences education and practice. Dr. Kinsella also brings a disciplinary background in occupational therapy and an interest in occupations in health and social care contexts.
At Western, she directs the Epistemologies of Practice Lab, with a focus on reflective approaches to knowledge generation and translation.
鈥淩eflection is central to epistemologies of practice,鈥� said Dr. Kinsella. 鈥淚t informs practice-based knowledge generation, and it is also an approach to critical social inquiry informing work oriented towards ethics, equity and justice. At its best, reflection is also social and dialogical, informing collaborative knowledge development such as that developed within communities of practice.鈥�
聽In her new position, Dr.聽Kinsella聽will continue to advance a program of research in health sciences education, support research projects affiliated with the Institute, and collaborate with the Director of Graduate Programs, Dr. Peter Nugus, in the development of the Institute鈥檚 emerging doctoral program where she will teach and supervise future PhD students. Dr. Kinsella will also be appointed as an associate member in the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy.
鈥淚t is a real pleasure to welcome such a respected scholar to the Institute,鈥� said outgoing Institute Director, Dr. Yvonne Steinert. 鈥淚 am confident that Dr. Kinsella will enhance our new graduate program and the already vibrant scholarly community that we have cultivated and nurtured here at the Institute.鈥�
鈥淚t sounds like a dream job,鈥� said Dr. Kinsella of her new posting. 鈥淲hen I read the description to my sister, she said, 鈥楢nne it looks like that was written for you.鈥� I鈥檝e already had wonderful experiences with colleagues at 91社区. I鈥檓 so excited by the intellectual energy that I鈥檝e seen, the quality of scholarship, the progressive views, and the commitment to educational research.鈥�
With 16 years of experience as an interdisciplinary scholar, Dr.聽Kinsella聽is internationally recognized in the field of health sciences education (HSE). She is one of the leading experts on reflection, reflective practice and critical reflexivity, and practice-based epistemologies in health and social care. Her publications are highly cited as the importance of reflective approaches to education and practice take on more prominent roles in HSE.
鈥淥ne of the things about reflection is that it often starts in moments of disruption 鈥� moments when we don鈥檛 know,鈥� said Dr. Kinsella of the coronavirus pandemic. 鈥淚t鈥檚 potentially an important time of transformation.鈥�
There is a practical bent to this work as well, as Dr. Kinsella seeks to improve healthcare provision.
鈥淎t the heart of my work is a focus on professional knowledge and practice and the ways in which we can work toward the cultivation of exceptional health care practitioners who are responsive to patients, able to navigate the complexities and ambiguities of practice with discernment and good judgement, capable of sustaining caring and dialogical relationships in practice, and sensitive to issues of equity and ethics,鈥� noted Dr. Kinsella.
Her published work has contributed significantly to international advancements in the conceptualization and application of reflection to professional development, professional education and professional practice.
Dr.聽Kinsella聽has authored over 90 peer reviewed papers and book chapters, and a workbook on聽Reflective Practice and Professional Development. She edited an important interdisciplinary collection titled聽Phronesis as Professional Knowledge: Practical Wisdom in the Professions, and is co-editor of two forthcoming books,Mobilizing Knowledge in Physiotherapy: Critical Reflections on Foundations and Practices聽and聽Embodiment and Professional Education: Body, Practice, Pedagogy.
Other research interests of Dr. Kinsella鈥檚 include: ethics, equity and the moral experience of professional life; philosophical perspectives on professional knowledge; knowledge translation and policy in professional practice; 聽teaching and learning in health and social care professions; epistemic and occupational justice; disability and occupation; and arts and humanities-based modes of education.
On behalf of everyone at the Institute, welcome to 91社区!