Dr. Katherine Kortes-Miller

Director, Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health (CERAH) https://cerah.lakeheadu.ca
Associate Professor

Department: 
Social Work
Email: 
kkortesm@lakeheadu.ca
Phone Number: 
+1 (807) 343-8010ext. 7204
Office Location: 
RC 3007
Office Hours: 
Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Academic Qualifications: 

MSW, PhD

Previous Teaching/Work: 

Taught the following courses at Lakehead University

  • SOWK 1100 - Introduction to Social Welfare
  • GERO 1100 - Aging in Canada
  • SOWK/GERO 2010 - Introduction to Palliative Care
  • SOWK 2011 - Foundations of Social Work  Practice
  • SOWK/GERO 3437 - Social Work with Older People
  • SOWK/GERO 3439 - Living with Grief and Loss
  • SOWK 4300 - Theory of Social Work Practice
  • SOWK 4401 - Theory of Social Work Practice II
  • HESC 5035 - Qualitative Inquiry
  • SOWK 5214 - Social Work at the End of Life
  • SOWK 5511 - Applied Research Methods
Research Interests: 

My research experience is interdisciplinary and collaborative contributing to a broad range of fields of study including: social work, palliative care education, gerontology, and medical assistance in dying (MAiD). I am committed to improving the care provided at the bedside for our most vulnerable and frail. My intention is to continue to develop a research portfolio that will influence healthcare education and care at the bedside alongside improving organizational and healthcare policy.

Current Research:

  • Disrupting Death; An examination of Canadian experiences with medical assistance in dying (MAiD) (SSHRC Insight Grant received 2022) (Principle Investigator)
  • COVID-19 #Not Just A Visitor; Caregiving in long-term care during lockdown (SSHRC Partnership Engagement Grant received 2020) (Principle Investigator)
  • The Untold Stories of MAiD in Ontario:  Family and loved one's experiences (SSHRC Insight Development Grant received 2019) (Principle Investigator)
  • Caring, Sharing, and Preparing:  Let's talk about later life! (Canadian Frailty Network) (Co-investigator)
  • Deconstructing normativity in gerontology:  Focus on sexual orientation & gender identity.  (SSHRC Partnership Development Grant)  (Co-investigator)
  • Improving palliative care in the home and community:  Building CAPACITI (Community Access to Palliative Care via Interprofessional primary care Teams Intervention) (CIHR Project Grant) (Co-investigator)
  • Valuing the perspectives of LGBT older adults in Canada: An evidence based approach to developing inclusive research and policy agenda (Co-Investigator)
  • Speaking Up and Speaking Out:  A toolkit for healthcare professionals caring for older LGBT adults facing the end of their lives (Principle Investigator)
  • Getting by with a little help from their friends: the role of support and care networks in moderating health inequalities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual older Canadians (Co-Applicant)
  • Palliative Care for First Nations Communities: Supporting Capacity Development (Co-Applicant)
  • Aging with HIV in Canada:  Towards an understanding of psychosocial determinants to support health equity (Co-Investigator)
  • Intersectionality & Aging:  Planning a Way Forward to Improve Policies Related to Aging, Dementia and Mental Health (Co-Investigator)

Selected Publications:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Katherine-Kortes-Miller

  • Wilson, K., Kortes-Miller, K. & Stinchcombe, A. (Accepted March 2017). Staying out of the closet: hopes and fears of LGBT older adults as they consider end-of-life. Canadian Journal on Aging.
  • Stinchcombe, A., Smallbone, J., Wilson, K., & Kortes-Miller, K. (2017). Healthcare and End-of-Life Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Older Adults: A Scoping Review. Geriatrics, 2(1), 13.
  • Wilson, K., Stinchcombe, A., Kortes-Miller, K., & Enright, J.  (2016) Support Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults in the Health and Social Environment.  Journal of Counselling and Spirituality. 35(1), 13-29.
  • Vis, J. A., Ramsbottom, K., Marcella, J., McAnulty, J., Kelley, M. L., Kortes-Miller, K., & Jones-Bonofiglio, K. (2016). Developing and Implementing Peer-Led Intervention to Support Staff in Long-Term Care Homes Manage Grief. SAGE Open, 6(3), 2158244016665888.
  • Kortes-Miller, K., Jones-Bonofiglio, K., Hendrickson, S. & Kelley, ML. (2015).Dying with Carolyn: Using Simulation to Improve Communication Skills of Unregulated Health Care Providers Working in Long Term Care. Journal of Applied Gerontology, DOI: 10.1177/0733464815577139
  • Kortes-Miller, K. (2014).A Matter of Life and Death: Situating Death in Education. Canadian Journal of New Scholars in Education, 5(2). www.cjnse-rcjce.ca
  • Kortes-Miller,K. (2013). Dying to Know: Thoughts on Death Education. Pathways, 26(1), 17-20.
  • Kortes-Miller, K. (2013). Critical caring. Patient Education and Counseling, 93, 153-154.

Student Supervision:

Kathy is interested in supervising MSW students who are interested in gerontology, grief, MAiD, and palliative and end of life care.