Dr. Deirdre Dawson
Scientist Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest
Associate Member Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto
Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
Research Focus
My research is concerned with optimizing occupational performance; that is, enabling persons to do the day-to-day activities they want to do. In general, my research focuses on adults and older adults with acquired brain injury (traumatic and stroke). My interests are in determining the factors that contribute to successful outcomes and in designing and testing rehabilitation programs that use these factors. My work flows from a biopsychosocial model of health and the interventions I am testing incorporate elements to address both cognitive and psychosocial factors. Currently I am involved with several intervention studies:
- a psychosocial module that is part of a multi-faceted cognitive rehabilitation intervention for people with white matter disease
- the refinement of a contextualized, meta-cogntive approach for adults with ABI
- a community integration project partnering people with ABI with healthy volunteers to participate in community-based physical activity programs
Publications
Education
- 1999: Ph.D., Psychology, Brain & Behaviour, University of Toronto (Supervisor: Dr. Donald T. Stuss)
- 1993: M.Sc., Epidemiology, University of Toronto (Supervisor: Prof. Mary Chipman)
- 1979: B.S.R, Rehablitation, University of British Columbia
Academic Appointments
- 2006–2010: Adjunct Scientist, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto
- 2004–2010: Associate Member, Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery
- 2002–2010: Member, Collaborative Program in Neuroscience, University of Toronto, Toronto
- 2001–Present: Scientist, Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest, Toronto
- 2000–Present: Associate Member, Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto
- 1999–Present: Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto
Research Projects
External
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2002–2008:
McDonnell 21st Century Collaborative Activity Award: Brain recovery: Return of cognitive and social function
Collaborators: D. T. Stuss (PI) & multiple co-investigators including D.R. Dawson.Sponsors: McDonnell Foundation, 2,000,000 (USD)
Role: PI on Multiple Errands Test Validation and clinical utility studies; Co-designer of psychosocial intervention to improve real-world outcomes in persons with white-matter disease.
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2004–2009:
Rehabilitation in the real world for executive dysfunction following traumatic brain injury
Collaborators: Dawson, D. R., Polatajko, H., & Levine, B.
Institutions: Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoSponsors: Dean’s Fund, New Staff Grant, 10,000
-
2006–2007:
A real-world intervention for improving quality of life for adults with executive dysfunction following traumatic brain injury
Collaborators: Dawson, D. R., Polatajko, H., Lemsky, C., Levine, B. & Streiner, DSponsors: Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, 75,000
-
2007–2008:
Partners in Fitness: A pilot program to enhance community integration in adults with brain injury
Collaborators: Dawson, D.R., Anderson, A., Brooks, D., Bayley, M., Bridges, L., Kumpf, J., & Marziali, E.Sponsors: Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, 75,000
-
2007:
Role of occupational therapists in enabling participation in valued activities and roles for adults following ABI
Collaborators: Dawson, D.Sponsors: Neurotrauma Summer Student Exchange Program, Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation & REPAR, Post-doctoral Fellowship Grant, 12,000
Internal
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2007–2008:
Innovative Approaches to Enhancing Participation for Persons with Disabilities over the Lifespan
Collaborators: Kirsh, B., Cameron, D., Cameron, J., Campbell, K., Dawson, D., Duncan, A., Mihailidis, A., Rappolt, S., Reid, D., Rigby, P., & Rappolt, S.
Institutions: University of TorontoSponsors: Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, 50,000
internal grant
Selected Publications
- Dawson, D. R., Levine, B., Schwartz, M, & Stuss, D. (2004). Acute predictors of real-world outcomes following traumatic brain injury: A prospective study. Brain Injury, 18, 221-238.
- Dawson, D.R., *Markowitz, M., Stuss, D.T. (2005). Community integration status four years post-TBI: Participant-proxy agreement. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 20, 436-445.
- Burgess, P. W, Alderman, N., Forbes, C., Costello, A.,
Coates, L. M-A., Dawson, D. R., Anderson, N. D., Gilbert, S. J.,
Dumontheil, I., & Channon, S. (2006). The case for the development
and use of “ecologically valid” measures of executive function in
experimental and clinical neuropsychology. Journal of the International
Neurospsychological Society, 12, 194-209.
- Ramani, M., Andrade-Souza, Y., Dawson, D., Scora, D., Tsao, M., & Schwartz, M. (2006). Neurological deficit rather obliteration determines quality of life in patients treated with radiosurgery for AVMs. Radiosurgery, 6, 231-240.
- *Krpan, K., Levine, B., Stuss, D., & Dawson, D.R.
(2007). Executive function and coping at one-year post traumatic brain
injury. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 29, 36-46.
- Winocur, G., Palmer, H., Dawson, D., Binns, M., Bridges, K., & Stuss, D. T. (2007). Cognitive rehabilitation in the elderly: An evaluation of psychosocial factors. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 13, 153-165.
- Dawson, D.R., Schwartz, M.L., Winocur, G., & Stuss, D. T. (2007). Return to Productivity following traumatic brain injury: Cognitive, psychological, physical, spiritual and environmental correlates. Disability & Rehabilitation, 29, 301-313.
Teaching
(Please note: The Department of Occupational Therapy offered an undergraduate degree up to 2002. Beginning in 2001, the program became a graduate program and now confers a MScOT. )
Undergraduate Teaching
Major Responsibility for Design, Co-ordination and Teaching
1988-1989 OCT510F Management of Adult Neurological Dysfunction
1986-1991 OCT310A Neurorehabilitation: Part A
1990-1992 OCT240S Assessment of Occupational Performance
1991-1996 OCT320Y Occupational Therapy for Neurological Dysfunction
1993-1996 OCT310H Assessment of Occupational Performance
1996-2001 OCT240A Early and Middle Adulthood, Neuro-motor/Neuro-cognitive Subunit
2001-2002 OCT1172Y Neuro-motor/neuro-cognitive Foundations (responsible for planning and some teaching).
2003-present
OCT1262Y Enabling Occupation in Adults with Neuro-cognitive /
Neuro-motor Impairments (36 hours direct contact time)
Major Responsibility for Co-ordination and Implementation
1989-1990 OCT315H Medical and Surgical Conditions (Neurological)
1991-1992 OCT440Y In-Depth Studies
1992-1993 OCT489H Research Selective
1992-1993 OCT440F Literature Review
1997 OCT200Y Research Theme
Primary Supervisor of Senior Undergraduate Research Projects and Major Papers
1987-88 1 student 1994-95 2 students
1990-91 2 students 1995-96 2 students
1991-92 5 students 1996-97 1 student
1992-93 7 students 1997-98 3 students
1993-94 6 students 1998-99 2 students
Primary Supervisor of MSc Occupational Therapy Research Projects and Major Papers
2001-2 3 Students (Karen Hall, Michelle Markowitz, Kellie Radley)
2002-3 2 Students (Jennifer Firestone, Nichole Williams)
2003-4 2 Students (Katie Churchill, Jill McPhee)
2004-5 5 Students (Lauren Groll, Jeanie Kang, Kristen Kee, Eunice Leung, Courtney Samotie)
2005-6 3 Students (Jennifer Holmes, Jeff Mills, Shira Tenenbaum)
2006-7 1 Student (Marian Bassilious-Samy)
Primary Supervisor of Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences MSc Theses
2006-present Andrew Ryu: The identification and early treatment of mild brain injury:
Strategies for improved practice in the primary care setting.
Committee Membership for Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences MSc Theses
Member of 2 MSc committees (Veronica Law, Sharon O’Campo)
Member, PhD Committee (Hwan Kim)
Completed Theses
2006
1 student (Martha McCall) completed MSc in Graduate Department of
Rehabilitation Sciences, U o T, served as primary supervisor. Title: A
Modified Constraint Induced Movement
Therapy Program with the Geriatric Sub Acute Stroke Population
1
student (Dianne Frasca) completed MSc in Graduate Department of
Rehabilitation Sciences, U o T, served as committee member, The effects
of environmental enrichment on cognitive functioning in the elderly.
2005
2 students (Barbara Baptiste, Deborah Seligman) completed MSc in
Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, U o T, served as
committee member, Title: Predictors of Case Management Use following
Traumatic Brain Injury (BB); Treating heel pain in adults: A randomized
clinical trial (DS).
2003 1 student (Rachel Devitt) completed
MSc in Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, U o T, served as
committee member, Title: The Effect of Ageing on Long Term Outcomes
following Traumatic Brain Injury.
2003 1 student (Katherine
Krpan) completed MA in Department of Psychology, U o T, served as
co-supervisor. Title: Executive Function & Coping Following
Traumatic Brain Injury
External Examiner on Theses
2003 External Examiner for PhD Thesis Defense, Department of Psychology,
Queen’s University (Lori Ann Blessing)
2006
External Examiner for MSc (OT Post-Professional) Thesis Defense, School
of Occupational Therapy, Dalhousie University (Rhona Anderson)
Curriculum Vitae
Download Curriculum Vitae hereContact
Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research UnitBaycrest
3560 Bathurst Street, Room 756
Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E1
Phone: (416)785-2500, x.2136 Email: ddawson
klaru-baycrest.on.ca