Experiential learning is essential in preparing new nurse leaders for today’s complex environments. Our project sought to assess utility and feasibility of a virtual community of practice (vCoP). Results from the co-design process and vCoP model implementation will be presented with implications for supporting nurse leader development through an innovative social learning model.
Lisa Di Prospero BSc MSc MRT(T)
Lisa is the Director for Practice-Based Research and Innovation & the Education Research Unit at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (SHSC). In 2017, she was appointed the Vice-Chair of the Research Ethics Board at SHSC. Previous to this appointment, she was the Professional Leader and Manager of Education and Research for Radiation Therapy at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (since 2010). She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Associate Member at the Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto. She received her undergraduate and graduate degree in biology at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Rainbow and graduated from the Toronto-Sunnybrook School of Radiation Therapy in 1996. Throughout her professional career, Lisa has held a number of appointments in both research and education. Previous to joining Sunnybrook, she was a Professor in the undergraduate Medical Radiation Sciences program at the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences/The University of Toronto (since 2001). She continues to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Lisa has authored and co-authored numerous articles and continues to mentor and coach both intra- and inter- professional colleagues. Lisa was named the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences (JMIRS) in 2013 to 2019 and is currently Emeritus EIC, an international, peer-reviewed journal. Lisa currently serves on committees for both the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO) and the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT). Lisa is currently completing her doctoral studies at the University of Toronto’s Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Health Services Research.
Alexandra Harris, RN PhD
Alexandra (Alex) Harris is a scholar practitioner, educator and hospital administrator with over 15 years strengthening nursing through practice, policy, research, education and leadership. She is currently Senior Director, Nursing Practice and Education at Unity Health Toronto, one of Canada’s largest Catholic healthcare networks, and Investigator at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital Toronto. Alex has also worked as an independent research consultant specializing in health human resources for national and international organizations such as Health Canada and the International Council of Nurses.
Her formal training is in nursing (BNSc, RN), health leadership (MN/MHSc, CHE) and health services research (PhD), including receipt of a Frederick Banting and Charles Best CGS Doctoral Research Award, as well as a Fellowship and Clarkson Laureateship for Public Service from Massey College, University of Toronto (UofT). Alex teaches in the graduate program at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, UofT and is Chair of the Editorial Advisory Committee for the Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership.
Co-Authors
Heather Thomson, RN, PhD
Jack Li, RN, MN PhD student
Tharsiga Gunasegaran, BComm, BSc
Tijana Mirceska, RN BScN
Katharine Harrison, RN-EC MN