
Catherine Laing
Assistant Professor
PhD
Contact information
Phone
Preferred method of communication
ADMIN ASSISTANT
Lisa Margulies
Email: lcmargul@ucalgary.ca
Office: 403-220-6575
Research and teaching
Research areas
- Psychosocial oncology
- Social return on investment
Summary of Research
Dr. Laing’s program of research is in the field of Pediatric Oncology. Having an extensive background in clinical, educational, and administrative areas in this field, her doctoral research was a hermeneutic study related to understanding the meaning and effects of children’s cancer camps for the child with cancer and the family. Dr. Laing’s current research interests lie in understanding the therapeutic value of digital storytelling with pediatric and adolescent/ young adult oncology patients, and she is also working on incorporating the methodology of Social Return on Investment in the healthcare setting where questions of social value are present.
Biography
Dr. Laing has beein in the field of pediatric oncology nursing for 18 years, and in that time has held clinical, educational, administrative, and academic roles. She is most interested in how children and adolescents/young adults with cancer and their families get through the experience of cancer, why some families have an easier time than others, what the experience is like for them, how can others learn from their experiences, and what healthcare professionals can do to make it a more bearable experience. Predominantly a qualitative researcher, Dr. Laing has held an academic appointment with the University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing since 2013, and is active at the local, provincial, national, and international levels of pediatric oncology nursing.