Catherine Laing

Assistant Professor

Nursing

PhD


Contact information

Phone

Office: 403-210-6135

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.