Susan Sommerfeldt, PhD, MN, BScN, RN

Contact

Faculty of Nursing
Email
ss13@ualberta.ca

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

heathcare teams interprofessionalism arts-based research


About

My research and teaching is centred in exploring healthcare teams, how they function and what that means to patients. 

My interest in interprofessionalism emerged in my Masters of Nursing work highlighting inter-disciplinary approaches to Developmental Coordination Disorder in children. Doctoral research explored interprofessionalism and relational work in inter-disciplinary healthcare teams. Utilizing arts-informed methodology, I explored team relationships using applied theatre methods, specifically Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed.

My current research includes a research creation project that produced a mini-documentary about healthcare workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic (SSHRC funded). Two ongoing research projects include using arts-based research exploring HIV stigma in school-age children in Uganda (CIHR funded) and exploring intergenerational trauma and community solutions using Theatre for Living in northern Uganda (SSHRC funded). Using mindfulness in a healthcare organization is currently in the analysis stage (SSHRC funded). 

Other research experience includes a research project that established interprofessional clinical learning units in Edmonton area healthcare facilities. I was involved with Dr. Judy Mill’s project investigating HIV diagnosis and care of Canadian Aboriginal youth and Dr. Beverley O’Brien’s research program involving implementing midwifery services in Alberta and an institutional ethnographic approach in describing rural and remote birth choices available to Alberta families.

I have presented lectures and workshops internationally in Germany, China, UK, USA, Brasil, Australia, and Thailand.


I have provided guest lectures about art-based research in health research and community health nursing.  


Featured Publications

Joshua B. Mendelsohn; Bonnie Fournier; Stephanie Caron-Roy; Geoffrey Maina; Gillian Strudwick; Santo Ojok; Hyun June Lim; Marcos Sanches; Carmen H. Logie; Susan Sommerfeldt; Candace Nykiforuk; Jean Harrowing; Francis Akena Adyanga; Jussy Okello Hakiigaba; Olenka Bilash.

Trials.. 2022 December; 2022 (23) 10.1186/s13063-022-06643-9


Sommerfeldt, S., McKinstry, K., Sommerfeldt, M.

University of Alberta Library - Aviary platform. 2022 September;


Sommerfeldt, S., Caine, V., Compton, R.

Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice. 2022 September; 28 10.1016/j.xjep.2022.100520


Sommerfeldt, S.

Global Qualitative Nursing Research. 2015 January; 2


Sommerfeldt S, Caine V, Molzahn A

Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research. 2014 January; 15 (2):Article 11


Sommerfeldt S

Nurse Education in Practice. 2013 January; 16


Mill JE, Wong T, Archibald C, Sommerfeldt S, Worthington C, Jackson R, Prentice T, Myers T

Pimatisiwin: A Journal of Aboriginal and Indigenous Community Health. 2011 January; 9 (2):277-299