Department of Psychology

Biography:

Keywords: evaluation; community-based research; mental health; addictions; chronic illness; knowledge translation

I completed a B.Sc. with a research specialization in psychology at the University of Toronto in 2001. I then pursued graduate training in clinical psychology at Concordia University, in Montreal. Upon graduation, I completed two brief postdoctoral fellowships. The first at Centre for Research on Inner City Health, at St Michael’s Hospital in the Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research Program, with a focus on transdisciplinary research examining the health of marginalized peoples. The second was funded through SSHRC and used a realist evaluation method to examine parenting programs in Aboriginal communities. When I saw the posting for faculty positions in the Department of Psychology at Ryerson University, I jumped at the opportunity to embark on academic career with such an outstanding group of professors, students, and staff.

My research program involves collaborations with communities or organizations to investigate clinical and health related questions in the broad area of health services research. My primary community partners include Scarborough Hospital, Renascent, Progress Place, and Aboriginal health organizations, including Tungasuvvingat Inuit, Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres and Métis Nation of Ontario.

1. Development of intervention programs in mental health and addictions for Aboriginal communities

2. Evaluation of primary care, self-management for chronic disease, and psychological treatments for patients

3. Training in cross cultural competence or transnational competence for clinicians

4. Synthesis of existing clinical and health research using a realist perspective-- focusing on how, why, and in what context particular programs work
  

5. Examination of different methods for dissemination of research findings to participants and communities
 

My teaching interests include community psychology, qualitative research methods, culture, and addictions. I am also involved in the supervision of students in research and clinical psychology.

As well, I collaborate with the Northern Ontario Paediatric Type 2 Diabetes Program, where I provide clinical support to First Nations communities in Ontario. Check out: http://www.nopt2dp.ca/

I welcome any opportunity to collaborate with community organizations, researchers, and students. Please email me to set up a meeting!

In my time away from work, you can find me outside hiking or playing basketball with my husband, son, and daughter.

Selected Publications:

O'Campo P., Kirst M., Schaefer-McDaniel N., Firestone M., Scott A., & McShane K. (2009). Community-based services for homeless adults experiencing concurrent mental health and substance use disorders: A realist approach to synthesizing evidence. Journal of Urban Health, 86(6), 965-989.

McShane, K. E., Smylie, J. K., Adomako, P. (2009). First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children's health. In JK Smylie et al, Indigenous Children's Health. Health Canada.

McShane, K. E., Hastings, P. D., Smylie, J. K., Prince, C., & Tungasuvvingat Inuit Family Resource Centre (2009). Examining evidence for autonomy and relatedness in urban Inuit parenting. Culture & Psychology, 15, 411-431.

Smylie, J., Kaplan-Myrth, N., McShane, K., Métis Nation of Ontario-Ottawa Council, Pikwakangan First Nation, Tungasuvvingat Inuit Family Resource Centre (2009). Indigenous knowledge translation: Baseline findings in a qualitative study of the pathways of health knowledge in three Indigenous communities in Canada. Health Promotion Practice, 10(3), 436-446.

McShane, K. E., Smylie, J. K., Hastings, P. D., & Martin, C. M., & Tungasuvvingat Inuit Family Resource Centre (2006). Guiding health promotion efforts with urban Inuit: A community-specific perspective on health information sources and dissemination strategies. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 97, 296-299.

Smylie, J., McShane, K., & Tungasuvvingat Inuit Family Resource Centre (2006). Understanding Inuit knowledge systems and learning styles to enhance an urban Inuit prenatal education program. In Moving population and public health knowledge into action (pp.19-22). Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Population and Public Health and The Canadian Population Health Initiative.