Sharon Kaasalainen RN, BScN, MSc, PhD

Dr. Kaasalainen began her full-time faculty appointment in 2002 and is an Associate Professor with the School of Nursing. Currently, Dr. Kaasalainen is an Associate Member of the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and an Honorary Professor at Queen’s University Belfast.

Dr. Kaasalainen’s research program is focused on improving the quality of life for people living in long-term care (LTC) homes with a particular focus on pain management and palliative care. Other areas of interest include examining the role of nurse practitioners in LTC and ways to optimize this role to enhance resident care. She has received research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care; both as a principal and co-investigator with the primary focus on improving the quality of care for LTC residents.