Dr. Shari Brotman, Associate Professor
Dr. Shari Brotman's scholarly activities center on questions of access and equity in the design and delivery of health and social services to cultural communities in Canada. Her work incorporates an intersectional approach focussing specifically on gender, race, culture, sexuality, disability and aging. Dr. Brotman works through the theoretical lenses of feminism and anti-oppression. Dr. Brotman's current project "Intersectional Identities and Interlocking Oppressions: Stories of the Everyday Among Ethnocultural Minority Older Adults in Canada" incorporates both narratives and photos to explore the lived realities of immigrant older adults and the impact of immigration on their experiences of aging. She also engages in research about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults' and their families' experiences with health and social care services. As a published author, Dr. Brotman's work appears in peer-reviewed national and international journals and books. She presents findings at community and academic events across the country. The courses she teaches focus on Anti-Oppression, Social Work Practice and Social Gerontology.
Dr. Tamara Sussman, Associate Professor
Dr. Sussman completed a Ph.D. in Social Work, from the University of Toronto in 2006 and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program at the University of Waterloo in 2007. Drawing on over ten years of experience working with adults and families managing health related issues in both hospital and community settings, Dr. Sussman’s program of research focuses on how health services and systems impact older adults and their family members. Her research projects include spousal carers’ experiences with home care; older adults’ and family members’ experiences with the transition into long-term care; barriers and facilitators to the delivery of effective interventions for depressed older adults and their care partners; and most recently the experiences of more marginalized populations of older adults such as older homeless adults and older adults identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). Dr. Sussman aims to conduct research that can be used to improve health policies, processes and practices by working closely with community partners in the development, interpretation and dissemination of her research findings. Dr. Sussman has also provided mentorship to health practitioners interested in producing research to inform their practice with older adults and families.
Dr. Pam Orzeck
Dr. Pam Orzeck is an Assistant Professor at the McGill School of Social Work and Field Director. Dr. Orzeck’s expertise centres on the recognition and support to family and friend caregivers. She is a founding member of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition (now Carers Canada). Pam has given trainings and lectures related to caregiving i.e.: palliative care and caregiving; post-caregiving and bereavement, and short-term counseling for caregivers. Pam has co-edited a book on caregiving practice, as well as co-authored articles on post-caregiving, employee caregiving and respite.