Victoria Burns, MSW, Ph.D.
Victoria graduated from the Joint PhD McGill/Université de Montreal Program in Social Work in the summer of 2015. For her doctoral work she explored experiences of displacement among recently homeless older adults in Montreal (i.e., adults who become homeless for the first time at 50 years of age or older). She is currently underatking a postdoc with INRS, Montreal.
After completing a BA in psychology in her native province of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Social Work at McGill University she began working as a home care social worker and outreach worker with marginalized older adults in Montreal. Through this front-line experience she began to question and think critically about the underlying assumptions of several taken for granted concepts that directly impact older adults. This experience and reflection inspired her MSW thesis, “Unpacking the phenomenon of social isolation through the unique experiences of low-income older adults” which won her an Alumni Prize for most outstanding MSW thesis. She then coordinated a cross-nation, inter-disciplinary study with the Centre de recherche et d'expertise en gérontologie sociale (CREGÉS) of the CSSS Cavendish in Côte St-Luc (Montreal, Quebec) that explored how the process of gentrification affected experiences of social exclusion and inclusion of older adults. She also recently worked as a research assistant with St-Mary’s Hospital Epidemiology Research Centre on a mixed-method study investigating a self-care management intervention for depression.
Her doctoral project was funded by SSHRC Bombardier Doctoral Research Scholarship
For more information see https://www.mcgill.ca/crcf/people/people/victoriaburns
Ilyan Ferrer, MSW Ph.D.(c)
Ilyan Ferrer is a PhD student at McGill University. He recently completed his Masters degree in Social Work at McGill University, where he was a member of the Deans Honour List. His research interests include social gerontology, diversity and intersectionality. His current doctoral research focuses on the aging experiences of the older Filipino population in Canada. Ilyan is also a student member of the Centre de recherché et d'expertise en gerontology sociale (CREGES).
For more information see http://storytelling.concordia.ca/content/ferrer-ilyan-0
Sarah Gutman, MSW
Sarah Gutman is a recent MSW graduate who is currenty working with older adults who are living with Aphasia, a disability that results from a left hemispheric stroke. Her research interests include disability, mental health, social geronotology and integrating anti-oppressive practice within clinical settings. In her ISP: The nuance of aging with a lifelong intellectual disability: Are needs being met? Sarah explored psychosocial characteristics that make this population increasingly vulernable i.e. aging caregivers, marginalized economic status, and inequitable access to health care.
Sarah compliments her clinical practice with social engagement and activism. In 2013 she ran as a candidate for the Municipal election and garnered extensive support from residents. She is actively involved in her current socio-political mileu and is committed to political and social change.
You can follow Sarah on twitter https://twitter.com/sarahguttman