Christine M Jonas-Simpson

Faculty & School/Dept.

Faculty of Health - School of Nursing

Degrees

PhD - 1998
Loyola Chicago
Chicago, IL

BScN - 1985
McMaster University
Hamiltion, ON

MScN - 1988
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON

Selected Publications

 

Gray, J., Kontos, P., Dupuis, S., Mitchell, G., Jonas-Simpson, C. (2017) Dementia (re)performed: Interrogating tensions between relational engagement and regulatory policies in care homes through theatre. S. Chivers and U. Kreibernegg (Eds) Care Home Stories: Aging, Disability, and Long-term Residential Care, (pp. 105-120). New York City: Columbia University Press.

Dupuis, S.L., Kontos, P., Mitchell, G., Jonas-Simpson, C., Gray, J. (2016). Re-claiming citizenship through the arts. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice (Special Issue on Citizenship), 15(3); 358-380.

Mitchell, G.J., Pilkington, B., Jonas-Simpson, C.M., Daiski, I., Cross, N.L., Johnston, N., O'Grady, C.P., Peisachovich, E.H., & Tang, S.Y. (2016). Nursing education and complexity pedagogy: Faculty experiences with an e-learning platform. Journal of Nursing Education & Practice, 6(5).

Dupuis, S., Mitchell, G.J., Jonas-Simpson, C.M., Whyte, C.P., Gillies, J.L. & Carson, J.D. (2015). Igniting transformative change in dementia Care through research-based drama. The Gerontologist, 55, 1-11.

Jonas-Simpson, C., Mitchell, G. J., & Cross, N. (2015). Emergence: Complexity pedagogy in action. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 5

Jonas-Simpson, C., Steele, R., Granek, L., Davies, B., & O’Leary, J. (2015). Always with me: Understanding bereaved children whose baby sibling died. Death Studies 

Jonas-Simpson, C., Pilkington, F. B., MacDonald, C., McMahon, E. (2013).Nurses’ experiences of grieving when caring for families after perinatal death. SageOpen. Doi 10.1177/2158244013486116

Mitchell, G. J., Jonas-Simpson, C., & Cross, N. (2012). Innovating nursing education: Interrelating narrative, conceptual learning, reflection, and complexity science.Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 3(4). http://www.sciedu.ca/journal/index.php/jnep/article/viewFile/1601/1132

Jonas-Simpson, C., Mitchell, G. J., Carson, J., Whyte, C., Dupuis, S., & Gillies, J. (2012). Phenomenological shifts for healthcare professionals after experiencing a research-based drama on living with dementia.Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(9), 144-55. DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05877.x.

Dupuis, S.L., Gillies, J., Mitchell, G., Jonas-Simpson, C., Whyte, C., & Carson, J. (2011). Catapulting shifts in images, understandings and actions through research-based drama. Family Relations, 60, 104-120.

Mitchell, G., Dupuis, S., Jonas-Simpson, C., Whyte, C., Carson, J., & Gillies, J. (2011). The experience of engaging with research-based drama: Evaluation and explication of synergy and transformation. Qualitative Inquiry, 17(4), 379-392.

Mitchell, G., Dupuis, S., & Jonas-Simpson, C. (2011). Countering stigma with understanding: The role of theatre in social change and transformation.Canadian Theatre Review, 146, 22-27.

Jonas-Simpson, C., McMahon, E., Watson, J., & Andrews, L. (2010). Nurses’ experiences of caring for families whose babies were born still or died shortly after birth. International Journal of Human Caring, 14(4), 14-21.

Jonas-Simpson, C., Mitchell, G. J., Fisher, A., Jones, G., & Linscott, J. (2006). A qualitative study on: The experience of being listened to for older persons living in a long-term care setting. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 32(1), 46-54.

Mitchell, G.J., Jonas-Simpson, C. M., & Ivonoffski, V. (2006). Research-based theatre: The making of I’m Still Here! Nursing Science Quarterly, 19, 198-206.

Jonas-Simpson, C., & Mitchell, G. J. (2005). Giving voice to expressions of quality of life for persons living with dementia through story, music and art. Alzheimer Care Quarterly, 6(1), 52-61.

Children's Book:

Jonas-Simpson, C. (2010). Ethan’s Butterflies: A spiritual story for young children and parents after the loss of a baby (2nd ed.). Trafford Publishing http://bookstore.trafford.com/Products/SKU-000134494/Ethans-Butterflies.aspx

When a baby dies one of the first concerns a parent has is the impact this loss has on their young living children. It is difficult to know what to say or how to talk about the death of a long-awaited sibling. Ethan's Butterflies provides a way for parents and professionals to connect with young children who experience the loss of a sibling. This story is written from a young child's perspective and told by a pink elephant named Emma. Emma describes her deep sadness, anger and fears and poses many questions that children often raise. Emma shows how she and her family learn to live with the loss her baby brother Ethan and how they continue to connect with him in many ways, one of which is a butterfly and another is love.

 

Other Research Outputs

 Research-based Art:

“Cracked: New light on dementia”, Partnerships in Dementia Care, University of Waterloo. Collaborators: J. Gray, S.L. Dupuis, G. Mitchell, P. Kontos, C. Jonas-Simpson, S. Applewhaite, L.N. Kalamanski, M.E MacLean, C.F. Muir, M. Prince, T. Machin, D. Talbot.

See our Website at: www.crackedondementia.ca

A research-based drama presentation featuring qualitative research with persons living with dementia, family care partners, and health care practitioners. The production challenges assumptions of loss that define current conceptions of dementia, and advocates a new ethic of care premised on the importance of bringing relationships to the forefront, supporting embodied self-expression, and ensuring the humanity of those living with dementia is fully supported.

Jonas-Simpson, C. (Director, Producer and Principal Investigator). Research team: Steele, R. Granek, L., Davies, B. & O’Leary, J. (2014). Always with me: Understanding bereaved children whose baby sibling died. Toronto, ON, Canada.

Always With Me explores children’s bereavement. The research questions guiding this film were: What is the experience of children who grieve, mourn, and live with the loss and continuing presence of an infant sibling in the context of their home and school life? and What positive grief outcomes result when a child has a continuing bond with a deceased infant sibling? In this film the children share their ongoing relationships with their baby siblings and provide messages to other children about what might help them. 

Jonas-Simpson, C. (Producer); Research team: Jonas-Simpson, C. (PI),MacDonald, C., McMahon, E., & Pilkington, B. (2011). Nurses grieve too: Insights into experiences with perinatal loss [Documentary]. Toronto, ON: Producer. http://www.bereavementdocumentaries.ca/nurses_grieve_too.html

Jonas-Simpson, C. (Producer). (2011). Enduring love: Transforming loss[Documentary]. Toronto, ON: Producer. http://www.bereavementdocumentaries.ca/enduring_love.html

Jonas-Simpson, C. (Producer). (2010). Why did baby die?: Mothering children living with the loss, love and continuing presence of a baby sibling [Documentary]. Toronto, ON: Producer. http://www.bereavementdocumentaries.ca/why_did_baby_die.html

Affiliations

Ethan William Foundation
Founder and President

International Working Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement
Member

Partnerships

Partners in Dementia Care
Arts-based Researcher

Service/Community Activities

Bereaved Families of Ontario - Toronto
Volunteer - I facilitate peer support groups as well as provide one-to-one peer support for bereaved families who are grieving the loss of an infant.

Awards

Interprofessional Education Award - 2010

Junior Faculty Award - 2009

YUFA Merit Award - 2012

Dean’s Catalyst Award - 2011

YUFA Merit Award - 2011

Dean’s Award of Excellence Faculty of Health Teaching Award - 2011

Excellence in Teaching Award Council of Ontario University - 2011

Faculty of Health Junior Faculty Award - 2011

Faculty of Health Junior Faculty Award - 2009

FOH Travel Grant - 2014

Supervision

Currently available to supervise graduate students: Yes

Currently taking on work-study students, Graduate Assistants or Volunteers: Yes

Available to supervise undergraduate thesis projects: Yes

Current Research

Christine Jonas-Simpson is a critical relational arts-based researcher. He program of research focuses on experiences of living, growing and transforming with loss with: persons and families living with dementia, persons experiencing bereavement and with healthcare professionals experiencing grief. She is also conducting research that explores intergenerational learning, relational dementia caring and end-of-life dementia care. Christine’s arts-based research is conducted and presented through different artistic mediums including documentary film, drama, music and painting. She conducts research from a complexity lens using various qualitative methodologies, such as qualitative descriptive, ar/t/ography, and interpretive phenomenology.

 

Research Projects

Caring for Persons Living with Dementia on their Final Journey: Uncovering Opportunities and Barriers for Quality Care
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $3000.00
Year Funded: 2015
Duration: 2
Funded by: York University

Enhancing Person-Centred and Relational Care through Research-Based Drama
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $120,000.00
Year Funded: 2013
Duration: 3
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: Alzheimer Society of Canada

Enhancing Relationship-Centred Care Through Research-Based Drama
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $100,000.00
Year Funded: 2011
Duration: 2
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Growing Through Grief: Adolescents and Loss
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $101,006.00
Year Funded: 2014
Duration: 3
Funded by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Knowledge Translation Through a Research-Based Drama on Dementia: Evaluating Change in Understanding, Imaging, and Action
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $155,301.00
Year Funded: 2006
Funded by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Musical Engagement and Relational Dementia Care: Evaluating Knowledge Translation through Research-Based Documentary
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $118,901.40
Year Funded: 2016
Duration: 2
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: Alzheimer Society of Canada

Supporting Relational Caring in Long-Term Care Homes
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $85,000.00
Year Funded: 2017
Duration: 2
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: Alzheimer Society of Canada

The Experience of Children Who Grieve and Mourn: A Research-Based Documentary
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $36,855.00
Year Funded: 2011
Duration: 3
Funded by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

The Experience of Engaging in Relational Compassionate Dementia Care for Participants with Memory Loss, Care Partners, and Staff
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $7000.00
Year Funded: 2015
Duration: 2
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: Lorraine Johnston Foundation

Towards Person-Centred and Relational Caring: Development and Evaluation of a Relational Caring Learning Series
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $85,000.00
Year Funded: 2016
Duration: 2
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: Alzheimer Society of Canada