Winnie Sun
RN, PhD

Research and expertise

• Background and interests

  Research background and interests:

  • aging and gerontology
  • assistive technology
  • community health nursing
  • de-prescribing of medications
  • dementia care
  • disability
  • empathy in helping relationships
  • gerontechnology
  • health services and policy research
  • home care safety
  • information communication technology
  • mixed-methods research
  • opioid abuse
  • self-care in chronic disease management
  • social inclusion
  • vaccine hesitancy and uptake

  Dr. Sun is a research collaborator at the Aging Gracefully across Environments using Technology to Support Wellness, Engagement, and Long Life, Network Centres of Excellence (AGE-WELL-NCE). Her research projects include:

  • Patient safety in home care.
  • Self-care in chronic disease management.
  • Ethics in relation to assistive technology access and procurement.
  • Use of information communication technologies for patients with dementia and their caregivers.
  • Use of social and recreational programs to promote social inclusion for older adults.
  • Development of remote-monitoring technologies for older adults in the community.
  • Health services and policy research in gerontology.
  • Best-practice guidelines utilization in home care.
• Publications
  For a comprehensive list of publications, please visit ResearchGate.
  

  • Abbass-Dick, J., Sun, W., Stanyon, W., Papaconstantinou, E., D'Paiva, V. & Jiwani-Ebrahim, N. and Dennis, CL. (2020). Designing a mindfulness resource for expectant and new mothers and their families to promote maternal mental wellness during the transition to parenthood: An exploration of parents’ experiences and preferences. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 29 (1): 105-114.
  • Tashin, F., Stanyon, W., Sun, W., Gamble, B. (2020). A single mindfulness session with informal caregivers of seniors living with dementia: pilot qualitative descriptive study. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. 1: 1-7.
  • Abbass-Dick, J., Newport, A., Xie, F., Pattison, D., Sun, W., Kenaszchuk, C., & Dennis, CL. (2020). Development , psychometric assessment, and predictive validity of the comprehensive breastfeeding knowledge scale. Journal of Midwifery. 83: 1-9.
  • Sun, W., Tashin, F., Barakat, C., Turner, J., Reid-Haughian, C., & Abbass-Dick, J. (2019). An exploration of home care nurse’s role in deprescribing of medications: A qualitative descriptive study.  BMJ Open, 9 (5), 1-9.
  • Sun, W., Tashin, F., Lam, A., & Pizzacalla, A. (2019). Raising awareness about nurse’s role in deprescribing of medication for older adults in the community.  Perspectives: Journal of the Canadian Gerontological Association, 40(4), 17-22.
  • Zou, P. Sun, W., Hallowell, S., Luo, Y., & Lee, C., & Ge, L. (2019). Use of guest speakers in nursing education: An integrative review of multi-disciplinary literature.  Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 10, 175-189.
  • Zou, P., Luo, Y., Krolak, K., Hu, J., Liu, L., Lin, Y., & Sun, W. (2019). Student’s experiences on learning therapeutic relationship: A narrative inquiry. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 1-10.
  • Sun, W., Wilson, M., Schreiber, D., & Wang, R. (2017). Ethical Challenges related to assistive product access for older adults and adults living with a disability: a scoping review. BMC Systematic Reviews. 6:24, 1-5.
  • Sun, W, Doran, D., Wodchis, D. & Peter, E. (2017). Examining the Relationship between Therapeutic Self-Care and Adverse Events for Home Care Clients in Ontario, Canada: A Retrospective Cohort Study. BMC Health Services Research. 17:206, 1-13.
  • Sun, W., & Doran, D. (2015). Integration of biophysiological information with a point-of-care decision support system to promote patient safety at home. In Y.C. Shih & S.F. Liang (Eds), Bridging Research and Good Practices towards Patient Welfare (pp. 199-206). London, UK: Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Sun, W. & Doran. D. (2015). Patient Safety in the Home: Examining the relationship between therapeutic self-care and adverse events for home care clients in Canada. In Y.C. Shih & S.F. Liang (Eds), Health Care Systems Ergonomics and Patient Safety (pp.79-86). London, UK: CRC Press.
  • Sun, W., Doran, D., Wodchis, D. & Peter, E. (2015). Improving Gaps in Home Care: Examining the Role of Therapeutic Self-Care in Supporting Home Care Safety for Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 63(Suppl 1), 72.

  Articles in refereed conference proceedings

  • Sun, W., Bartfay, E., Smye, V., Newton, D., Pepin, M., Biswas, S., & Dacanay, M. (October, 2019). Living well with dementia: Examining the effectiveness of social recreational programs to promote social inclusion of persons with dementia. Canadian Geriatrics Journal 23(1), 37-38.
  • Biswas, S., & Sun, W. (June, 2019). Exploring the socio-cultural factors that influence equitable access to and social participation in dementia support programs among immigrant population living in Toronto and Greater Toronto Area. Witness: The Canadian Journal of Critical Nursing Discourse. Suppl, 1-2.
  • Sun, W. (2018). Living well with dementia: The role of community-based programs in promoting social connectedness for persons with dementia and their caregivers. The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. 14(7) Suppl, 947-948.
  • Sun, W., & Doran., D. (2018). Using mobile health technologies to support safer client care in the community.  Journal of the International Society for Gerontechnology, 17 (Suppl 1), 141-142.
  • Sun, W., Tahsin, F., Abbass-Dick, Jennifer., Barakat, C., Turner, J., & Reid-Haughian, C. (2018). A scaling-up approach to educating home care nurses about deprescribing to promote active living of frail older adults at home.  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 66 (Suppl 1), 83-84.
  • Coffey, S., Graham, L., Anyinam., C., Muirhead, B., De la Rocha, A., Zitzelsberger, H., Vogel, E., Ballantyne, N., Vanderlee, R., Chorney, D., Munro-Gilbert, P., Papaconstantinou, E., & Sun, W. (2018). Post-secondary education: The missing link in tackling the global opioid abuse epidemic.  12^th Annual International Technology, Education and Development Conference Proceedings (IATED), 9674-9679.
  • Sun, W., Doran, D., Doherty, S., Goubran, R., Papinski, D, & Knoefel, F. (2018).  Developing mobile technologies for older adults to promote aging well in the community. 10^th Annual International Conference on Technology, and New Learning Technologies Conference Proceedings (EDULEARN), 7372-7377.

  Refereed book chapters  

  • Sun, W., Lynne-Clarke, S., Madahey, H. & Zou, P. (2019). Recovery intervention to promote social connectedness through social recreational programs for persons with dementia: A Critical Analysis.  In G. Ashraf (Eds), Advances in Dementia Research (pp. 1-19). London, UK: Intech Open Publishing.
  • Sun, W., Srija. B., Dacanay, M. & Zou, P. (2019). An examination of factors influencing equitable access to dementia care and support programs among migrants and refugees living with dementia: A literature review. In D. Larrivee (Eds), Alzheimer's Dementia and Korsakoff's Disease - Linking Memory Pathology to the Autobiographical Self (pp. 1-17). London, UK: Intech Open Publishing.
  • Sun, W., & Doran, D. (2015). Integration of biophysiological information with a point-of-care decision support system to promote patient safety at home. In Y.C. Shih & S.F. Liang (Eds), Bridging Research and Good Practices towards Patient Welfare (pp. 199-206). London, UK: Taylor & Francis Group.
• Invited lectures, media Interviews and conference (poster) presentations

  Papers/posters presented at conferences and symposia (peer-reviewed)

  • Dale, W., Magda, D., & W. (Nov 2019). Poster presentation titled: “The Development of Deprescribing Gerontology Framework in the Nursing Education Curriculum: A Literature Review.” Quality Intervention Fair for Toronto Health Region. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Sun, W., Tashin, F., Barakat, C., Turner, J., Reid-Haughian, C., & Abbass-Dick, J. (Nov 2019). Poster presentation titled: “Deprescribing of Medications for Older Adults in the Community: Perspectives from Homecare nurses.”. 2^nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Integrated Care (APIC2).  Melbourne, Australia.
  • Sun, W., Tashin, F., Barakat, C., Turner, J., Reid-Haughian, C., & Abbass-Dick, J. (Oct 2019). Poster presentation titled: “Homecare Nurse’s Experiences in Deprescribing of Medications for Older Adults in the Community.” The 48^th Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting: Canadian Association on Gerontology.  Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
  • Sun, W., Bartfay, E., Smye, V., Newton, D., Pepin, M. (October 2019). Poster presentation titled: “Living well with dementia: Examining the effectiveness of social recreational programs to promote social inclusion of persons with dementia.” The 9^th Canadian Conference on Dementia.  Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
  • Biswas, S., & Sun, W. (June 2019). Poster presentation titled: “Exploring the socio-cultural factors that influence equitable access to and social participation in dementia support programs among immigrant population living in Toronto and Greater Toronto Area”.  Social Justice Nursing Conference.  Toronto, Canada.
  • Sun, W., & Martignetti, L. (June 2019). Poster presentation titled: “Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Equitable Access to Naloxone in Ontario”.  Social Justice Nursing Conference.  Toronto, Canada.
  • Coffey, S., Anyinam, C., Graham, L., da Silva, C., de la Rocha, A., Chorney, D., Munro-Gilbert, P., Robertson, L., Papaconstantinou, E., Vogel, E., Muirhead, B., & Sun, W. (June 2019). Exploring New Frontiers in Post-Secondary Teaching-Learning Class Preparation: The Graphic Novel. World Congress on Nursing and Healthcare, London, England.
  • Coffey, S., Anyinam, C., Graham, L., da Silva, C., de la Rocha, A., Chorney, D., Munro-Gilbert, P., Robertson, L., Papaconstantinou, E., Vogel, E., Muirhead, B., & Sun, W. (June, 2019). Opioid Simulation with Nursing Students and HELPERS© (Humanistic, Empowering, Learner-centred, Professionally-oriented, Evidence-based/informed, Reflective, Simulation) Model. Conference of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
  • Sun, W., Abbass-Dick, Jennifer., Barakat, C., Turner, J., & Reid-Haughian, C. (May, 2019). Poster presentation titled: “Examining Experiences of Home Healthcare Nurses about Deprescribing of Medications for Older Adults”.  Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research Conference.  Halifax, Canada.
  • Sun, W., Tashin, F., Lam, A., & Pizzacalla, A. (May, 2019). Oral presentation titled: “Raising Awareness about Nurse’s Role in Deprescribing of Medication for Older Adults in the Community”. Canadian Gerontological Nurses’ Association Conference. Calgary, Canada.
  • Sun, W., Abbass-Dick, Jennifer., Barakat, C., Turner, J., & Reid-Haughian, C. (March, 2019). Poster presentation titled: “Deprescribing of Medications for Older Home Care Clients in the Community: A Qualitative Study”.  Nursing Leadership Network of Ontario (NLN) Conference.  Toronto, Canada.
  • Sun, W., Abbass-Dick, J., Barakat, C., Turner, J., & Reid-Haughian, C. (October, 2018). Poster presentation titled: “Home Care Nurses’ Perspectives on Deprescribing of Medications for Older Adults in the Community”.  The 47^th Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting: Canadian Association on Gerontology.  Vancouver, Canada.
  • Sun, W., Bartfay, E., Smye, V., Newton, D., Pepin, M., Biswas, S., Clarke, S., & Dacanay, M. (July, 2018). Poster presentation titled: “Reducing Social Isolation with Social Recreational Programs:  An Exploration of the Volunteer’s Perspectives at the Alzheimer Society of Durham Region”.  Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Chicago, USA.
  • Coffey, S., Muirhead, B., Graham, L., Zitzelsberger, H., De La Rocha, a., Chorney, D., Papaconstantinou, E., Vogel, E., Sun, W., Anyinam, C., Munro-Gilbert, P., Vanderlee, R., Service, D., Trivedi, H. (June, 2018). Paper presentation titled: “Saving Lives with Simulation-Based Learning: The Opioid Epidemic”. International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning Conference (INACSL) 2018, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Sun, W., Abbass-Dick, J., Barakat, C., Turner, J., & Reid-Haughian, C. (May, 2018). Poster presentation titled: “Educating Home Care Nurses about Deprescribing to Promote Active Living of Frail Older Adults at Home”.  S.-Hong Kong 2018 Conference: Aging Across Time and Context.  Hong Kong, China.
  • Sun, W., Bartfay, E., Smye, V., Newton, D., Pepin, M., Biswas, S. (May, 2018).  Poster presentation titled: “Community-Based Programs in Promoting Social Connectedness for Persons with Dementia”.  Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research 2018.  Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  • Sun, W., & Doran., D. (May, 2018). Paper presentation titled: “Using Mobile Health Technologies to Support Safer Client Care in the Community”.  11^th World Conference on Gerontechnology.  Petersburgh, Florida, USA.
  • Sun, W., Tahsin, F., Abbass-Dick, Jennifer., Barakat, C., Turner, J., & Reid-Haughian, C. (May 2018). Poster presentation titled: “A scaling-up approach to educating home care nurses about deprescribing of medications for older adults”.  American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Annual Meeting 2018. Orlando, Florida, USA.
  • Coffey, S., Muirhead, B., Graham, L., Zitzelsberger, H., De La Rocha, a., Chorney, D., Papaconstantinou, E., Vogel, E., Sun, W., Anyinam, C., Munro-Gilbert, P., Vanderlee, R., Service, D., Trivedi, H. (March, 2018).  Paper presentation titled: “Tackling Opioid Overdose Situations with Simulation-based Learning”. ICERI 10th Annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation, Seville, Spain.
  • Tahsin, F., Sun, W., Abbass Dick, J., Barakat-Haddad, C., Turner, T., Reid-Haughian, C. (February, 2018). Poster presentation titled: “De-prescribing Approaches in Home Care:  A Qualitative Descriptive Study”. Ontario Shores 7th Annual Mental Health Conference. Whitby, Ontario, Canada. 
  • Sun, W., Bartfay, E., Smye, V., Newton, D., Pepin, M., Biswas, S., & Madahey, H. (February 2018).  Poster presentation titled: “Living Well with Dementia: Recovery Intervention to Promote Social Connectedness through Social Recreational Programs for Persons with Dementia”.  Ontario Shores 7th Annual Mental Health Conference. Whitby, Ontario, Canada.

  Invited lectures and media interviews

  • Sun, W. (May, 2020). Media Interview COVID-19 Series: Grandparents look forward to hugging their grandchildren again. CHCH Evening News on May 8, 2020. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 

  • Sun, W. (March, 2018). Media Interview: Promotional Video: Stakeholder Interview with AGE-WELL Researchers and Scientists. Q Media Solutions, Toronto, Ontario Canada.
• Grants

  Purpose: Canadian Frailty Network 2020 Interdisciplinary Fellowship Program
  Name of agency: Canadian Frailty Network
  Date of award: May 2020
  Duration: One year
  Title of project: Goal-Setting and Decision-Making with Persons with Dementia in Geriatric Services
  Total award: $35,000
  All investigators: Ms. Stacey Hawkins and Dr. Winnie Sun ((Matching Funds of $17,500 from Senior Care Network)

  Purpose: Government of Ontario
  Name of agency: New Horizons for Senior Program
  Date of award: January 2020
  Duration: One year
  Title of project: The Beauty of Aging: An Anti-Ageism Campaign
  Total award: $25,000
  All investigators: Ms. Sonya Hardman; Dr. Winnie Sun; Dr. Emma Bartfay; Ms. Colleen Zavrel; Ms. Julia McCrea; Ms. Lynda Lawson and Mr. Michael Smith
  
  Purpose: Ontario Shores-Ontario Tech Joint Funding Call in Dementia Care 2019
  Name of agency: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
  Date of award: November 2019
  Duration: One year
  Title of project: Reminiscence Therapy through Virtual Reality Application to Promote Social Connectedness of Persons with Dementia
  Total award: $25,000
  All investigators: Dr. Winnie Sun, Dr. Akira Tokuhiro; Dr. Alvaro Quevedo; Dr. Bill Kapralos; Dr. Emma Bartfay; Ms. Julie Earle; Dr. Manon Lemonde; Dr. Ramiro Liscano; Ms. Sheri Hornsburgh  

  Purpose: Government of Ontario
  Name of agency:  Ontario Seniors Community Grant Program
  Date of award: November 2019
  Duration: One year
  Title of project: Anti-Ageism Public Education Campaign
  Total award: $25,000
  All investigators: Ms. Sonya Hardman; Dr. Winnie Sun; Dr. Emma Bartfay; Ms. Colleen Zavrel; Ms. Julia McCrea; Ms. Lynda Lawson and Mr. Michael Smith  

  Purpose: SSHRC Small Explore Grant Program
  Name of agency:  Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
  Date of award: May 2019
  Duration: One year
  Title of project: An exploratory study to examine the social aspects of influenza vaccine hesitancy in persons with dementia
  Total award: $5,000
  All investigators: Dr. Emma Bartfay and Dr. Winnie Sun (Ontario Tech University)
  
  Purpose: UOIT and Seniors Care Network Experiential Learning Program
  Name of agency: UOIT Experiential Learning Funds
  Date of award: September 2018
  Duration: One year
  Title of project: Developing Experiential Learning Program to Educate Students in Supporting Older Adults to Age in Place
  Total award: $5,000
  All investigators: Ms. Kelly Kay, Dr. Winnie Sun; Ms. Stacey Hawkins; Dr. Brenda Gamble
  (Partnership with Ontario Tech and Seniors Care Network)
  
  Purpose: Research Award: Ontario’s Age-Friendly Community Grant Program
  Name of agency: Durham Council on Aging
  Date of award: December 2018
  Duration: One year
  Title of project: The Development of Age-Friendly Health System Navigation Directory for Older Adults
  Total award: $5,000
  All Investigators: Ms. Sonya Hardman; Ms. Denyse Newton; and Dr. Winnie Sun
  (Partnership with Ontario Tech and Durham Council on Aging)
  
  Purpose: SSHRC Insight Development Grant Award
  Name of agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
  Date of award: July 2016
  Duration: Three years
  Title of project: Perspectives on Information and Communication Technology for Daily Activities and Social Inclusion among Older Canadians with Cognitive Impairments and Their caregivers
  Total award: $75,000
  All investigators: Dr. Winnie Sun, Dr. Rosalie Wang Dr. Michael Wilson, Dr. Jeff Jutai, Dr. Virginie Corbigo, Dr. Hajer Chalghoumi, Dr. Vanessa Chenel (Partnership with Ontario Tech, University of Toronto, McMaster University, University of Ottawa and University of Montreal)
  
  Purpose: Women’s Xchange
  Name of agency: Women’s College Research Institute
  Date of award: November 2017
  Duration: Two years
  Title of project: The Effectiveness of an eHealth Breastfeeding Co-Parenting Educational Resource on Overcoming Early Breastfeeding Challenges and Increasing Exclusivity Rates in the First Four Weeks Postpartum
  Total award: $ 15,000
  All investigators: Dr. Jennifer-Abbass-Dick, Dr. Winnie Sun; Dr. William Goodman; Ms. Fangli Xie; Ms. Amber Newport; Ms. Shannon Gainey; and Ms. Joanne Huizinga)
  (Partnership with Ontario Tech and Durham Region Health Department)
  
  Purpose: SSHRC Small Partnership Grant
  Name of agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
  Date of award: June 2017
  Duration: One year
  Title of project: A Scaling-up Approach to Educating Home Care Nurses about De-Prescribing to Promote Active and Independent Living of Frail Older Adults at Home
  Total award: $15,000
  All investigators:  Dr. Winnie Sun, Dr. Jennifer-Abbass-Dick, Dr. Caroline Barakat-Haddad, Dr. Justin Turner, Ms. Cheryl Reid-Haughian
  (Partnership with Ontario Tech, Canadian Deprescribing Network, and ParaMed Home Health Care)
   
  Purpose: Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant (OTF)
  Name of agency: Alzheimer’s Society Durham Region
  Date of award: March 2017
  Duration: Two years
  Title of project: Evaluation of ‘Living Well with Dementia’ Project
  Total award: $18,000
  All Investigators: Dr. Winnie Sun; Dr. Emma Bartfay, Dr. Vicki Smye, Denyse Newton, Michelle Pepin (Partnership with Ontario Tech, University of Western Ontario, Alzheimer’s Society of Durham Region)

  Previous grants:

  • Purpose: SSHRC Insight Development Grant Award
    Name of agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
    Title of project: Perspectives on information and communication technology for daily activities and social inclusion among older Canadians with cognitive impairments and their caregivers
    In collaboration with: Dr. Rosalie Wang Dr. Michael Wilson, Dr. Jeff Jutai, Dr. Virginie Corbigo, Dr. Hajer Chalghoumi, Dr. Vanessa Chenel (Partnership with Ontario Tech, University of Toronto, McMaster University and University of Ottawa 

  • Purpose: Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant (OTF)
    Name of agency: Alzheimer’s Society Durham Region
    Title of project: Evaluation of ‘Living Well with Dementia’ Project
    In collaboration with: Dr. Emma Bartfay, Dr. Vicki Smye, Denyse Newton, Michelle Pepin (Partnership with Ontario Tech and Alzheimer’s Society of Durham Region)

  • Purpose: Ontario Tech University Teaching Innovation Fund
    Name of agency: Ontario Tech Teaching and Learning Centre
    Title of project: Teaching Innovation Fund: Simulations and Standardized Patient Innovation for Year Three Community Health Nursing Students
    In collaboration with: Dr. Jennifer Abbass-Dick; Dr. Wendy Stanyon; June McDonald; Sandra Mairs; Elaine Salmers (Partnership with Ontario Tech and Durham College)

  • Purpose: Ontario Tech University Teaching Innovation Fund
    Name of agency: Ontario Tech Teaching and Learning Centre
    Title of project: Development of Empathy in Helping Relationship
    In collaboration with: Dr. Jennifer Abbass-Dick; Dr. Manon Lemonde; Dr. Wendy Stanyon

  • Purpose: Ontario Tech University Teaching Innovation Fund
    Name of agency: Ontario Tech Teaching and Learning Centre
    Title of project: Tackling the Opioid Abuse Epidemic with Simulation-Based Learning for Nursing Students
    In collaboration with: Dr. Sue Coffey; Dr. Hilde Zitzelberger; Leslie Graham; Arlene de la Rocha; Dr. Bill Muirhead; Dana Chorney; Dr. Efrosini Papaconstantinou; Dr. Ellen Vogel

• Education
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, 1995
  • Master of Nursing - Administration, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, 2002
  • PhD Collaborative Graduate Program in Health Services and Policy Research, Institute of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, 2004