Have you met... Shannon Scott

Dr. Shannon Scott is known for her dedication to building capacity in nursing research and is passionate about mentoring students and trainees across Canada.Photo: Supplied

Dr. Shannon Scott is a well-known and highly valued member of the nursing community, and she brings a wealth of experience with the Faculty of Nursing to the position of Acting Vice Dean, effective July 1st, 2021, for a two-year term. 

Dr. Scott is known for her dedication to building capacity in nursing research and is passionate about mentoring students and trainees across Canada. 

She currently holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair for knowledge translation in child health. Her highly successful research program, Translating Evidence in Child Health to Enhance Outcomes (ECHO), aims to improve the health outcomes of children in Alberta and Canada by applying the best research evidence and exploring factors that shape research implementation.

Dr. Scott holds many distinctions. Most notably, she’s a Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher; Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing Excellence in Nursing Research awardee; an inductee of the Royal Society of Canada's College of Scholars, Artists & Scientists; an inaugural Fellow in the Canadian Academy of Nursing in 2020; and was recently inducted into Sigma's 2021 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. 

Below, Dr. Scott shares her favourite memory at the U of A, her favourite place on campus, and her vision for the future. 

What is your first memory at the U of A?

Since the time of being an undergraduate student at the University of Manitoba, I was impressed with the world-class research reputation at the University of Alberta. As a result, I moved to Edmonton in 1999 (with a newborn baby) to do my PhD at the University of Alberta. I remember being blown away by the size of the graduate programs in the Faculty of Nursing - this was back when we were still in the Clinical Sciences Building. 

What is your favourite course to teach? 

That is a tough question as I love teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level but I would have to say that Nursing 699 (Dissertation Seminar in the PhD Program) is my favourite course. Students in this course are getting ready to do their comprehensive exams and candidacy and they are focused on developing their dissertation research. It is incredibly rewarding to see the breadth of research being done by graduate students in our Faculty. Our graduate students are researching topics across the lifespan and are using a wide array of research approaches. 

What’s something that people might be surprised to learn about you?

I am a country girl through and through. I grew up on a small farm in rural Manitoba where my family still resides. My rural upbringing has shaped much of my nursing career, from working in the Outreach Program as a new RN at the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation (now CancerCare Manitoba) to researching the experiences of rural families with a child with cancer in my Masters thesis to being a co-founding Director of Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids (TREKK) - a national initiative that aims to ensure that Canadian children irrespective of where they live get high-quality emergency care. With TREKK we are truly changing emergency care for children because in Canada over 85% of children receive emergency care in a general emergency department (not a pediatric emergency department). 

What’s your favourite hobby or pastime? 

I am a single parent to three wonderful children who keep me busy!  I also have a French Bulldog, Milo who I adore. 

Where is your favourite place on campus? 

I live close to campus so I am always walking or biking on campus in the evenings. Before the pandemic, while I did love frequenting Starbucks in ECHA, I would have to say right now my favourite place on campus is watching the restoration of the Dent/Pharm building. The transformation of this iconic building has been incredible to watch. 

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? 

Stay true to your values, work hard, be sure to have fun but don’t worry so much. 

What is the biggest strength or opportunity that you see for the faculty over the next two years? 

Our student body, our faculty members and our staff are our biggest strengths. I am looking forward to working hard to create a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add? 

This year my kids and I will be at the University of Alberta. This is the first year (and probably the only year) we are all at the same university. We are looking forward to putting on our U of Alberta sweatshirts on September 1st to celebrate the “First Day of Classes.” I will be sure to post a picture on social media that day.