Emeritus Professor
RN, BScN (Ottawa), MSc (Ottawa), PhD (Toronto)
Email: kirstenwoodend@trentu.ca
Biography
Dr. Kirsten Woodend is an Emeritus Professor in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing at Trent University. She served as Dean of Nursing from 2011 to 2021 and continues to contribute to teaching and graduate education as a sessional instructor and graduate faculty member. Over the course of her career, Dr. Woodend has held leadership roles in academic nursing education at Trent University and the University of Ottawa, as well as research appointments in cardiovascular and health services research. Her early clinical practice in cardiovascular intensive care informed a sustained program of research spanning chronic disease management, health systems, and more recently, rehabilitation and community-based care. Dr. Woodend has authored over 70 peer‑reviewed journal publications and nearly 200 refereed conference presentations, and has contributed to major funded initiatives in nursing education, workforce development, and health system innovation. Her current scholarly work reflects a strong focus on applied, community-engaged research, particularly in areas of amputation, peer support, and education pathways for internationally educated nurses.
Areas of Interest
- Chronic disease management and self-management
- Aging and community-based models of care
- Health systems and interprofessional collaboration
- Nursing education, leadership, and competency-based learning
- Integration and education of internationally educated nurses (IENs)
- Amputation, osseointegration, and rehabilitation
- Peer support and community-based interventions
Current Research Projects
- Self-management and decision-making in individuals living with osseointegration
- Psychosocial adaptation and resource development for persons with lower limb amputation
- Evaluation and enhancement of competency-based educational pathways for internationally educated nurses in Ontario
- Workforce role optimization in nursing and acute care settings
- Development and evaluation of peer support programs for individuals with limb loss
Recent Publications (Selected)
Woodend, K., Hallaran, A., & Dogo, H. (2026). Osseointegration and self-management decision making. Disability and Rehabilitation.
Dupuis, F., Martin Ginis, K. A., et al. (including Woodend, K.) (2026). Development of physical activity recommendations for adults living with lower limb amputation. Disability and Rehabilitation.
Woodend, K., Santa Mina, E., Bradley, P., Bhatti, A., et al. (2026). Enhancing competency-based bridging programs for internationally educated nurses. Journal of Teaching and Learning.
Henderson, N., Marris, J., & Woodend, K. (2024). Participant perspectives on navigating safer supply programs. PLOS ONE.
Bedore, C., & Woodend, A. K. (2023). Medical tourism and osseointegration: Lived experiences of returning to Canada after surgery abroad. Prosthetics and Orthotics International.
Supervision
- Accepting graduate students (2026-2027)
- Accepting honours thesis students (2026-2027)