Kendra L Rieger, PhD, RN

Associate Professor of Nursing
I am passionate about exploring the arts as a way of knowing, expressing, healing, and disrupting in healthcare, and mentoring nursing students in their professional development.

Dr. Kendra Rieger joined the TWU School of Nursing in 2020 and brings a wealth of research, teaching, and practice experience to her role. She has extensive clinical experience in maternal-child nursing and expertise in arts-based approaches in healthcare and evidence synthesis. As a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar[KR1] , her research program explores the arts as a way of knowing, disrupting, and healing in healthcare and advances arts-based responses to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. She is passionate about working collaboratively with communities, patients, stakeholders, and colleagues to conduct qualitative and mixed-methods research and creatively share findings in a meaningful way to advance health equity. Together with a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners, she is currently investigating the use of storytelling as a method in Indigenous health research; arts-based, anti-racist strategies to support healthcare students in responding to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Report; and arts-based spiritual care programs to support diverse patients facing complex illnesses.

She has received numerous awards for research excellence including a Society for Integrative Oncology New Investigators’ Forum Award, Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba Medal of Excellence, and CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Award. She is also a passionate and dedicated educator and has 18 years of teaching experience, first as a nursing instructor at Red River College and then as an Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba. At TWU, she teaches in the areas of knowledge translation, health policy, and research methodology.

Links to external pages:

https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=3Yu5cy8AAAAJ&hl=en

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kendra-Rieger-2

  • PhD in Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Canada (2012-2017). Thesis title: The arts as a way of knowing and expressing in undergraduate nursing education. Doctoral thesis is part of the Manitoba Heritage Theses Collection. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/32386
  • Master of Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Canada (transferred into the PhD in Nursing Program after one year of coursework) (2011-2012)
  • Bachelor of Nursing, with Distinction, University of Manitoba, Canada (2005)
  • Diploma of Nursing, Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing, Canada (1989)

Expertise

Arts and health interventions, Arts-based research, Photo- and art-elicitation methods, Storytelling methods, Digital storytelling, Health equity, Indigenous health research, Cancer research, Psychosocial care, Maternal-child health, Arts-based pedagogy, Nursing education, Knowledge translation, Arts-based knowledge translation, Patient engagement, Philosophy of nursing science, Qualitative and mixed-methods methodologies, Constructivist grounded theory, Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods, systematic reviews.

  • Rieger, K.L. (2021-2026). Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar Award. $450,000.00 over five years (Principal Applicant)
  • Rieger, K.L. (NPA), Bourque-Bearkskin, L. (co-principal applicant), Astle, B., Reimer-Kirkham, S., Johnson, S., Morin, F., & Lounsbury, K. (2022-2024). A decolonizing exploration of anti-racist, arts-based responses to the violence described in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Report across the context of higher education. SSHRC Insight Development Grant. (2022-2024). $73,869. (Nominated principal applicant)
  • Reimer-Kirkham, S. (Nominated Principal Applicant), Principal Applicants: Astle, B., Ero, I., Mogale, S., Co-Applicants: Beaman, L., Buyco, M., de Waal, M., Ibhawoh, B., Imafidon, E., Kromberg, J., Leech, R., Miti-Drummond, Msipa, D., Pallangyo, E., Rieger, K.L., Senkoro, P., Sharma, S., Tettey, W., Collaborators: Ani-Amponsah, M., Aziato, L., Dixon, D., Lang, M., Mazibuko, N., Mgijima, I., Ohene, L., Terblanche, L., Thabede, M., Tjope, M., Wiafe, B. (2022-2026). A Human Rights and Equity-Oriented Response to the Birth Stories of Families Impacted by Albinism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Intersectoral Partnerships for Enhanced Health Professions’ Education. CIHR Project Grant. $489,600.00. (Co-applicant)
  • Sawatzky, R. (nominated principal investigator), Rieger, K.L., (co-principal investigator), Sasaki, A., Lounsbury, L., Friesen, M. (trainees). (2022-2023). Social determinants and quality of life measurement framework for Indigenous digital health systems. Mitacs: $180,000. Partners: Mustimuhw Information Solutions Inc.: $70,000. Part of the Indigenous Digital Health Ecosystem (IDHE) - Digital Supercluster (https://www.digitalsupercluster.ca/projects/indigenous-digital-health-ecosystem/). (Co-principal investigator)
  • Lounsbury, K., Rieger, K.L., Reimer-Kirkham, S., & Bennett, M. (2022-23). Gathering Ni Noxollas' stories about Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw birthing practices. First Peoples Cultural Council Braided Knowledge: Weaving Indigenous Knowledge through Generations Grant. $24,687.77 (Co-investigator)
  • Rieger, K.L., Hack, T.F., Kenny, A., Archibald, M., Duff, M., Faucher, P., Dyck, T., Creighton, A., & West, C. (2020 – 2023). Evaluating the impact of an art-based knowledge translation strategy in oncology. Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research Grant. $7,500.00 (Principal Investigator)
  • Tricco, A. (NPI) & Abou-Setta, A., Clement, F., Colquhoun, H., Curran, J., Godfrey, C., Isaranuwatchai, W., LeBlanc, A., Li L., Moffitt, P., Moher, D., & Straus, S. (PIs).  Operating Grant: CIHR SPOR – Guidelines and Systematic Reviews. This SPOR network includes 76 co-investigators including Cepanec, D, Demzuk, L., Rieger, K.L, Temple, B., Woodgate, R. L. Amount of funding: $4,997,000.00 (CIHR), plus $10,829,000 in matched funds 2017-2022. (Co-Investigator)
  • Rieger, K.L. (NPA), Gazan, S. (Principal Knowledge User), Bennett., M., Buss, M., Chudyk, A., Cook, L., Copenace, S., Garson, C., Hack, T.F., Hornan, B., Horrill, T., Horton, M., Howard, S., Linton, J., Martin, D.E., McPherson, K., Phillips-Beck, W., Rattray, J., & Schultz, A. (2020-2022). Elevating the uses of storytelling approaches within Indigenous health research: A patient-engaged scoping review study involving Indigenous people and settlers. CIHR Catalyst Grant - Patient-Oriented Research. $100,000.00 (Nominated Principal Applicant)
  • Rieger, K.L., Bennett, M., Hack, T.F., & Martin, D.E. (2018 - 2019). Engaging patients and Elders in an exploration of Indigenous women’s experiences of breast cancer using digital storytelling. George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation Funding Award for Patient and Public Engagement. $2000 (Principal Investigator)
  • Rieger, K.L., Hack, T.F., Campbell-Enns, H., Duff, M., & West, C. (2018 - 2019). The experience of mindfulness-based expressive arts among patients with cancer. The Manitoba Medical Service Foundation Operating Grant. $ 25,000 ($12,500 from the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation and $12,500 from The Winnipeg Foundation) (Principal Investigator)

Awards & Honors

  • Society for Integrative Oncology New Investigators’ Forum Award (2019)
  • Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba Medal of Excellence (2018)
  • Sir Gordon Wu Graduate Student Scholarship ($55,000) (2014-2018)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Award ($105,000). Declined last six months of funding to accept a tenure-track Assistant Professor position 92014-2017)
  • Canadian Association for Nursing Research Rising Star Graduate Student Award (2016)
  • Manitoba Health Research Council Studentship Award ($35,700). Declined second year of funding to accept a CIHR Doctoral Award (2013-2015)
  • Joanne Greene Memorial Scholarship ($3,000) (2014-2015)
  • Irene E. Nordwich Foundation Graduate Student Award ($3,000) (2013-2014)
  • Foundation for Registered Nurses Graduate Scholarship ($2,175) (2013-2014)
  • University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship Renewal ($12,000) (2012-2013)
  • Foundation for Registered Nurses of Manitoba Graduate Award ($2,040) (2012-2013)
  • Irene E. Nordwich Foundation PhD Award ($5,000) (2012-2013)
  • Margaret Elder Hart Graduate Study Award ($1,625) (2012-2013)
  • University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship ($12,000) (2011-2012)

Recent Publications

See Curriculum Vitae

For a full list of publications see Google Scholar

Selected publications:

  • Rieger, K.L., Reimer-Kirkham, S., Burton, B., Howell, B., Liuta, N., Sharma, S., Smoker, S., Tuppurainen, A., Lounsbury, K., Kreiter, E., Dixon, D., Anthony, R., Bradbury, S., Heimstra, D., Wilkonson, Hilton, M., & Slavutskiy, O. (2023; in-press). Arts-based spiritual care in healthcare: A participatory, scoping Review. Arts in Psychotherapy.
  • West, C.H.**, Rieger, K.L.**, Kenny, A., Zaborniak, A., Klippenstein, A.W., Chooniedass, R., Mitchell,  & Scott, S.D. (2022). Digital storytelling as a method in health research: A systematic review. International Journal for Qualitative Methods, 21. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221111118 **shared first authorship
  • Rieger, K.L.**, Bennett, M.**, Martin, D.E., Hack, T.F., Cook, L., & Hornan, B. (2021). Digital storytelling as a patient engagement tool with Indigenous women: How the medicine wheel guided our Debwewin journey. Qualitative Health Research, 31(12), 2163–2175.doi:10.1177/10497323211027529**shared first authorship
  • Rieger, K.L., Mitchell, K., Bolianatz, J., Rabbani, R., Harder, N., Balneaves, L., Armah, N. & Martin, D. (2021). Evaluating the impact of an arts-based multimedia knowledge translation assignment on undergraduate nursing students. Nurse Education Today, 105(2021), 1-10.
  • Rieger, K.L, Lobchuk, M.M., Duff, M.A., Chernomas, W.M, Demczuk, L., Campbell-Enns, H.J.,Zaborniak, A., Nweze, S., & West, C.H. (2021). Mindfulness-based arts interventions for cancer care: A systematic review of the effects on wellbeing and fatigue. Psycho-Oncology, 2021(30), 240–251.
  • Rieger, K.L., Gazan, S., Bennett., M., Buss, M., Chudyk, A., Cook, L., Copenace, S., Garson, C., Hack, T.F., Hornan, B., Horrill, T., Horton, M., Howard, S., Linton, J., Martin, D.E., McPherson, K., Phillips-Beck, W., Rattray, J., & Schultz, A. (2020). Elevating the uses of storytelling approaches within Indigenous health research: A critical and participatory scoping review protocol involving Indigenous people and settlers. BMC Systematic Reviews, (9)257, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01503-6
  • Rieger, K.L., Chernomas, W.M., McMillan, D.E., & Morin, F.L. (2020). Navigating creativity within arts-based pedagogy: Implications of a constructivist grounded theory study. Nurse Education Today, 91(2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2020.104465
  • Rieger, K.L., Chernomas, W.M., McMillan, D.E., & Morin, F.L. (2020). The arts as a catalyst for learning with undergraduate nursing students: Findings from a constructivist grounded theory study. Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 12(3), 250-269. DOI: 10.1080/17533015.2019.160856
  • Rieger, K.L. (2019). Discriminating among grounded theory approaches. Nursing Inquiry, 26(e12261). https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12261
  • **West, C., **Rieger, K.L., **Chooniedass, R., Adekoya, B., Isse, A., Karpa, J., Waldman, C., Peters-Watral, B., Chernomas, W., Scruby, L., & Martin, D. (2018). Enlivening a community of authentic scholarship: A faculty-mentored experience for graduate students at the 2016 Qualitative Health Research Conference. International Journal of Qualitative Methods,17(1-15) . doi: 10.1177/1609406918808122 **shared first authorship

 

Affiliations & Memberships

  • Adjunct Professor, School of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University (2022-Present)
  • Member, The Expressive Arts Studio: Healing Children and Families through the Arts. Led by Dr. Tina West in Winnipeg, Manitoba (2021-Present)
  •  Adjunct Professor, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba (2020-Present)
  • Adjunct Professor, School of Graduate Studies, Brandon University, Manitoba, Canada (2019-Present)
  • Core Member, Queen’s Collaboration for Health Care Quality: A JBI Centre of Excellence, Queen’s University, Canada (2019-Present)
  • Member, Psychosocial Oncology and Cancer Nursing Research Group, I.H. Asper Clinical Research Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba (2019-Present)
  • Member, SPOR Evidence Alliance (2017-Present)
  • Member, Manitoba Center for Nursing and Health Research, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba (2011-Present)

Dr. Rieger has 16 years of teaching experience and currently teaches in the Trinity Western University School of Nursing graduate and undergraduate programs. She believes students learn best when they engage with concepts and others in their learning community, and actively integrate new knowledge with previous knowledge to better guide their future actions. She strives to support and challenge students in their development as professional nurses. She also places a high value on student engagement and enjoys developing and incorporating active and arts-based learning experiences to address the needs of diverse learners. She is passionate about mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in healthcare research.

Current Courses at the TWU School of Nursing:

  • NURS 434 Leadership in Nursing Care
  • NURS 510 Foundations of Nursing Knowledge
  • NURS 692 Knowledge Translation
  • NURS 693 Knowledge Translation
  • NURS 720 Advanced Research Methodology
  • NURS 750 Advanced Public Policy and Knowledge Translation