Tieghan Killackey joins Bloomberg Nursing and UHN as the RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research

Tieghan Killackey has a new role at the University of Toronto. 

Tieghan Killackey (MN 2015, PhD 2020), a passionate researcher in the field of cardiovascular care, recently joined the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing as an assistant professor (tenure stream) and as the RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research, a position jointly held at University Health Network (UHN)’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

“I’m honoured to be appointed in this role at two leading research institutes that are always pushing the limits on what is possible for patient care. Nurses are at the forefront of developing innovative ways to improve the health system for patients and families. I’m excited to be a part of this community of practice and highlight the strong connection between the clinical and academic pathways for nurses,” says Killackey.

At Bloomberg Nursing, Killackey joins a distinguished group of donor-funded, endowed research chair holders that highlight the important role the faculty plays in advancing research that improves the quality of life for patients across the lifespan.

“We are delighted to have Tieghan join Bloomberg Nursing as a faculty member. Through her research and clinical expertise, she has built a strong network of collaborators across our Toronto Academic Health Science Network partners and has demonstrated the calibre of her program of research that is dedicated to improving the experiences of cardiovascular patients and their families during transitions in care. She will undoubtedly be an important asset to the Bloomberg Nursing community as we continue to drive solution-focused research in health care,” says Robyn Stremler, dean of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.

A nursing scholar

Killackey, who graduated from Bloomberg Nursing’s Master of Nursing and PhD programs, previously worked as a staff nurse at the UHN Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC), where she developed her passion for cardiovascular nursing and discovered opportunities for nurse-led research.

“Tieghan is a nursing scholar who inspires others, builds collaborative teams and will work to advance the research capacity for nurses at UHN and beyond. We are confident that her innovative approach to cardiovascular nursing research will have a profound impact on our work and contribute significantly to enhancing patient care,” says Pam Hubley, VP Health Professions & CNE at UHN.

Being able to return to both institutions is a full circle moment for Killackey and one that she hopes will encourage other nurses who are considering a career in research to see that clinical work can go hand in hand with research.

“Nursing research provides opportunities for nurses to influence practice and improve patient care and I hope to convey that message to nursing students. I hadn’t always planned on a career in research, but I’ve been inspired by the patients and families I’ve cared for. My research is driven by my clinical experiences at PMCC alongside my training at Bloomberg Nursing.” says Killackey.

A cardiovascular focus

Killackey’s research focuses on transitions in care across the lifespan for patients with chronic cardiovascular disease. Her recent work targeted care transitions for youth and adolescent cardiovascular patients as they move into adult care. These transitions are often supported by nurses who coordinate care, focus on patient education and encourage the development self-management skills, making it the ideal space in which to target interventions that can improve outcomes for young adults.

Many patients, Killackey says, feel that their condition has stabilized by the time they are ready to transition to adult care, which can make them far less likely to attend follow-up clinics in the adult setting. This lack of follow-up care can result in a higher risk of hospitalization or emergency care.

“They often feel well until a crisis occurs and they require intervention. One of the goals is to impress upon them that they need to have regular contact with the health system. This can be difficult to maintain as they embark on milestones of young adult life, like moving away from home or attending university,” says Killackey.

To address this challenge, Killackey focuses on utilizing virtual support options that can be tailored to this unique population.  Alongside colleagues at UHN’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic and The Hospital for Sick Children Cardiac Transition Clinic, she piloted a virtual peer mentorship program for youth with congenital heart disease. The program allowed patients to be paired with young adult mentors who live with similar conditions and receive individualized social support. This program will now be delivered in 4 cities across Canada as part of a multi-site study funded through a Heart and Stroke/CIHR Congenital Heart Disease Team Grant focused on care transitions.

Supporting patients

“This type of peer mentorship has been shown to improve outcomes,” says Killackey. “There is a psychological component to living with a chronic disease and navigating young adulthood and many young patients want to talk to and learn from someone who has lived through those same challenges. It is a unique gap in care that healthcare providers and parents can’t always fill.”

Killackey is now working on subsequent virtual support options to improve care for young cardiovascular patients following cardiac surgery. She will be looking at tailoring a mobile app that can help manage post-operative pain and other symptoms.

“Supporting patient autonomy and engagement in care has always been a key focus of my research and I look forward to expanding my impact in cardiovascular nursing research at Bloomberg Nursing and UHN in the years to come,” says Killackey.

Originally published by Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing University of Toronto