I was privileged to attend Queens University in the 1986-87 school year after given a Rotary Scholarship.  I was enrolled in the Department of Psychology and Dr. Donald Skyes was my advisor.  I did research at the Royal Maternity Hospital with first time mothers using the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment scale to introduce mothers to the competencies of their new born baby.

My degree in psychology led me to become a Parent-Infant Specialist in a Perinatal Center with high-risk pregnancies, working and collaborating with nurses to develop a prenatal attachment-based intervention program. This intervention became our model of care for families who were experiencing a pregnancy that followed the loss of a baby.  My psychology degree helped to expand my education in obtaining a PhD in family education, researching bereaved families in their subsequent pregnancy. I have done extensive research exploring the psychological implications on families who have experience a perinatal loss.  I have since published two books on the topic of pregnancy after loss, published over 40 articles, not only about the parents’ experience but children and extended family members. I have been privileged to speak nationally and internationally on this topic. I am a consultant to Starlegacyfoundation.org, a non-profit organization whose mission is research and education around perinatal loss and about to publish my third book on the children, now adults, who were the child in their family born after loss.

My happiest memories were doing the research at the Royal Maternity Hospital and meeting all the wonderful people that I continue to correspond with today.  I was a single mother with three children that year and I can attest to the fact that year changed not only my life but my three daughters as well. Being exposed to another society expanded their lives and, at the end of the year, none of us wanted to go home.

For current students my advice would be to explore beyond your specialty and seek out collaborations with others who have a similar interest to you. This opens one’s eyes to the saying “You don’t know  what you don’t know” until someone expands your knowledge.

Profile submitted March 2023