Dr. Gail Wideman

Associate Professor
School of Social Work

St. John's College, J-4011

Phone: (709) 864-8161
Email: gwideman@mun.ca 

Following 15 years as a social work practitioner, Dr. Gail Wideman began her involvement in the school as a sessional and per course instructor in 2001, becoming a full-time Assistant Professor in 2009. Gail completed her Ph.D. in social work at Memorial in March of 2010, a M.S.W. from Wilfrid Laurier in 1992, and a B.A. in sociology at the University of Western Ontario in 1988. Her academic interests span the fields of gerontology and community development. Throughout her career she has been involved primarily in community based programs and services aimed at maintaining and enhancing independence and quality of life for older persons. In 2016 Gail received funding to investigate mechanisms of support for informal providers of palliative and end of life care in rural places. A proud military Mom, Gail has also been working to facilitate collaborative partnerships between researchers and service providers, military and civilian, to create military and Veteran friendly communities.

 

Awards

  • 2015 MUNSU Excellence in Teaching and Outstanding Contribution to StudentLife Award
  • 2015 Social Work Student Recognition of Undergraduate Teaching ExcellenceAward

Teaching

  • Social Work in Gerontology
  • Community Development
  • Ethical and Legal Issues in Social Work Practice
  • Palliative Care in Social Work Practice
  • Research and Evaluation for Social Work Practice
  • Social Policy
  • Rural Social Work
  • Critical Thinking

Research Interests

  • Gerontology
  • Aging in Rural Places
  • Palliative Care in Rural Communities
  • Social Work with Military Families
  • Community Engaged Scholarship and Research

Treat Me, Not My Age

Treat Me, Not My Age is a collaborative project that began as part of an invited presentation at an Eastern Health's Ethics Day on the topic of ageism in healthcare settings. The end result is a three-part slideshow that can be used as a learning resource by healthcare professionals such as nurses, doctors, social workers, pharmacists, as well as students, to assist them with awareness about ageism in healthcare.

Introduction to Ageism

Interviews with Seniors in the Health Care System

Age-Friendly Care

International Peer Reviewed Conferences

  1. McDonald L, Baecker R, Beaulieu M, Donahue P, Fuller-Thomson E, Gutman G, Iris M, Kobayashi K, Kryzanowski L, Lowenstein A, Mackenzie C, Marziali E, Rietschlin J, Tamblyn-Watts, L, Wideman G, Spalter T, Hitzig SL, Mirza R. A knowledge transfer initiative promoting digital social pocket tools for health aging. Poster presented at the 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics: Digital Ageing: A New Horizon for Health Care and Active Ageing. Seoul, Korea, June 23-27, 2013.
  2. McDonald L, Baecker R, Beaulieu M, Donahue P, Fuller-Thomson E, Gutman G, Iris M, Kobayashi K, Kryzanowski L, Lowenstein A, Mackenzie C, Marziali E, Rietschlin J, Tamblyn-Watts, L, Wideman G, Spalter T, Hitzig SL, Mirza R. The development of the NICE pocket tools - A knowledge exchange project. Poster presented at the 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics: Digital Ageing: A New Horizon for Health Care and Active Ageing. Seoul, Korea, June 23-27, 2013.
  3. Parsons, J., Wideman, G., Swan, T., Wilkes, C., & Meaney, P. (2010). “Lone mothers: Linking research and activism.” Paper presented at the MIRCI/CRIA International Conference: Mothering and motherhood in the 21st Century: Research and activism, University Campus of Lisbon, Portugal, February 18 - 19, 2011.
  4. Swan, T., Parsons, J., Wideman, G., Ruffett, B., Alcalde, J., Gillingham, B. & Meaney,P. (2008). “Building inclusion through community and university partnerships: Creating & mobilizing knowledge together.” Knowledge in Motion ’08: International Conference on Knowledge Mobilization, The Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development, Memorial University, St. John’s NL, October 16-18, 2008.
  5. Wideman, G. “The impact of out-migration on the lives of older persons in Newfoundland and Labrador: A research proposal” presented at the International Conference on Human Services in Rural Communities, Halifax, NS, May 2003.

National Peer Reviewed Conferences

  1. Wideman, G. “We stand on guard: A research initiative in support of the Canadian Forces family in Newfoundland and Labrador” accepted for presentation at the 6th Annual Military and Veterans Health Research Forum, Quebec City, Quebec, November 2015.
  2. Wideman, G. “Conceptualizing intermediate resources: A model for rural social work practice with older adults and their communities” accepted for presentation at the 44th Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, Calgary, Alberta, October 2015
  3. Wideman, G. “Aging in rural places: Building capacity though intermediate resources” presented at the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation Meeting, Prince George, B.C. September, 2014
  4. Wideman, G. & Legge, R. "HomeShare Newfoundland and Labrador: Community engaged scholarship in aging,” presented at the 42nd Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, Halifax, NS, October, 2013.
  5. Wideman, G., Parsons, J., Swan, T., Wilkes, C., Meaney, P. “Conceptualizing knowledge: Knowledge for use,” presented at the Canadian Association for Social Work Education conference at Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, June 2010.
  6. Swan, T., Hutchings, K., Wideman, G., Parsons, J., & Meany, P. “Barriers to citizenship: Lone mothers of children with (dis)Abilities share their experiences.” Human Rights in a Diverse Community: National Social Work Conference / Canadian Association of Social Work Educators Annual Conference, Toronto, ON, May 22-25, 2008.
  7. Parsons, J. E., Swan, T., Haines, D., Wideman, G. & Power, J. “Lone mothers on income support: Social exclusion, resistance and living outside the box.” Paper presented at the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work Annual Conference, 76th Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, May 30, 2007.

Invited Presentations

  1. Wideman, G. “Off your rocker! The impact of everyday ageism on physical and mental health in older adults”, presented at St. John’s Seniors’ Day, June 11, 2015.
  2. Wideman, G. “Everyday ageism”, presented to national EAP coordinators at national conference hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association. June 2, 2015
  3. Wideman, G. “Everyday Ageism”, presented at the Rotary North West Club meeting on July 15, 2014.
  4. Wideman, G. “Treat me not my age: Ageism in health care settings”, presented to front- line staff and managers at Kenny’s Pond Retirement Home, June 23, 2014.
  5. Wideman, G. “Ageism hurts!”, presented at the NL Prevention of Elder Abuse meeting, March 25, 2014.
  6. Wideman, G. “Treat me not my age: Ageism in health care settings”, presented as part of the People’s Health Matters Series, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University September 27, 2013.
  7. Wideman, G. “Treat me not my age: Ageism in health care settings”, presented to Eastern Health Community Supports Staff, October 27, 2013.
  8. Wideman, G. “What next? Experiences of seniors moving from hospital to home”, presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Seniors Resource Centre, St. John’s, NL, September 17, 2013.
  9. Wideman, G. “Perspectives on ageism” presented at the Ethics Education Event (Webinar and Audio Teleconference), Health Sciences Centre, March 22, 2013.
  10. Wideman, G. “Why study aging and older adults?” presented at the School of Social Work Lunch and Learn Series, February 15, 2013.
  11. Wideman, G. “Aging in rural places: The role of senior navigators” presented at the meeting of the Newfoundland and Labrador Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, St. John’s, NL, January 29, 2013.
  12. Wideman, G. “Ageism and elder friendly care”, presented at the meeting of the Long Term Care Ethics Committee, St. Patrick’s Mercy Home, November 27, 2012.
  13. Keefe, J. and Wideman, G. “Expanding our horizons: Building capacity for interdisciplinary research in aging” presented at Our Future is Aging conference hosted by the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging, Halifax, NL, November 2012.
  14. Wideman, G. “NL Centre on Aging: Background and update” presented to the SRC of NL Board of Directors, November 13, 2012.
  15. Wideman, G. “NL Centre on Aging initiative: A SWOT analysis” presented at the Research on Aging in NL Symposium, Corner Brook, NL, September, 2102.
  16. Wideman, G. “Strengthening rural social work practices: The relevance of intermediate support in a Newfoundland community” presented at the meeting of the Affinity Group on Aging, Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Applied Health Research, St. John’s, NL, October 2007.
  17. Wideman, G. “The impact of out-migration on the lives of older persons in Newfoundland and Labrador: The emerging role of intermediate resources” presented at the meeting of the Seniors Policy and Programs Committee, Department of Health and Community Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, September 2003.

Conference Organizing

  • Member Planning Committee Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Multidisciplinary Conference on its Causes, Consequences and Responses August 2016.
  • Member Planning Committee Nova Scotia Our Future is Aging conference June 2016.
  • Member Planning Committee Nova Scotia Our Future is Aging conference November 2012.
  • Member Planning Committee Aging Research in Newfoundland & Labrador: Achievements and Prospects September 2012.
  • Member Planning Committee Regional Workshop on the Second Edition of the Tri- Council Policy Statement May 2012.

Current Memberships

  • Anabaptist-Mennonite Scholars Network
  • Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards
  • Canadian Association on Gerontology
  • Canadian Institute of Military and Veterans’ Health Research
  • Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation
  • Community Campus Partnerships for Health
  • Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association
  • National Initiative on Care of the Elderly
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Association for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers
  • Primary Healthcare Research and Integration to Improve Health System Efficiency Network

Research Reports

  1. Wideman, G. (2014, December). Review of the Friendly Visiting Program – SRCNL.
  2. Wideman, G. (2014, September). Home Share St. John’s Pilot Project Evaluation.
  3. Wideman, G. with the Advocacy Committee of the Seniors Resource Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador. (2013, July) What Next? Experiences of seniors moving from hospital to home.
  4. Cake, L., Wells, C., Wideman, G., Ploughman, M., O’Brien, K., Buehler, S., & Bowering, L. (2011, June). Building an evidenced based framework for the development of a Newfoundland and Labrador Centre on Aging.
  5. Duggan, M., & Wideman, G. (2011, February). Vision rehabilitation services in Newfoundland and Labrador: Identifying needs, pathways and frameworks. Preliminary findings.
  6. Wideman, G., Alcalde, J., Parsons, J., Swan, S., & Caragata, L. (2008, September). Community Bulletin / Research Report, Lone Mothers: Building Social Inclusion. St. John’s Site, St. John’s, NL.

Professional Journals

  • Wideman, Gail (2013, July). “Confronting ageism in social work practice” Connecting Voices, 17, 2.