Faculty profile

Roanne Thomas

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Full ProfessorRehabilitation SciencesUniversity of Ottawa

Roanne Thomas

Full Professor

Rehabilitation Sciences

Faculty of Health Sciences

University of Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Supervision signals

Professors usually supervise graduate students in their department's programs.
11 publications in the last five years, latest in 2026.
Senior (last) author on 1 recent paper, a sign of leading a research group.
Principal investigator on 8 research grants (7 CIHR, 1 SSHRC), most recently in 2020.
Supervised 1 trainee who won CIHR awards, most recently in 2015.

These signals come from public records, including CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions. Ask the professor or the graduate program whether they are taking new students.

Academic metrics

Publications

Citations

h-index

Collaborators

Grants

Publications by year

Counts cover the works listed on the university profile; citation counts come from Dimensions.

Profiles and links

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Signals and details

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Ottawa profile.

Cancer Survivorship First Nations Indigenous Knowledge Translation Community Based Participatory Research Integrated Knowledge Translation Patient And System Navigation Transition In Care Arts-Based Methods

Latest papers

A Good Life with Impairment: Illuminating and Supporting the Experiences of Women Living With Cancer through Community-Based Art Workshops.
Health promotion practice · 2026 · first author
Acceptance of physical activity virtual reality games by residents of long-term care facilities: a scoping review.
Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology · 2024
Assessing virtual reality acceptance in long-term care facilities: a quantitative study with older adults.
Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology · 2024

All 38 publications

Latest funding

La respiration comme phénomène sociopolitique : comprendre le vécu des personnes rencontrant des difficultés respiratoires sévères en contexte de crise écologique
SSHRC · 2023 · Co-investigator
$71,190
Community-based creative practices and visual research methods: Developing new understandings of a good life for people experiencing impairment
SSHRC · 2020 · Principal investigator
$141,907
Adapting transitions-in-care (TiC) strategies for cancer to be culturally relevant with First Nations communities
CIHR · 2019 · Principal investigator
$200,000

All 10 grants and awards

38 publications.

A Good Life with Impairment: Illuminating and Supporting the Experiences of Women Living With Cancer through Community-Based Art Workshops.

Thomas R, Houle S, Egan M, Gifford W, Grassau P, King J, Boulanger J, Rheault A, Séguin K

Health promotion practice2026First author

DOI: 10.1177/15248399251340410 PMID: 40534583

Acceptance of physical activity virtual reality games by residents of long-term care facilities: a scoping review.

Hosseini M, Thomas R, Pilutti L, Fallavollita P, Jutai JW

Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology2024

DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2298839 PMID: 38146958

Assessing virtual reality acceptance in long-term care facilities: a quantitative study with older adults.

Hosseini M, Thomas R, Pilutti L, Fallavollita P, Jutai JW

Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology2024

DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2295946 PMID: 38146956

Acceptance of physical activity virtual reality games by residents of long-term care facilities: A qualitative study.

Hosseini M, Thomas R, Pilutti L, Fallavollita P, Jutai JW

PloS one2024

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305865 PMID: 38917119

Canadian oncology physiotherapists' perspectives of physical activity in people with advanced cancer: a mixed-methods study.

Shallwani SM, Thomas R, Poitras S, Toupin-April K, Sheill G, King J

Physiotherapy theory and practice2024

DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2138663 PMID: 36305676

Perspectives and experiences of leisure-time physical activity in adults with stage 4 cancer: a qualitative interpretive-description study.

Shallwani SM, Thomas R, King J, Toupin-April K, Poitras S

Disability and rehabilitation2024

DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2023.2200037 PMID: 37067063

Art-Based Workshops for Women: An Opportunity for Reflection on Identity and Transformation following Cancer Treatment.

Ranger MC, Houle S, Rheault A, Thomas R

Occupational therapy international2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1155/2023/1828314 PMID: 37492484

Relational Care, Dementia, and Communication Challenges in Long-Term Care: A Meta-Ethnography.

Novy C, Thomas R, Grassau P, Gifford W, Hosseini M

Canadian journal on aging = La revue canadienne du vieillissement2023

DOI: 10.1017/s0714980822000253 PMID: 35817789

Empowering Cancer Survivors in Managing Their Own Health: A Paradoxical Dynamic Process of Taking and Letting Go of Control.

Avery J, Thomas R, Howell D, Dubouloz Wilner CJ

Qualitative health research2023

DOI: 10.1177/10497323231158629 PMID: 36825869

Using the performance arts to address a "methods gap" in dementia research.

Novy C, Thomas R, Garcia L, Gifford W, Grassau P

Arts & health2022

DOI: 10.1080/17533015.2021.1942093 PMID: 34152259

La respiration comme phénomène sociopolitique : comprendre le vécu des personnes rencontrant des difficultés respiratoires sévères en contexte de crise écologique

Co-investigatorSSHRC2023Insight Development Grant

Principal investigators: Turcotte, Pier-Luc

Keywords: analyse de discours; body-map storytelling; déterminants socioéconomiques; droit à la respiration; environnement; exclusion sociale; maladies pulmonaires; phénoménologie critique; pollution de l'air; poststructuralisme

$71,190

Community-based creative practices and visual research methods: Developing new understandings of a good life for people experiencing impairment

Principal investigatorSSHRC2020Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Thomas, Roanne L.

Keywords: well-being; impairment; arts-based inquiry; narrative; visual research methods; video

$141,907

Adapting transitions-in-care (TiC) strategies for cancer to be culturally relevant with First Nations communities

Principal investigatorCIHR2019Operating Grant: Transitions in Care - Evaluation Grants

Principal investigators: Gifford, Wendy A; Dick, Peggy F; Dick, Natasha; Thomas, Roanne Leigh

Keywords: Cancer Survivorship; Community Based Participatory Research; First Nations; Indigenous Knowledge Translation; Integrated Knowledge Translation; Patient And System Navigation; Transition In Care

$200,000

Widening the circle of care: An arts-based, participatory dialogue with stakeholders on cancer care for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Ontario

SupervisorCIHR2015Fellowship - Priority Announcement: Aboriginal Research Methodologies

Principal investigators: Hammond, Chad

Keywords: Aboriginal Peoples' Health; Arts-Based Research; Cancer Care; Health Inequities; Intercultural Engagement; Knowledge Translation

$92,000

Canada Research Chair - Tier 2

Nominated PICIHR2015Canada Research Chairs - CIHR Funded - Tier 2

Principal investigators: Thomas, Roanne Leigh

Keywords: Crc

$500,000

"Breaking the Silence" to Improve Cancer Survivorship Transitions for First Nations Peoples: An Indigenous Knowledge Translation Strategy

Principal investigatorCIHR2015Operating Grant: Knowledge to Action

Principal investigators: Gifford, Wendy A; Barton, Gwen; Thomas, Roanne Leigh

Keywords: Cancer Survivorship; First Nations; Indigenous Knowledge Translation; Knowledge Translation

$190,000

Planning an international research agenda to advance arts-based interventions for men and women who have experienced cancer

Nominated PICIHR2015Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Thomas, Roanne Leigh; Hammond, Chad

Keywords: Arts-Based Methods; Cancer Survivorship; Gender; Intervention Refinement

$9,063

CBPHC & Lymphedema: Investigating the Problem & Potential for Care

Nominated PICIHR2011Planning Grants - Priority Announcement: Gender, Sex and Health Research

Principal investigators: Thomas, Roanne Leigh

Keywords: Chronic Illness; Community Based Primary Health Care; Interdisciplinary; Lymphedema; Vulnerable Populations

$25,000

CRC tier 2

Nominated PICIHR2010Canada Research Chairs - CIHR Funded - Tier 2

Principal investigators: Thomas, Roanne Leigh

Keywords: Crc Tier 2

$500,000

Increasing Awareness of Long-term Disability after Breast Cancer: National KT Strategies

Nominated PICIHR2009Knowledge Translation Supplement

Principal investigators: Thomas, Roanne Leigh

Keywords: Breast Cancer; Disability; Knowledge Translation

$40,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their SSHRC grant from 2020

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Cancer Survivorship Dear Professor Thomas, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "A Good Life with Impairment: Illuminating and Supporting the Experiences of Women Living With Cancer through Community-Based Art Workshops." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your SSHRC-funded project "Community-based creative practices and visual research methods: Developing new understandings of a good life for people experiencing impairment" (2020), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Profile data last refreshed on September 25, 2026 from the university directory, publication records and CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding.

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Roanne Thomas

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

A Good Life with Impairment: Illuminating and Supporting the Experiences of Women Living With Cancer through Community-Based Art Workshops.

Acceptance of physical activity virtual reality games by residents of long-term care facilities: a scoping review.

Assessing virtual reality acceptance in long-term care facilities: a quantitative study with older adults.

Acceptance of physical activity virtual reality games by residents of long-term care facilities: A qualitative study.

Canadian oncology physiotherapists' perspectives of physical activity in people with advanced cancer: a mixed-methods study.

Perspectives and experiences of leisure-time physical activity in adults with stage 4 cancer: a qualitative interpretive-description study.

Art-Based Workshops for Women: An Opportunity for Reflection on Identity and Transformation following Cancer Treatment.

Relational Care, Dementia, and Communication Challenges in Long-Term Care: A Meta-Ethnography.

Empowering Cancer Survivors in Managing Their Own Health: A Paradoxical Dynamic Process of Taking and Letting Go of Control.

Using the performance arts to address a "methods gap" in dementia research.

La respiration comme phénomène sociopolitique : comprendre le vécu des personnes rencontrant des difficultés respiratoires sévères en contexte de crise écologique

Community-based creative practices and visual research methods: Developing new understandings of a good life for people experiencing impairment

Frequent collaborators

Wendy Gifford

Judy King

Lorraine Holtslander

Wendy Duggleby

Karine Toupin April

Lucie Brosseau

Elizabeth Quinlan

Chad Hammond

Pamela Grassau

Pascal Fallavollita

Stephanie Saunders

Shahid Ahmed

Shelley Spurr

Mary Egan

Linda Mcmullen

Jennifer Brunet

Tracey Carr

Doug Coyle

Gwen Barton

Carol McWilliam

Arne Stinchcombe

Doris Howell

Linda Garcia

Moira Stewart

Annette Majnemer

George Wells

Sara Ahmed

Jennifer Stinson

Jeannie Haggerty