Doris M. Howell is a Canadian nurse scientist and academic known for her research in oncology nursing and psychosocial oncology. Her work has advanced understanding of symptom management, palliative care, and the integration of patient-reported outcomes into cancer care. She is Emeritus Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and a former Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto.
Doris Howell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Doris Maxine Howell |
| Alma mater | Lambton College University of Ottawa University of Toronto |
| Known for | Oncology nursing research; Palliative care; Patient-reported outcomes |
| Awards | Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Oncology nursing; Psychosocial oncology |
| Institutions | Princess Margaret Cancer Centre University of Toronto |
Education
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2025) |
Howell earned a nursing diploma from Lambton College in 1975 and a BScN from the University of Ottawa in 1979. She completed an MScN at the University of Toronto in 1987 and a PhD in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at Toronto in 2003. She later undertook postdoctoral training in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics at McMaster University.
Career
editHowell began her career as a nurse in oncology and palliative care before moving into leadership and research roles. From 2004 to 2020, she held the Royal Bank of Canada Endowed Chair in Oncology Nursing Research[1] and Education at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. She was also appointed as a Senior Scientist in the Supportive Care Department, Princess Margaret Research Institute. She later became Emeritus Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Research Institute.[2]
At the University of Toronto, she was a full Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing,[2] with cross-appointments in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.[3]
She has also served on advisory committees with Cancer Care Ontario,[4] the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, and Health Canada, and is the Quality of Life representative for symptom control at the Clinical Trials Group of Canada. She served as President of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology[5] and the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology.[6]
She serves as Program Director and lead for Canada’s first National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)-accredited Cancer Health and Wellness Coach (Cancer Coach) Training Program.[7]
Research
editHowell’s research focuses on reducing cancer treatment morbidity through personalized symptom management interventions,[8] patient activation in self-management,[9] and innovations in health service delivery.[10] She has conducted and supervised clinical trials, implementation studies, and knowledge translation initiatives.[11] Her work includes the integration of patient-reported outcomes into routine oncology practice,[12] the development of digital and mobile health interventions,[13] and survivorship care models for cancer patients.[14]
She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and contributed to Pan-Canadian clinical practice guidelines in oncology nursing, psychosocial oncology, and survivorship care.
Honors and recognition
edit- Diamond Jubilee International Visiting Fellow, University of Southampton (2014–2017)[15]
- Distinguished Alumnus Award, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto (2014)[16]
- Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (2018–present)[17]
- Research Excellence Award in Psychosocial Oncology, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2018)
- Leadership Award in Nursing Research, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (2018)[18]
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (2020)[19]
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (2020)[20]
- International Researcher Hall of Fame, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (2022)[21]
References
edit- ↑ Marla, Fletcher (2004). "Nurse leader appointed to new research chair [RBC Financial Group Chair in Oncology Nursing Research]". The Canadian Nurse. 100 (7).
- 1 2 Biason, Rebecca (20 June 2013). "Bloomberg Nursing Announces Faculty Promotions". Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
- ↑ "Doris Howell". UHN Research.
- ↑ Biason, Rebecca (30 April 2014). "Doris Howell co-leads project with Cancer Care Ontario to improve patient self-management". Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
- ↑ "Board of Directors". CAPO.
- ↑ "Past Presidents". CANO.
- ↑ "Doris Howell". NBHWC.
- ↑ Howell, Doris; Mayer, Deborah K; Fielding, Richard; Eicher, Manuela; Verdonck-de Leeuw, Irma M; Johansen, Christoffer; Soto-Perez-de-Celis, Enrique; Foster, Claire; Chan, Raymond; Alfano, Catherine M; Hudson, Shawna V; Jefford, Michael; Lam, Wendy W T; Loerzel, Victoria; Pravettoni, Gabriella; Rammant, Elke; Schapira, Lidia; Stein, Kevin D; Koczwara, Bogda (4 May 2021). "Management of Cancer and Health After the Clinic Visit: A Call to Action for Self-Management in Cancer Care". JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 113 (5): 523–531. doi:10.1093/jnci/djaa083. PMC 8096367.
- ↑ Howell, Doris; Pond, Gregory R.; Bryant-Lukosius, Denise; Powis, Melanie; McGowan, Patrick T.; Makuwaza, Tutsirai; Kukreti, Vishal; Rask, Sara; Hack, Saidah; Krzyzanowska, Monika K. (March 2023). "Feasibility and Effectiveness of Self-Management Education and Coaching on Patient Activation for Managing Cancer Treatment Toxicities". Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 21 (3): 247–256.e8. doi:10.6004/jnccn.2022.7095.
- ↑ Howell, Doris Maxine (2003). Determinants of home care utilization and place of death for cancer patients prior to death. Graduate Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Doctor of Philosophy thesis). University of Toronto.
- ↑ Howell, Doris; Hack, Thomas F.; Green, Esther; Fitch, Margaret (February 2014). "Cancer distress screening data: Translating knowledge into clinical action for a quality response". Palliative & Supportive Care. 12 (1): 39–51. doi:10.1017/S1478951513000382. ISSN 1478-9515.
- ↑ Howell, Doris; Li, Madeline; Sutradhar, Rinku; Gu, Sumei; Iqbal, Javaid; O’Brien, Mary Ann; Seow, Hsien; Dudgeon, Deborah; Atzema, Clare; Earle, Craig C.; DeAngelis, Carlo; Sussman, Jonathan; Barbera, Lisa (1 October 2020). "Integration of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for personalized symptom management in "real-world" oncology practices: a population-based cohort comparison study of impact on healthcare utilization". Supportive Care in Cancer. 28 (10): 4933–4942. doi:10.1007/s00520-020-05313-3. ISSN 1433-7339.
- ↑ Chan, Raymond J.; Howell, Doris; Lustberg, Maryam B.; Mustian, Karen; Koczwara, Bogda; Ng, Chiu Chin; Kim, Yoon; Nápoles, Anna María; Dixit, Niharika; Klemanski, Dori; Ke, Yu; Toh, Yi Long; Fitch, Margaret I.; Crichton, Megan; Agarawal, Sangeeta; Chan, Alexandre (1 September 2020). "Advances and future directions in the use of mobile health in supportive cancer care: proceedings of the 2019 MASCC Annual Meeting symposium". Supportive Care in Cancer. 28 (9): 4059–4067. doi:10.1007/s00520-020-05513-x. ISSN 1433-7339.
- ↑ Jefford, Michael; Howell, Doris; Li, Qiuping; Lisy, Karolina; Maher, Jane; Alfano, Catherine M.; Rynderman, Meg; Emery, Jon (16 April 2022). "Improved models of care for cancer survivors". Lancet. 399 (10334): 1551–1560. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00306-3. ISSN 1474-547X. PMC 9009839.
- ↑ "Senior Scientist Doris Howell". University of Southampton.
- ↑ Biason, Rebecca (13 June 2014). "Distinguished Alumni Awards presented at Spring Reunion". Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
- ↑ "Doris Howell". American Academy of Nursing.
- ↑ "2018 Recognition Award Winners". Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario.
- ↑ "Lifetime Achievement Award". CAPO.
- ↑ "Past Award Recipients". CANO/ACIO. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ↑ "Sigma Nursing Announces 2022 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Inductees". Sigma Nursing. Retrieved 1 October 2025.