Connie Schumacher

Dr. Connie Schumacher is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing at Brock University, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. She is a registered nurse with over 20 years of clinical experience in cardiac care and emergency nursing, and 5 years in community nursing. Prior to joining Brock, she completed a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship at McMaster University’s Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact department, where she served as clinical lead for the DIVERT-CARE trial.

Her research focuses on:

• Transitions from hospital to home
• Self-management of chronic illness
• Caregiver education and support
• Use of interRAI assessments (Check-Up, DIVERT Scale, CaRE Algorithm)
• Qualitative and Indigenous research methods
• Geriatric and cardiorespiratory care in community settings

Dr. Schumacher’s recent publications (2020–2023) reflect a strong emphasis on health services research, frailty, home care, and emergency department utilization. Her work often uses population-based datasets (ICES, interRAI) and centers on improving care coordination and outcomes for older adults with chronic conditions. She employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, with a growing interest in compassion and AI applications in nursing.

She has received notable recognition, including:

• AMS Fellow in Compassion and Artificial Intelligence
• Alzheimer’s Society Canada New Investigator

Dr. Schumacher is actively involved in mentoring and research supervision, offering opportunities for MA/MSc students interested in Alzheimer’s-type dementias and chronic illness self-care. She also welcomes undergraduate research assistants. She serves as Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nurses and is affiliated with several professional organizations such as the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nursing and the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses.

Her teaching includes graduate-level courses in pathophysiology, evidence-based practice, epidemiology, and research translation in nursing.