Patricia Samson

Patricia Samson is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Edmonton Campus, where she has been teaching since 2016. With over 28 years of social work practice experience spanning domestic violence, justice support, correctional services, mental health, and community-based healthcare, she brings extensive practical knowledge to her academic role.

Her educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Social Work, University of Windsor (1988)
• Master of Social Work, University of Windsor (2009)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work, University of Windsor (2018)

Dr. Samson's research focuses on advancing social work education and practice, particularly in teaching and learning, mental health and addictions, and healthcare contexts. Her key research areas include Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Health, Mental Health and Wellness, and Human Service Organizations and Systems. She is actively engaged in critical thinking and transformative learning in social work education, children and youth mental health, social work field education, and Communities of Practice to support social workers in healthcare settings.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a strong emphasis on transformative learning in field education, critical thinking development in social work students, and innovations in social work pedagogy. Her recent work has increasingly addressed pandemic impacts on social work practice and mental health services, particularly for children and youth.

Her scientific achievements include:

• Multiple SSHRC Insight Development Grants as Principal and Co-Investigator (2022-2023)
• SoTL Grants from University of Calgary (2022)
• Faculty Publication Awards (2019, 2020)
• Best Digital Poster Presentation at University of Calgary Conference (2019)

Dr. Samson currently leads two major research initiatives: a national SSHRC-funded study on critical thinking and transformative learning in field education, and a transdisciplinary SoTL project examining innovative work-integrated learning models. She serves as Principal Investigator on the Workforce Perceptions of Social Work Professionalism Project and the international Children and Youth Mental Health Project.

She maintains active professional affiliations with the Alberta College of Social Workers, Canadian Association of Social Workers, Canadian Association of Social Work Education, and serves as a Research Affiliate with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton.