Paulette Hunter

Paulette Hunter is an Associate Professor at St. Thomas More College, part of the University of Saskatchewan. She holds a faculty position in the Psychology and Health Studies department, focusing on interdisciplinary research in healthcare settings. Her affiliations include the Canadian Psychological Association Committee on Ethics (since 2014) and the Saskatchewan LTC Network (founded in 2020). She has served as Department Head of Psychology at STM College (2018-2019), Vice President of the STM College Faculty Union (2020-present), and Secretary of the same union (2019-2020).

Paulette earned her B.A. (Honours) in Psychology from the University of Regina, followed by her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, also from the University of Regina.

Her research interests are centered around Disability, Personhood, and Social Inclusion, exploring relationships among long-term care residents, family caregivers, staff, and organizational leaders. She investigates Family Communication and Care in long-term care settings, Quality of Life improvement strategies, and the Palliative Approach in healthcare. Her work also delves into Health and Behavioral Psychology, particularly as they apply to long-term care and aging populations.

Her recent publications highlight a focus on long-term care facility design innovations, family caregiver experiences during the pandemic, trust dynamics in healthcare systems, and the integration of palliative care models. These studies emphasize improving quality of life, strengthening interpersonal relationships, and ensuring person-centered approaches in care delivery.

• No scientific awards listed in the provided information.

Paulette Hunter has advised numerous students on impactful research projects. Notable student leads include

• Elizabeth Pywell
• Jyllena Landry
• Yash Tendulkar
• Ivy Myge
• Kayley Lawrenz

and others. These projects have been funded by organizations such as

• Health Canada
• Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)
• Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF)
• Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan

. Key initiatives include co-designing relationship-centered practice models and evaluating palliative care programs.

She is a core member of the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care (SPA-LTC) team and contributes to the Saskatchewan LTC Network. Her collaborative work extends to interdisciplinary teams addressing long-term care challenges, including projects with Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina.