Paula Rowland

Dr. Paula Rowland is an occupational therapist (BHSc (OT), 2000) and a social scientist (PhD, 2013). She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, a full member of the School of Graduate Studies, and holds a cross-appointment with the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. She is also a Scientist with the University of Toronto/University Health Network's Wilson Centre and the The Institute for Education Research at University Health Network (TIER@UHN), and a strategic advisor for the Centre for Advancing Collaborative Health Care and Education (CACHE).

Areas of Research / Educational Scholarship

Dr. Rowland’s research examines change in healthcare professionals’ work, how professions are responding to these changes, and implications for health professions education. She is particularly interested in meanings of professionalism and politics of expertise within contexts of changing clinical workplaces. Historically, she has studied change efforts related to patient safety, quality improvement, and patient engagement. Currently, she focuses on digitalization of healthcare work and associated implications for healthcare workers’ identities, forms of knowledge, dynamics of power, and possibilities for collaboration.