Katia Engell

Experience

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  Freelance

  Jan 2010 - now

  Freelance Artist/Designer

  Designer of print and digital materials for a variety of clients, both brands and individuals.• Design and Illustrate elements to meet client's needs, using traditional and digital methods• Own and manage an online shop and an active social media presence • Photograph products and edit photos for promotional materials• Liaise with local retail vendors, galleries, art fairs, markets, etc.• Mural painting and commission work for private clients

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  University Health Network

  May 2013 - Aug 2013

  Visual Communications student for the Lean Process Improvement Team

  A summer position with the Lean Process Improvement Team at UHN to aid in visual communications.During my time with the PI Team I was able to do the following:• Design and implement standardized Lean Communication boards within the participating hospital units. In doing so we hoped to create a concise and consistent form of communication between the process improvement team and hospital staff who were participating in process improvement initiatives.• Illustrate and Design a 5S Kit. The purpose of the kit was to make the 5S Lean concepts accessible and easy to use for managers throughout the hospital without the supervision of a PI team member.• Re-Design the Lean training presentation• Design posters and promotional material for upcoming Rapid Improvement Events Show less

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  The Westend Studio

  Jun 2014 - Aug 2018

  Administrative and Photography Assistant

  • Assisting with communication and administrative tasks at the studio• Assisting on photoshoots, with photo editing• Liaising with event planning companies, other wedding vendors, etc.• Designing promotional materials for the studio• Managing social media and website updates

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  The Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy, UHN

  Oct 2014 - Oct 2020

  I instruct art classes at the Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy, an innovative program for persons with memory loss. At the Academy we engage in a philosophy of relational caring, striving to change the way society views persons with dementia and create culture change in dementia care.I typically develop and facilitate lessons or projects that introduce art history or topical subjects, followed by an art project inspired by what we learned. Some days it is much more improvised, and music, or drama, or poetry, or even dance enter the process! I work with large groups and one-on-one, and enjoy every minute of it! Show less

  • Social Media Specialist

    Jan 2017 - Oct 2020

  • Art Instructor

    Oct 2014 - Oct 2020
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  University of Waterloo

  Sept 2016 - Aug 2020

  Working as a project coordinator with the Partnership in Dementia Care (PiDC) alliance, a team of researchers from various institutions, piloting a Relational Caring Learning Series. The Relational Caring Learning Series is intended to promote and implement culture change within Long Term Care settings .My duties include:- Working directly with long term care homes to coordinate and support the implementation of the pilot learning series in ways that worked for them- Scheduling interviews, workshops, meetings, etc.- Conducting interviews with long term care home staff, administrators, and others with roles in the pilot series- Data collection, transcription, and analysis of data- Liaising with team members via email and phone calls- Organizing training events by booking flights, hotels, tracking attendee numbers, etc.- Gathering additional resources to supplement and support training materials- Visual branding for the project Show less

  • Research Assistant

    May 2017 - Aug 2020

  • Teacher Assistant

    Sept 2016 - Apr 2017
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  Self Employed Public Speaker/Author

  Apr 2018 - now

  Presentations and Publications

  - Presenter at the June 4th, 2019 Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation Donor’s Event, highlighting relational and arts-based approaches at the Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy.- Engell, K. (2019). Reconceptualizing relationships in the dementia context: Imagining the caring process as fertile ground for friendship between persons with dementia and paid care partners (Presentation of proposed research). Oral presentation, GARLS Symposium, Waterloo, ON.- Engell, K., Main, S. (2018). Leisure and aging-well. Invited guest speaker, Kitchener, ON: Trinity Village Care Centre.- “Relational Caring and the Arts: How we do it at the Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy” Presented at the Walk With Me 2018 Conference on Culture Change in Ageing 2018- Dupuis, S.L., McAiney, C., Hickman, K., Engell, K., & Main, S. (2018, April). Relational Caring Learning Series Facilitator and Leader Workshop Summary Results. Final Report prepared for the Relational Caring Learning Series Working Group, Extendicare, and the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Waterloo, ON: Partnerships in Dementia Care Alliance. 11 pp Show less

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  Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

  Nov 2020 - Jun 2022

  Clinical Research Analyst

  Working alongside a diverse team of researchers supporting the development and implementation of the Dementia Isolation Toolkit (DIT) (www.dementiaisolationtoolkit.com) and related training materials.The DIT is designed to guide ethical decision-making in isolation care planning for persons with dementia who must be isolated in LTC during COVID-19 outbreaks. The goal is to support compassionate and effective isolation caring, as well as moral resilience and well-being for LTC staff during the pandemic.Duties include:- Developing training materials for the DIT- Supporting the dissemination and communication of the DIT materials- Developing and writing protocols, interview guides, and other materials for ethics review- Data Collection, conducting interviews with LTC stakeholders- Data Analysis Show less

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  The Bitove Method

  Jun 2021 - now

  I oversee the management and growth of The Bitove Method, a not-for-profit organization with the primary mission of enriching the lives of older adults living with memory loss.It is my responsibility to oversee delivery of our innovative, arts-based programming, continual assessment nad improvement of our processes and approaches, as well as facilitating and managing other organizational initiatives including: academic research projects, student placements, care partner gatherings/support, marketing, fundraising, etc.I am also the primary point of contact for our team and community, including the director, staff, artists, collaborators, members, care partners, and all organizational partnerships. Show less

  • Director

    Oct 2021 - now

  • Artistic Project Manager

    Oct 2021 - Jul 2022

  • Artist

    Jun 2021 - Jul 2022