Kelly McNaughton

Project Investigator, SickKids Research Institute

Kelly McNaughton is the Program Manager for the Peer Support and Trauma Response Program at SickKids, where she engineered the development and implementation of the program which currently comprises over 80 peers. This is the first hospital-wide peer program in Canada, which includes physicians, providing individual support as well as trauma response following second victim events and critical incidents.   

She has specialized training in critical incident stress and trauma response, holding certification as a trauma specialist with the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists, and is an instructor under the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.  

As a trauma manager with an international EAP, she was responsible for oversight of national and global trauma services. She was a clinical lead for the company in New York following 9/11 as well as the mental health lead for a dedicated Peel Regional Police team dispatched to support the NYPD.  

McNaughton is active with research, currently engaged in a study of the incidence of PTSD in nurses with Memorial University and, as part of a quality improvement study at SickKids, she has developed both a mental health session for nursing graduates, as well as a workshop for their families, which is delivered as a component of the nursing orientation.

Research

McNaughton is currently engaged in a grant-funded study through the Faculty of Nursing at Memorial University to examine occupational stress injury in nursing. In addition, she is collaborating with the Department of Nursing at SickKids in a quality improvement project to study the effectiveness of mental health training for new nurses during orientation and following their mental health trajectory across the first twelve months in their position. Under these auspices, McNaughton developed the curriculum content and is the training facilitator for the orientation as well as for the family wellness workshop.

Education

• 2021–Present: PhD, Social Work, University of Windsor
• 1992: Master of Social Work, McGill University, Dean’s List, Myer Katz Fellowship
• 1991: Bachelor of Social Work, University of British Columbia, First Class Standing
• 1988: Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Wilfrid Laurier University

Achievements

• 2020: Grace Evelyn Simpson Reeves Award, Excellence in Nursing Innovation, Toronto, SickKids
• 2019: President’s Award, Toronto, SickKids

1. Veder, Barb, Dunmarra, Karina, Beaudoin, Kelly, McNaughton, Kelly, Grier Sarah, Demeter, Steven,and Fasciano, Yolanda. (2016). Changing the landscape of mental health:  The new trauma assist program for first responders.  [White paper].  Morneau Shepell, June 2016.
2. Draper, Michelle, and McNaughton, Kelly. (1995). Social Work:  A Critical Difference. [Abstract].  Journal of Palliative Care, Autumn 1995, 11(3), 64.

Funding

• $10,000 Seed, Bridge, Multidisciplinary research grant from Memorial University
• $4,000 grant from Eastern Health Authority Health Care Foundation
• $2,000 University of Toronto, Faculty of Nursing and Toronto Hospital for Sick Children Nursing Endowment Award