Samantha Micsinszki, RN, PhD is a registered nurse and currently a postdoctoral researcher at CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research at McMaster University, and Training Director of the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Training Program. Sam has a particular interest in patient and family engagement in research as well as knowledge translation and research impact. Her work focuses on participatory approaches to inclusive and meaningful patient and family engagement across the lifespan. In 2021, Sam was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an experience that has had a significant impact on her personally and professionally. She is keen to use her experiences and her new perspective to create awareness of and advocate for equitable patient and family centered research and care through creative methodologies. When not working, you'll find Sam lacing up her skates, learning how to play hockey.
Dr. Phoenix and authors explore the metaphor “a seat at the table” in the context of including Disabled People and their families in system-level service design and research. They challenge us to consider inclusivity by interrogating this vision of “the table” in terms of ownership, participation, and consequences after a discussion ends.