Dr. Katie Birnie, PhD RPsych - 2022 Early Career Award

Congratulations Dr. Katie Birnie!

Canadian Pain Society - 2022 Early Career Award  

The Early Career Award recognizes outstanding achievements in pain research and/or management by an individual at the early stage of his or her career. 

Dr. Katie Birnie, PhD RPsych

Dr. Kathryn (Katie) Birnie is a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary where she leads the Partnering For Pain program. She is the Associate Scientific Director of Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP), a national knowledge mobilization network working to improve evidence-based children’s pain management through coordination and collaboration. Dr. Birnie joined Alberta Children’s Hospital as a medical psychologist in 2018, where she continues to provide clinical care through the Vi Riddell Children’s Pain and Rehabilitation Program.

Dr. Birnie is a recognized leader in pain research and patient partnership, for which she has received national and international accolades. She was the recipient of the 2020 Pain Awareness Award from the Canadian Pain Society and was selected as a 2020-2021 MAYDAY Fellow, a prestigious fellowship focused on communications and advocacy for improved pain care. Dr. Birnie’s Partnering For Pain research program engages strong partnerships with youth, families, healthcare professionals, decision-makers, and community organizations to improve the assessment and management of pain in children. She has published more than 65 peer-reviewed scientific publications and holds research funds from the Canadian Pain Society, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit, and the Chronic Pain Network.

We extend our congratulations to Dr. Birnie for her outstanding achievement!