Heather Shepherd, PhD

Assistant Professor

Contact Information
PubMed
Google Scholar
ORCID

Education

PhD (University of Calgary)
MScOT (Queen's University)
BSc Hons (Queen’s University)

Graduate Program Supervision

Graduate program Health and Rehabilitation Sciences MSc | PhD
Graduate program Occupational Science MSc | PhD

Research In Profile

Heather Shepherd’s research uses implementation science approaches to understand how best to support adolescents returning to daily living, including school and sports, following a concussion. She aims to co-create research in partnership with the individuals and communities with whom the programs are designed. This includes partnering with educators to co-design return to school concussion management protocols, as well as developing a novel peer support program for high school students who have sustained a concussion. Also, she is interested in understanding the injury experiences, including concussion, of adapted sport athletes, with a particular focus on powersport. She uses qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches to answer her research questions, and the research questions of the community partners with whom she works.

Featured Publications and Projects

Shill, IJ, Shepherd, HA, Eliason, P, Kolstad, AT, Heyward, O, Martens, G, Peek, K, Soligon, CA, King, MG, West, SW, Ahmed, OH, Blauwet, CA, Broglio, S, Chintoh, A, Galarneau, JM, Hayden, KA, Hendricks, S, Makdissi, M, Palmer, D, Sick, S, Whittaker, JL, Crossley, KM, Schneider, KJ, & Emery, CA. (2025). Prevention strategies and modifiable risk factors for sport-related concussions in female athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJSM. (accepted).
Colquhoun, H, Ellen, M, Brehaut, J, Weinreich, NK, Morvinski, C, Zarshenas, S, Presseau, J, McCleary, N, Shepherd, HA, Dabbagh, A, & Proctor, E. (2025). Potential social marketing applications for implementation science: A scoping review. Implement Sci. (accepted).
Shepherd, HA, Van Den Berg, C, Caron, JG, Reed, N, Yeates, KO, & Emery, CA. (2025). The Buddy Program: High school students inform the design of a school-based peer support program for concussion. Neuropsychol. Rehabil, 35(7), 1418-1433.
Shepherd, HA, Galarneau, JM, Neill, M, Karmali, S, Turcotte, K, Williamson, RA, Cowle, S, Macpherson, A, Reed, R, Schneider, KJ, Belton, KL, Gagnon, I, Black, AM, Emery, CA, & Babul, S. (2025). Concussion Awareness Training Tool for Youth: Impact on concussion knowledge, beliefs, and reporting intentions. Health Ed and Behav, 52(1), 17-27.
Shepherd, HA, Critchley, ML, Emery, CA, & Caron, JG. (2024). After the buzzer sounds: Adults unveil the consequences of concussions sustained during adolescence. Neuropsychol. Rehabil, 35(8), 1544-1569.
Shepherd, HA, Jesus, TS, Nalder, E, Dabbagh, A, & Colquhoun, H. (2024). Occupational therapy research publications (2001-2020) in PubMed: Trends and comparative analysis with physiotherapy and rehabilitation. OTJR, 45(4), 655-665.
Shepherd, HA, Heming, E, Reed, N, Caron, JG, Yeates, KO, & Emery, CA. (2024). Describing high school stakeholders’ preferences for a return to school framework following concussion. J. Sch. Health, 94(7): 638-646.

Visit Google Scholar for a comprehensive list of publications.

Current Grants and Research Projects

Shepherd, HA (co-I), Emery (PI), and colleagues. (2025-2030). You-CAN SHRed Concussions (Youth Concussion Awareness Network, Surveillance in High School and Community Sport to Reduce Concussions and their Consequences: Canadian Youth Informing Best Practice and Policy in the Prevention of Sport-related Concussion). CIHR Team Grant: Healthy Youth. $1, 500,000.

Graduate Student Opportunities

If you are interested in pursuing MSc or PhD studies with Dr. Shepherd, please email Dr. Shepherd directly and include

CV/Resume
1-page maximum outlining your research interests and how they align with Dr. Shepherd’s research program.

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