Dr. Kathryn (Katie) Birnie, PhD RPsych, is a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary where she leads Partnering For Pain, a patient-oriented research program striving towards quality equitable pain management for children through partnerships with youth, families, health professionals, policymakers, hospitals, and community organizations. Dr. Birnie is the Associate Scientific Director of Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP), a Canadian national knowledge mobilization network working to mobilize evidence-based solutions for children’s pain through coordination and collaboration. She joined Alberta Children’s Hospital as a medical psychologist in 2018 in the Vi Riddell Children’s Pain and Rehabilitation Program.
Dr. Birnie has published more than 90 scientific publications, including on acute and chronic pain assessment and management, and health services and systems design. She chaired the working group that developed the world’s first national health standard for Pediatric Pain Management in 2023 in partnership with SKIP and the Health Standards Organization (CAN/HSO 13200:2023). Dr. Birnie’s work has been shared via CBC News, CTV News, Global News, the Washington Post, Radio Canada International, and The Globe and Mail, among others. She is a strong advocate for the partnership of patients and families in health research, health care delivery, and health systems design.