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 Canadian 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 more than 65 peer-reviewed scientific publications span the knowledge-to-action continuum to improve the prevention, assessment, and management of pain experienced by children and their families. Dr. Birnie is chair of the national working group developing a standard in pediatric pain management in Canada with the Health Standards Organization. Her research has been featured in media outlets including CBC News, CTV News, Radio Canada International, and The Globe and Mail. Dr. Birnie advocates for patient and family partnership and multi-stakeholder engagement in health research, health care delivery, and health systems design.