Dr. Andrea Rochon, a professor at St. Lawrence College, received the Dr. Joan Tranmer Presentation Award on March 5, 2026, for her work to improve how nurses are trained for long-term care. The recognition was announced during the 28th Annual Kingston Nursing Research Conference in Kingston, Ontario.
More than 80 nurses, researchers, and health-care educators voted for the honour, which recognizes a new way for colleges and care homes to work together. This model is designed to improve clinical placements for students and help more people decide to work in senior care settings.
The research is supported by a federal research grant that focuses on solving social issues through community partnerships. Dr. Rochon is leading the three-year study alongside her colleague Julie Dyke to address the growing need for health-care workers across the country.
Recent data shows that Canada could face a shortage of nearly 118,000 nurses by 2030 due to an aging population and staff retirements. In Ontario, officials estimate the province will need more than 33,000 additional nurses to meet community needs by 2032.
The award is named after Dr. Joan Tranmer, who has spent nearly 30 years promoting nursing research in the local area. By improving training programs, Kingston educators are working to make long-term care a more attractive and supportive career choice for new graduates.
