Critical social theory applied to health, illness, and disability
Embodiment theory
Ethics
Dementia and dementia care
Qualitative and arts-based methodologies and practice
Other Appointments
2016 – 2019 Honorary Professor, Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
2013 – present Senior Scientist, KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network
2013 – present Adjunct Scientist, Baycrest Health Sciences, Rotman Research Institute
2012 – present Cross-Appointment, Associate Member, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
2011 – present Cross-Appointment, Associate Member, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto
Primary Teaching Responsibilities
JRP 1000 Theory and method of qualitative health research
Awards
2021: Mid-Career Investigator Prize in Research in Aging, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
2012-2017: Early Researcher Award, Ministry of Research and Innovation
2009-2014: New Investigator Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
2007-2009: Career Scientist Award, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Research Project Highlights
2022-2025 Co-Principal Investigator. “Imagining and promoting compassionate end of life care for people living with dementia using documentary film”. Funded by the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
2021-2023 Co-Applicant. “Sharing dance with people with dementia”. Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
2021-2024 Co-Principal Investigator. “Supporting safe and healthy sexual expression for people living with dementia in long-term care”. Funded by CIHR.
2020-2023 Co-Investigator. “Living More with SMART Technology: Exploring the feasibility, usability, sustainability and scalability of SMART solutions to support increased quality of life in continuing care”. Funded by AGE-WELL.
2020-2021 Co-Investigator. “Rapid development and implementation of a toolkit to prevent COVID-19 transmission among persons with dementia in long term care”. Funded by Ontario Together Fund.
2019-2021 Principal Investigator. “Cracked: new light on dementia – A web-based educational program on stigma associated with dementia and relational caring”. Funded by The Waugh Family Foundation.
2018-2020 Co-Investigator. “Promoting just and inclusive end-of-life decision-making for long-term care residents with dementia and their care partners”. Funded by CIHR.
2018-2020 Co-Principal Investigator. “Reducing dementia stigma and fostering relational caring using research-based film”. Funded by Alzheimer Society of Canada.
2017-2020 Co-Investigator. “Integrating brain injury, mental health, and addictions”. Funded by Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
2017 – 2020 Co-Investigator. “Improving social inclusion for Canadians with dementia and carers through sharing dance”. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Social Inclusion of Individuals with Dementia and Carers Grant. Funded by CIHR.
2017 – 2017 Principal Investigator. “Cracked: Interactive digital research resource”. Funded by the Waugh Family Foundation.
Publication Highlights
Grigorovich, A., Kontos, P., Heesters, A., Schindel Martin, L., Gray, J., Tamblyn Watts, L. B. Dementia and sexuality in long-term care: Incompatible bedfellows? Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012211056253.
Kontos, P., Radnofsky, M., Fehr, P., Belleville, M.R., Bottenberg, F., Fridley, M., Massad, S., Grigorovich, A., Carson, J., Rogenski, K., Carpenter, K.S., Dupuis, S., Battalen, J., McDonagh, D., Fassbender, K., Whitehouse, P. Separate and unequal: A time to reimagine dementia. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 2021; 80(4): 1395-1399.
Kontos, P., Grigorovich, A., Colobong, R. Towards a critical understanding of creativity and dementia: New directions for practice change. International Practice Development Journal (Special Issue: Critical perspectives on person, care and aging) 2020; 10(3). DOI.org/10.19043/ipdj.10Suppl.003.
Kontos, P., Grigorovich, A., Kosurko, A., Bar, R.J., Herron, R.V., Menec, V., Skinner, M. Dancing with dementia: Exploring the embodied dimensions of creativity and social engagement. The Gerontologist 2020.https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa129
Kontos, P., Grigorovich, A., Dupuis, S., Jonas-Simpson, C., Mitchell, G., Gray, J. Raising the curtain on stigma associated with dementia: Fostering a new cultural imaginary for a more inclusive society. Critical Public Health 2020; 30(1): 91-102. DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2018.1508822.
Gray, J., Kontos, P. Working at the margins: Theatre, social science and radical political engagement. Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance 2019; 24(3): 402–407.
Grigorovich, A., Kontos, P. A critical realist exploration of the vulnerability of staff to sexual harassment in residential long-term care. Social Science and Medicine 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112356.
Grigorovich, A., Kontos, P., Kontos, A. P. The “violent resident”: A critical exploration of the ethics of resident-to-resident aggression. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 2019; 16(2): 173-183
Kontos, P., Grigorovich, A. Integrating citizenship, embodiment, and relationality: Towards a reconceptualization of dance and dementia in long-term care. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2018; 46(3):717-723.
Kontos, P., Grigorovich, A. ‘Sleight of hand’ or ‘selling our soul’? Surviving as critical qualitative health researchers in a positivist world. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research 2018; 19(2), 1-15.
Grigorovich, A., Kontos, P. Advancing an ethic of embodied relational sexuality to guide decision-making in dementia care. The Gerontologist 2018; 58(2):219-225.
Kontos, P., Grigorovich, A. Rethinking musicality in dementia as embodied and relational. Journal of Aging Studies (Special Issue: Ageing Body and Society – Critical Perspectives, Future Challenges) 2018; 45:39-48.
Kontos, P., Miller, K-L., Kontos, A.P. Relational citizenship: Supporting embodied selfhood and relationality in dementia care. Sociology of Health and Illness (Special Issue: Ageing, Dementia and the Social Mind). 2017; DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.12453.
