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
2013 – present Senior Scientist, KITE Research Institute, University Health Network
2013 – present Adjunct Scientist, Baycrest Health Sciences, Rotman Research Institute
2012 – present Cross-Appointment, Full Member, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
2011 – present Cross-Appointment, Full Member, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto
Awards
2022: Betty Havens Prize for Knowledge Mobilization in Aging, CIHR
2021: Mid-Career Investigator Prize in Research in Aging, CIHR
2012-2017: Early Researcher Award, Ministry of Research and Innovation
2009-2014: New Investigator Award, CIHR
2007-2009: Career Scientist Award, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Research Project Highlights
2024-2027 Co-Principal Investigator. “Scaling up and evaluating Sharing Dance Older Adults with people living with dementia in historically excluded communities”. Funded by CIHR.
2024-2025 Lead Principal Applicant. “Relational end-of-life care for people living with dementia: Innovating education and supporting practice change.” Funded by the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
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.
Publication Highlights
Kontos, P., Grigorovich, A., Colobong, R., Sodums, D., Parr Vijinski, J., Aleong, R., Bar, R.J. Disrupting stigma associated with dementia and dance through documentary film. BMC Public Health 2026: 1254. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-26881-9
Kuhlmann, N., Kontos, P., Christensen-Strynø, M.B., Blain-Moraes, S. Convergence of neurodegeneration and the arts: A conversation between researchers about stigma, co-creativity, and transformation. Research Involvement and Engagement 2025; 11: 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-025-00696-1.
Kontos, P., Grigorovich, A., Dupuis, S., Colobong, R., Gray, J., Jonas-Simpson, C., Serota, A. Projecting a critique of stigma associated with dementia on screen: The impact of a Canadian film on the importance of relational caring in the community. The Gerontologist 2024; 64(2). https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad045.
Carter, C., Mohammed, S., Upshur, R., Kontos, P. “I don’t see the whole picture of their health”: A critical ethnography of constraints to interprofessional collaboration in end-of-life conversations in primary care. BMC Primary Care 2023; 24(1): 225. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-02171-w
Grigorovich, A., Kontos, P., Popovic, M.R. Rehabilitation professionals’ perspectives and experiences with the use of technologies for violence prevention: A qualitative study. BMC Health Services 2023; 23 (Article 899). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09789-7.
Carter, C., Mohammed, S., Upshur, R., Kontos, P. How the more life discourse constrains end-of-life conversations in the primary care of medically frail older adults: A critical ethnography. Social Science & Medicine 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2022.100174.
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.