Dr. Karen Fergus is a clinical psychologist and associate professor with the Department of Psychology at York University where she directs the Psychosocial Oncology Lab. She is cross appointed at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in the Odette Cancer Centre where she has been practicing as a clinician and researcher for 25 years. She is the current Psychosocial Oncology Lead for Toronto Central North (Ontario Health – Cancer Care Ontario). Dr. Fergus's research interests include: differential impacts of cancer across the lifecycle; illness-related loss and grief; couple resilience and couple adjustment to life-threatening illness; and the development and evaluation of educational and psychotherapeutic interventions to address these issues.
Her research in the area of couples and cancer has been recognized by the National Council on Family Relations (2003). In 2014-2015, Karen won the Faculty of Health Teaching Award – Early Career – York University. She has been nominated for the 2015 President’s University-wide Teaching Award – York University and was awarded the 2013 “Cause Leadership Award” - Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Region.
