Emma Bartfay, PhD
Faculty of Health Sciences
Award-winning researcher and epidemiologist who with expertise on key public health issues (including COVID-19). Also advances dementia diagnosis and treatment options, and reducing caregiver burden.
Full biography
A globally aging population has positioned dementia to become the world’s leading cause of disability and dependency among older adults, bringing physical, psychological, social and economic challenges for families. Emma Bartfay, PhD, has devoted her much of her research to stemming the effects of dementia on individuals living with the conditions and their caregivers. An Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University since 2005, Dr. Bartfay’s teaching and research has been guided toward this specialty. Dr. Bartfay completed her Bachelor of Science at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba in 1990, and in 1994, she earned her Master of Science from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. As a graduate student, she developed a love of research and was inspired by many professors who mentored her. She credits her role as a teaching assistant with fuelling her interest in teaching and mentoring others. In 1998, she completed her Doctorate in Epidemiology at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, and followed her passion for teaching and research to pursue a career in academia where she could engage in both avenues. In 1999, Dr. Bartfay began her career as a scientist in the Cancer Research Institute in the Division of Cancer Research and Epidemiology, and an assistant professor in the Department of Oncology, both at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. In 2000, she became an assistant professor in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at Queen’s. Then in 2003, she was appointed assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Windsor, in Windsor, Ontario. Dr. Bartfay’s noted research has garnered many additional awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the National Cancer Institute of Canada. She is a member of the International Epidemiological Association and the Canadian Society of International Health.
Areas of expertise
Education
- 1998PhD in EpidemiologyUniversity of Western Ontario
- 1994MSc in ScienceUniversity of Waterloo
- 1990BSc in ScienceBrandon University
Media appearances
Ontario Tech University News December 31, 1969Vacation time means vaccination timeIf you plan to travel out of the country this summer, or even if you opt to stay close to home, an Ontario Tech University researcher advises you to ensure your vaccines are up to date. “An abundance of viruses circulate the world at any given time,” says Emma Bartfay, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences. “Unfortunately, many of us only pay attention when infections make headlines in the media.”
Elizz Caregiver Support and Home Care Services December 31, 1969Caregiver burden and understanding dementia careDr. Emma Bartfay, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University, is a researcher who has dedicated many years of her career to understanding dementia care and caregiver burden.
Presentations
- Copenhagen, Denmark December 31, 1969A comparison of residential care facility and home care clients on dementia diagnosis in Ontario, CanadaAlzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC)
- Seoul, South Korea December 31, 1969Cognitive impairment and dementia diagnosis among institutional care facility residents in Ontario, CanadaThe 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics
- Oshawa, Ontario November 4, 2013Interactive and preferential learning approach for global health educationHLSC Annual Poster Day, Ontario Tech University
- Florence, Italy June 3, 2013A comparison of cognitive function at dementia diagnoses among facility residents with or without pre-existing condition in Ontario, CanadaThe 11th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases (AD/PD 2013)
- Ottawa, Ontario December 31, 1969Impact of global economic crisis on the health and well-being of laid-off automobile industry workers in Durham, OntarioCanadian Conference on Global Health, Canadian Society of International Health
- Scotland, UK July 8, 2011The health and well-being of laid-off automobile industry workers in Durham, OntarioXIX IEA World Congress of Epidemiology, Edinburgh
- Toronto, Ontario December 31, 1969Quality of life of family caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients26th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International
- Galway, Ireland April 8, 2010The effects of the global economic downturn on GM autoworkers psycho-social health in Ontario, Canada: A phenomenological study31st World Conference on Stress & Anxiety Research, STAR 2010
- Thessaloniki, Greece October 3, 2010A comparison of the effects of adult day programs on the quality of life of Alzheimer’s disease patients25th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International
Affiliations
- Canadian Society of International Health
- International Epidemiological Association