Lindsey Boechler

 

Lindsey Boechler PhD (Student), MA

Research Manager

Centre for Health Research, Innovation and Scholarship

Lindsey.Boechler@saskpolytech.ca

Profile

Lindsey practiced as an advanced care paramedic (ACP) in urban, rural, and northern settings for more than a decade prior to becoming an educator. She began with the Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Health Sciences in 2015 as a Paramedic programs faculty member, transitioning into the role of Program Head in 2017. Lindsey obtained her Master of Arts- Leadership from Royal Roads University in 2019 and is currently a PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Studies program at the University of Saskatchewan. Lindsey is a 2022 recipient of the prestigious federally funded Vanier scholarship and she was awarded the 2022 Paramedic Association of Canada, Award of Excellence for Research and Innovation for her work in health research.

Lindsey’s most current research pertains to mental health and wellness technologies. This research explores how virtual reality (VR) technology can be used to promote mental health and well-being. VR-based mental health supports offer an appealing, safe, non-judgmental, and innovative approach to accessing care and resources that may otherwise not be accessed by those in need. VR technology holds the potential to increase access to existing tools, reduce the sense of stigma, and meet individualized needs in a culturally responsive way.

Lindsey’s current research projects explore how VR technology can be used to enhance the mental health and well-being of Indigenous youth living in rural and remote communities and investigate the value of virtual meditation as a preventative and proactive mental health and wellness tool for paramedics and police officers.

Selected Grants

  1. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Connecting Communities: Sharing the potential of using virtual reality technology to support the mental health and wellness of Indigenous youth living in rural and remote SaskatchewanSaskatchewan, Health Research Foundation (SHRF) Truth and Action funding, 2022
  2. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Meditative policing: A qualitative study exploring the value of virtual wellness practices for law enforcement, Seed Applied Research Program (SARP) grant, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, 2021
  3. Boechler, L. (Co-Investigator), Health matters for international students: (In)equities with online support during COVID-19, Seed Applied Research Program (SARP) grant, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, 2021
  4. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Assessing the mental health support needs for Indigenous adolescents residing in rural and remote Sask: A mixed-methods study exploring the potential of virtual reality technology, College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), 2021
  5. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Strategies for Poverty Reduction in Moose Jaw, School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences Internal Scholarship Grant, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, 2021
  6. Boechler, L. (Co-Investigator), Health matters for international students: (In)equities with online support during COVID-19, School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences Internal Scholarship Grant, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, 2021
  7. Boechler, L. (Co-Investigator), The ethical challenges for frontline health and law enforcement professionals during COVID-19: A secondary analysis, School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences Internal Scholarship Grant, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, 2021
  8. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Assessing the mental health support needs for Indigenous adolescents residing in northern Saskatchewan: A community based participatory action research study exploring the potential use of virtual reality technology to promote mental health and wellbeing, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) Research Innovation Fund, 2021
  9. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Exploring the use of virtual reality technology to promote mental health and well-being of Indigenous adolescents and young adults in rural and remote Saskatchewan, Provost’s NSERC Research Fund, 2021
  10. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Lived experiences of paramedics during the COVID-19 pandemic, Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Health Sciences Internal Grant, 2020.
  11. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities to promote equitable access to mental health services for Indigenous youth, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Seed Applied Research Program (SARP) Internal Grant, 2020.
  12. Hubbard Murdoch, N., Nelson, H., & Boechler, L., The experience of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan: The knowledge translation plan, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) Research Connections COVID-19 Rapid Response, 2020
  13. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Unifying for Health Equity: Revitalizing the Saskatchewan Health System through Patient-Oriented Research, Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR), 2020
  14. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Unifying for Health Equity: Revitalizing the Saskatchewan Health System to Ensure Accessibility to Care for Immigrants, Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR) in partnership with Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), 2019-2021.
  15. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Unifying for Health Equity: Revitalizing the Saskatchewan Health System to Ensure Accessibility to Care for Immigrants, Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Health Sciences Internal Grant, 2019- 2020.
  16. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Unifying for Health Equity: Revitalizing the Saskatchewan Health System to Ensure Accessibility to Care for Immigrants, Patient Engagement Application Development Award (PEADA) from Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR), 2019.
  17. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Mapping the success route for Indigenous paramedic students at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Health Sciences Internal Grant, 2018- 2019.
  18. Boechler, L. (Principal Investigator), Public Engagement: Essential partnerships to improve the quality of paramedic care in a transformed health care system in Saskatchewan, Patient Engagement Application Development Award (PEADA) from Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR), 2018.

Selected Dissemination

  1. Boechler, L. (2022, December). Community wellness connections for Indigenous youth across Canada [Video file]. Aspen Films. Available from https://vimeo.com/783047907/9da3a0a6ae
  2. Hatch, A., Boechler, L., Morin, M., Roth-Howat, K., Lemaigre, K., Herman, D., Piche, B., & Gailey, L. (2022, November). Community of La Loche and Sask Polytech co-create wellness initiative with virtual reality [Video file]. Aspen Films. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-54XF4fz9PQ
  3. Boechler, L., Ford-Jones, P., Smith, C., Suthers, P., & Cameron, C. (2022). Challenges, changes, and implications of COVID-19: Canadian paramedics’ experiences. International Paramedic Practice, 12 (3). https://doi.org/10.12968/ippr.2022.12.3.45
  4. Boechler, L., Renwick, S., Alabi, A., de la Torre, H., Kumar, S., Singh, H., Xavier, R., Hector, D., McTaggart, L., & Shrubsole, J. (2021). Beyond the role of participant: a firsthand account of the experiences of a patient-oriented research team. Research Involvement and Engagement. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-021-00323-9
  5. Boechler, L., Cameron, C., Smith, J.C., Ford-Jones, P. & Suthers, P. (2021). Impactful approaches to leadership on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: Lived experiences of Canadian paramedics. Healthcare Quarterly 24(3), 42-47.  https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2021.26620
  6. Boechler, L., Cormack, S., Ford-Jones, P., Cameron, C., Smith, J.C., & Suthers, P. (2021). PP36 Supporting paramedics on the frontlines amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring impactful leadership approaches in Canada. Emergency Medicine Journal, 38(9), e6. https://d0i.org/10.1136/emermed-2021-999.36
  7. Cormack, S., Boechler, L., Ford-Jones, P., Cameron, C., Smith, J.C., & Suthers, P. (2021). PP33 Lived experiences of paramedics across England during the COVID-19 outbreak; initial results. Emergency Medicine Journal, 38(9), e6. https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2021-999.33
  8. Boechler, L., Hubbard Murdoch, N., & Nelson, H. (2020). Interprofessional reflections: Pandemic duty to care. Canadian Paramedicine, 44(2), 50-51. Retrieved from https://canadianparamedicine.ca/featured-edition/
  9. Boechler, L., Suthers, P., Cameron, C., Ford-Jones, P., & Smith, C. (2020). Lived experiences of Canadian paramedics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Australasian College of Paramedicine International Abstracts- Oral and Poster Presentations. 17. Australasian Journal of Paramedicine. Retrieved from  https://doi.org/10.33151/ajp.17.888
  10. Nelson, H., Boechler, L., & Hubbard Murdoch, N. (2020). Researching at high-speed: Recording the story of the COVID-19 experience. Antistatis, 10(3). Retrieved from https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/antistasis/article/view/31448/1882526675
  11. Boechler, L., & Boechler, R. (2020, October). Policing in uncertain times: Lived experiences of Saskatchewan police officers during COVID-19. 16-19. Blue Line: Canada’s Law Enforcement Magazine. Retrieved from https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=44080&i=674130&p=0
  12. Sereda, A., Hiebert, J., Osler, L.A., Messer-Lepage, J., Remeshylo, K., Brost, J., Larre, J., Boehler, L., Seidl, C., & Backlin, C. (2020, May). Individually strong, collectively influential. Women in Paramedicine, 43(3), 34-36. Retrieved from https://canadianparamedicine.ca/featured-edition/
  13. Boechler, L., Hubbard Murdoch, N., & Nelson, H. (2020, May). Saskatchewan Polytechnic Health Sciences and Nursing researchers working on COVID-19 impact studies. Interviewer: A. Pratt [Email]. Education News Canada. Available from https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/region/saskatchewan/29/834846/saskatchewan-polytechnicmay-20-2020-saskatchewan-polytechnic-health-sciences-and-nursing-researchers-working-on-covid-19-impact-studies.html
  14. Boechler, L., Xavier, R., Kumar, S., McTaggart, L., & Hector, D. (2020, March). Unifying for health equity revitalizing the Sask health system through patient-oriented research [Video]. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=38&v=FYTxvz8W_0Q&feature=emb_logo