Realize your future with TMU Graduate Studies
![Dr. Karen Spalding, director, Master of Health Administration (Community Care)](/content/dam/graduate/images/spalding-karen-310.jpg)
Helping students thrive
Dr. Karen Spalding
Director, Master of Health Administration (Community Care)
Ted Rogers School of Management
Before helping to launch the Master of Health Administration (Community Care) (MHA(CC)) in 2018, Dr. Karen Spalding led the development of the Master of Nursing (MN), the first graduate program in the Faculty of Community Services. As director of the groundbreaking, modular MHA(CC), Dr. Spalding is driven to fill gaps in educational opportunities for students.
How has the response been to the MHA(CC)?
Students have said the program provided exactly what they needed to learn and expanded their perspective on health care, which is what you want for graduate students.
The first cohort has just finished so it’s very exciting to watch what they accomplish in their careers, much like the MN alumni.
How do you support graduate students as a supervisor?
Recognizing that graduate students in this day and age have multiple responsibilities, I am there to support them via regular meetings, setting expectations, giving feedback and working as a team but also pushing them to think broadly.
I learn a lot from my students as well so it’s a privilege to work with them. Also, I miss working with patients and families so indirectly improving their situation through my students is rewarding.
What advice do you have for graduate students?
Make the most of all the resources available to you as a grad student. At TMU, there are lots of opportunities to get involved, such as committees, YSGPS and Faculty events, etc.
Get to know your fellow graduate students. I’ve kept in touch with people from my master’s and PhD programs and to this day we continue to share ideas and support each other.
Photo: Ian Patterson
“It’s a privilege to be at TMU Graduate Studies and work with these students.”
Dr. Karen Spalding leads the groundbreaking Master of Health Administration (Community Care) program, designed for working health-care professionals.
![South Asian man with long black hair, glasses and orange vest with embroidered flowers standing with arms crossed in front of steel Ring sculpture on TMU campus](/content/dam/graduate/future-students/our-people/cyrus-sundar-singh-ring-310.jpg)
‘The journey continues to be amazing’
Cyrus Sundar Singh, Communication and Culture PhD student and Documentary Media MFA alumnus
![Kittie Pang, MHA(CC) student](/content/dam/graduate/images/pang-kittie-310.jpg)
Shaping the future of health care
Kittie Pang, Master of Health Administration (Community Care) student
![TMU graduate alumna Jenny Duffy](/content/dam/graduate/images/2019/duffy_jenny_310.jpg)
A new look at the world’s oldest profession
Jenny Duffy, master’s alumna, Philosophy & Public Policy and Administration
![Graduate student and Trudeau Scholar Nathaniel Brunt](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/brunt_nathaniel_310.jpg)
Making black-and-white more grey
Nathaniel Brunt, Communication and Culture PhD student and Trudeau Scholar
![Three graduate students wearing hard hats on construction site](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/building_science_310.jpg)
Supporting women through building science
Building Science master's students
![Graduate student with drone at the Ontario Science Centre](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/hanna_dalia_310.jpg)
Using drones to locate people with dementia
Dalia Hanna, Computer Science PhD student
![Grad student with building models and blueprints](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/ferguson_matthew_310.jpg)
Building sustainability into architecture
Matthew Ferguson, Architecture master's student
![Ella Dubinsky, Psychology MA student, holding guitar](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/grant_david_310.jpg)
Flipping the script on Black men's pain
David Grant, Master of Social Work alumnus
![Female grad student standing in front of Queen's Park](/content/dam/graduate/images/2017/illesinghe_vathsala_310.jpg)
Standing up for immigrant women
Vathsala Illesinghe, Policy Studies PhD student
![Graduate alumna Adrienne Smith](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/smith_adrienne_310.jpg)
Giving refugees a second chance
Adrienne Smith, Immigration and Settlement Studies MA alumna
![MBA-MTI alumnus Mauricio Meza demonstrates Tecla-e to user Neil Mercer](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/mauricio_meza_310.jpg)
Opening possibilities with inclusive tech
Mauricio Meza, MBA-MTI alumnus
![Kate McKenzie and male marathon contestant running on road in Afghanistan](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/mckenzie_kate_310.jpg)
Secret marathon meets social change
Kate McKenzie, Master of Digital Media alumna
![Jake Pyne, Master of Social Work, sitting on couch](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/pyne_jake_310.jpg)
Transgender research meets transformed lives
Jake Pyne, Master of Social Work
![Steve Naraine holding cannabis plant](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/naraine_310.jpg)
Cannabis research meets new potential
Steve Naraine, Molecular Science MSc
![Noura Sakkijha, Ted Rogers MBA](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/sakkijha_noura_310.jpg)
Jewelry business meets digital disruption
Noura Sakkijha, Ted Rogers MBA
![Dr. Colin Robert Phillips in his office using a computer Dr. Colin Robert Phillips in his office using a computer](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/robert_phillips_310.jpg)
City issues meet the big picture
Dr. Colin Robert Phillips, Policy Studies PhD
![Dr. Michael Kolios and graduate student in hospital imaging lab](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/kolios_choose_mdb_20151111_159896_310.jpg)
Cancer research meets better patient care
Dr. Michael Kolios, Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Science
![Jacky Au Duong with fellow graduate student in classroom](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/jacky_choose_ryerson_310.jpg)
Professional passion meets real-world opportunities
Jacky Au Duong, Master of Professional Communication
![Dr. Amira Abdelrasoul in engineering lab](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/amira_supervisors_310.jpg)
Inspirational faculty meets innovative research
Dr. Amira Abdelrasoul, Chemical Engineering PhD
![Maayan Ziv in a hallway in RCC](/content/dam/graduate/images/Ryerson-university-graduate-maayan-ziv.jpg)
Entrepreneurship meets accessibility
Maayan Ziv, Master of Digital Media alumna
![Adedoyin Adesemowo at Toronto Beaches boardwalk](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/adesemowo_adedoyin_310.jpg)
Life-changing experience meets long-term success
Adedoyin Adesemowo, MBA-MTI
![Réal Carrière talking with professor in TMU Quad](/content/dam/graduate/images/choose_ryerson/carriere_real_310.jpg)
Ancient traditions meet empowered youth
Dr. Réal Carrière, Policy Studies PhD