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Headshot of Ellen Katz

Ellen Katz

Degrees: 
Associate Professor, Teaching StreamPh.D., University of Toronto
Email: 
Phone Number: 
(416) 978-5570
Office Location: 

Room 330

Research Interests: 

Clinical practice and social work education

  • using mindfulness and contemplative practices in clinical practice and social work education
  • developing novel practice interventions in family therapy
  • developing novel assessment approaches for testing competence in family therapy
  • using simulation in social work education
Biography: 

Ellen Katz joined the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work in 2014 as a Lecturer and Director of Continuing Education. In 2016, she became an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream and the Continuing Education Program transitioned to the School of Continuing Studies. In 2020 she was promoted to Associate Professor, Teaching Stream. Prior to 2014, Ellen held roles as a Faculty-Field Liaison in the Practicum Office, and an Educational Coordinator, an Adjunct Lecturer and an Assistant Professor, Status-Only in the community. She currently holds a joint appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. 

Her research and clinical interests focus on mindfulness and contemplative practices as informed by Buddhist thought, family therapy, simulation, and the development of competence in both students and clinicians. The latter interest has led to her work with Professor Marion Bogo in developing novel approaches to assessment of student and practitioner competence. 

Ellen was a Senior Investigator with the Mind and Life Summer Research Institute, the Dalai Lama’s initiative to bring science and contemplative practice together in developing interventions to ease human suffering and increase knowledge of how mindfulness can be used in that process. She was awarded the Larry Enkin Innovation in Teaching and Simulation Award from the Faculty in 2019.