Susan Tupper, PT, PhD
Manager, Pain Strategy & Research, Saskatchewan Health Authority
About
Susan is the Manager of Professional Practice, Pain Strategy and Research with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). She is a licensed physical therapist with a PhD in Community Health and Epidemiology and a post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatrics. Susan’s role as an embedded researcher includes applied research and evaluation, strategic planning, clinical standards writing, and education for healthcare providers, trainees, and the public. She is a member of the Pain Canada National Advisory Committee and Provincial-Territorial Subcommittee. Susan is one of the leads of the SHA Provincial Clinical Network in Chronic Pain. Her patient-engaged research examines clinical interactions about pain for people with chronic health conditions, virtual reality, and graphic medicine to challenge pain-related stigma. Susan is the founding Chair of the Board of Directors of the Saskatchewan Pain Society (SaskPain), a non-profit charity focused on supporting people living with chronic pain in Saskatchewan.
Education
BSc (Physical Therapy), Western University, Ontario
PhD (Community Health & Epidemiology), University of Saskatchewan.
Post-doctoral Fellowship (Pediatrics), University of Saskatchewan and The Hospital for Sick Children.
Conference Presentations
Title: Changing the paradigm of chronic pain through storytelling (symposium presentation)
Date: May 1-4, 2025
Conference: Canadian Pain Society Annual Scientific Conference
Co-Authors: Jane Zhao, Sylvia Langlois
Title: Dentistry students’ perceptions of key learnings and change in chronic pain beliefs with a graphic medicine reflective learning activity (poster presentation)
Date: May 1-4, 2025
Conference: Canadian Pain Society Annual Scientific Conference
Co-Authors: Amrinderbir Singh, Erin Beckwell, Dayna Fesciuc
Academic Research Publications
Tupper, S.M., Singh, A., Beckwell, E., Fornssler, B. (2025). Graphic medicine reflective learning activity on chronic pain beliefs among Dentistry students. Journal of Dental Education: Advancing Through Innovation, Under review (0012-Jun-25-JDE).
Outputs
Title: It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way: Theresa’s Story
Format: Graphic medicine story (educational comic) https://saskpain.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Theresas-Story_Colour-FINAL.pdf
Date: December 2024
Co-Authors: Erin Beckwell, Cheyanne Desnomie, Pamela Downe, Barb Fornssler, Jeannie Coe, Michael MacFadden, Dayna Fesciuc, Molly Seaton-Fast
Title: It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way: Jim & Dr. Houghton’s Story
Format: Graphic medicine story (educational comic) https://saskpain.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jims-Story_Colour-FINAL.pdf
Date: December 2024
Co-Authors: Erin Beckwell, Cheyanne Desnomie, Pamela Downe, Barb Fornssler, Jeannie Coe, Michael MacFadden, Dayna Fesciuc, Molly Seaton-Fast
Title: It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way: Dennis & Nurse Tracy’s Story
Format: Graphic medicine story (educational comic) https://saskpain.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Dennis-Story_Colour-FINAL.pdf
Date: December 2024
Co-Authors: Erin Beckwell, Cheyanne Desnomie, Pamela Downe, Barb Fornssler, Jeannie Coe, Michael MacFadden, Dayna Fesciuc, Molly Seaton-Fast
Title: It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way: Theresa’s Story Video
Format: Graphic medicine story (educational comic - video) https://saskpain.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Theresas-Story.mp4
Date: December 2024
Co-Authors: Erin Beckwell, Cheyanne Desnomie, Pamela Downe, Barb Fornssler, Jeannie Coe, Michael MacFadden, Dayna Fesciuc, Molly Seaton-Fast
SURGE-SK
5D40.28 Health Sciences, 107 Wiggins Rd. Saskatoon, SK
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