Katie Mah, PhD

Assistant Professor

Contact Information
Google Scholar
ORCID ID

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship (Western University & Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital)
  • PhD (University of Toronto)
  • MScOT (University of Toronto)
  • BScN (Western University)

Research in Profile

Dr. Mah’s research explores the intersections of ableism and other normative ideals in the everyday lives of young people living with ‘invisible’ impairments. She defines invisible impairments as impairments that are not readily and outwardly apparent but that have enduring, and at times disabling effects, on the everyday realities of people living with them (for example, concussion, chronic pain). Dr. Mah leverages equity-focused methodologies that combine creative participatory methods within robust theoretical frameworks to explore the real-world needs and priorities of those she works with, including those relating to clinical care.

Featured Publications and Projects

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

  1. Mah, K., Gibson, B.E. & Teachman, G. (2025). Representations of youth concussion ‘recovery’ in health and rehabilitation sciences: A critical conceptual review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-13.
  2. Mah, K., Nazzicone, K., Facca, D., Birnie, K.A., Walton, D.M. & Teachman, G. (2024). Piloting a virtual arts-based methodology to explore children’s experiences of chronic pain: Methodological insights and lessons learned. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 23.
  3. Hickling, A., Mah, K., Al-Hakeem, H. & Scratch, S.E. (2022). Exploring the experiences of youth with persistent post-concussion symptoms and their families with an interprofessional team-based assessment. Journal of Interprofessional Care. 37(4), 558-567.
  4. Mah, K., Gladstone, B.M., Cameron, D. & Reed, N. (2022). Re/producing the Pediatric Concussion Discourse in clinical rehabilitation practice. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(24), 7464-7474.
  5. Mah, K., Gladstone, B.M., Cameron, D. & Reed, N. (2021). Thinking otherwise: Bringing young people into pediatric concussion clinical and research practice. Brain Impairment, 23(1), 104-117.
  6. Pontes, T.B., Mah, K., Arnold, A.K., Polatajko, H.J. & Davis, J.A. (2020). The occupational repertoires of children with mobility difficulties: The child's perspective. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 83(4), 228-236.
  7. Mah, K., Gladstone, B., King, G., Reed, N. & Hartman, L.R. (2019). Researching experiences of childhood brain injury: Co-constructing knowledge through arts-based research methods. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42(20), 2967-2976.
  8. Hunt, A.W., Paniccia, M., Mah, K., Dawson, D.R. & Reed, N. (2019). Feasibility and effects of the CO-OP approach in postconcussion rehabilitation. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 73(1), 1-11.
  9. Mah, K., Hickling, A. & Reed, N. (2018). Perceptions of mild traumatic brain injury in adults: A scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 40(8), 960-973.

Chapters

  • Mah, K. & Hartman, L.R. (2024). Visual arts-based research methodologies. In S. Nayar & M. Stanley (Eds.), Qualitative Research Methodologies for Occupational Science and Therapy (2nd ed.), (pp. 208-229). Routledge.

Visit Google Scholar for a comprehensive list of publications.

Current Grants and Research Projects

  • “But...I don’t feel recovered”: Enhancing concussion care in partnership with youth who have experienced ‘prolonged recovery’ (Mitacs Elevate Research Funds 2024-25; VOICE Innovation Research Grant 2024-27; with Dr. Gail Teachman and Dr. Shannon Scratch)
  • Co-producing knowledge of disabled youth's 'everyday pain': A multimedia storytelling project informed by disability studies perspectives (CIHR Project Grant, 2024-27; with Dr. Gail Teachman, PI, Dr. Fiona Webster, Dr. Kathryn Birnie, Dr. Eric Smart, Michelle Servais, and Jessica Chan)
  • Exploring the complex interplay between childhood disability, impairment, and chronic pain: Co-producing knowledge with children (WSS CIHR Seed Grant, 2023-24; VOICE Innovation Research Grant 2023-25; with Dr. Gail Teachman, PI, and Dr. Fiona Webster)

Graduate Student Opportunities

Contact Katie Mah at kemah@uwo.ca for more information.

Additional Information

Academic Appointments and Research Affiliations

  • Adjunct Scientist, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto

Awards

  • IHDCYH Talks Competition (Video), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2024)
  • Mitacs Elevate Postdoctoral Fellow (2022-24; 2024-25)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow of the Year Award, Postdoctoral Association at Western, Western University (2023)
  • Pursuit Award (2nd Place). Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (2022)
  • Joan Eakin Award for Methodological Excellence in a Qualitative Doctoral Dissertation. Centre for Critical Qualitative Health Research, University of Toronto (2021)