Mary Lou Kelley, MSW, PhD, is a Professor of Social Work and Gerontology at Lakehead University and professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Thunder Bay, ON. Her work focuses on promoting interdisciplinary research and interprofessional education in gerontology and palliative care for healthcare professionals nationally. Her research expertise is in community-based and applied health services research, using ethnographic and participatory methods including techniques such as photo voice. Here current projects focus on developing palliative care programs in long term care homes and First Nations communities. She was the recipient of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s 2011 Award of Excellence in recognition of her contribution to Canadian palliative care practice, education and research.