Annett Christine Koerner

Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology (ECP)

Department of Oncology

 

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BA University of Leipzig, Germany, Psychology
MA University of Leipzig, Germany, Psychology
PhD University of Leipzig, Germany, Psychology

 

Associate Member, Department of Oncology, McGill University

Associate Member, Psychosocial Oncology Program, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)

Senior Associate, Louise-Granofsky-Psychosocial Oncology Program, Segal Cancer Centre

Associate Investigator, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital (JGH)

Mentor, Psychosocial Oncology Research Training (PORT) Program

Teaching and Research Areas

Dr. Körner has developed research expertise as a psychologist and psychotherapist in the areas of personality assessment, interpersonal functioning & health, and relationship schemas. Before moving to Canada, she headed the psycho-dermatological service at the University Freiburg, which provides psychological assessment and diagnosis, as well as crisis-intervention, and short-term psychotherapeutic treatment to patients in the Department of Dermatology. Within this framework she educated physicians and nurses about the psychological aspects of dermatological conditions and on how to best adapt their interventions to the patient. She specialized in psychosocial oncology interventions that facilitate health behaviours in individuals diagnosed with skin cancer. In 2008, Dr. Körner was invited to provide expert advice to the Canadian Partnership against Cancer, a national agency focusing on cancer prevention, enhancement of the quality of life, and the decrease of cancer mortality. At the Jewish General Hospital, she conducted research on “Interactive Education & Patient Navigation” examining how melanoma patients can best be lead through their care trajectory - from the point of diagnosis throughout their treatment phases and toward resources offered in their community. In 2011, she became a mentor in the Psychosocial Oncology Research Training (PORT) program, which links Canada’s top psychosocial oncology researchers across a variety of disciplines and six universities. Dr. Körner's Health Psychology Research Group (HPRG)is currently evaluating the efficacy of a coping intervention program for cancer survivors with an RCT involving the JGH and the MUHC. Her most recent work focuses on secondary prevention of melanoma based on a large scale, longitudinal study examining barriers and facilitators of health behaviours in high-risk individuals.

Current Research Interests

Dr. Körner is a licensed psychologist with a research focus in clinical and health psychology, in particular the development and evaluation of psychosocial interventions for individuals diagnosed with chronic and/or life-threatening medical conditions.

Research Grants

Dr. Körner has received funding from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC), the Segal Cancer Centre (JGH), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (FRSQ).

Supervision

Dr. Körner welcomes inquiries from students who are interested in psychological aspects of medicine and health (please send CV with your inquiry). The ability to be innovative, motivated, and conscientious in completing research and other tasks in a timely manner is critical.