Marlene Reimer

Dr. Marlene Reimer completed her Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Manitoba, and then went on to complete her Masters in Nursing and PhD in Health Care Research at the University of Calgary. She was certified in neurosciences, and a SSHRC funded researcher. Dr. Reimer’s primary research interest were regarding quality of life measurements in cognitively impaired adults, including patients with brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, dementia and sleep disorders. Dr. Reimer developed the Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI), was the Director of the Wellness and Lifestyle Program at the Canadian Sleep Centre, and was also a research associate with the Alberta Lung Association of Sleep Institute. She was active with the Institute of Neuroscience in Calgary, sitting as a member on their inaugural advisory Board of Directors. She was a very active member of the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses, participating actively on the national Board of Directors, and well as serving as President of the World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses. Prior to dying in 2005, Dr. Reimer was appointed to the position of Dean of Nursing at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Reimer was a key player in neuroscience nursing being designated as a specialty area of practice and in CANN being the first group to enter into the certification process through the Canadian Nurses Association. Both before and after that accomplishment, Marlene served as a mentor and role model to many neuroscience nurses, helping them appreciate the value of nursing research and professional development. Her humanistic approach to all aspects of life made her near and dear to all who met her. She was the Mary Glover lecturer in 2003, where she spoke about leaving one’s legacy. It was a fitting topic, given Marlene’s medical prognosis at the time. In 2006, the first Dr. Marlene Reimer award was given in honour of our colleague. In 2007, the Nursing Research Award and the Dr. Marlene Reimer Award were merged into the Marlene Reimer Research Award.