Nursing Story Slam

Lead and Co-Organizer, Nursing Story Slam

Senior Research Specialist, Nursing Research Office 

Marc Hall is the lead organizing this Nursing Story Slam event. He is a Senior Research Specialist in the Nursing Research Office and has been with the Faculty of Nursing for 13 years. Although he has never been a practicing nurse, he has experience in telling stories from his involvement in the creation of a documentary, made-for-tv-movie, and musical about events from his high-school years. Since he has worked closely with nurses while being in the faculty, he has gained a deep appreciation for what they do and is really excited to be involved in this event to showcase their stories.

Associate Dean, Innovation and Research, UCalgary Nursing

Dr. Tracie Risling is an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean of Innovation and Research in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary. 

She is president-elect of the Canadian Nurses Association and a Past-President of the Canadian Nursing Informatics Association. A registered nurse with a practice background in pediatric and public health nursing, Tracie has extensive nursing education experience teaching, conducting research and engaging in curriculum design and evaluation for both undergraduate and graduate programs. She also leads a patient-oriented program of health and nursing informatics research including study on artificial intelligence, social media, co-design, and the use of texting for wellness and workforce support.

Coach, Nursing Story Slam

Assistant Professor, UCalgary Nursing

Digital Storytelling Facilitator, Filmmaker/Producer, Mike Lang Stories

Dr. Mike Lang is a health researcher, filmmaker, and Level 3 Common Language Digital Storytelling facilitator. He has directed and produced five feature-length documentaries and three web series about the human health experience in addition to publishing academic research articles and facilitating the creation of over 850 short films with patients, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Connect with him on all socials @mikelangstories or @commonlanguagedst.

"Each of us is an artist of our days; the greater our integrity and awareness, the more original and creative our time will become." - John O’Donahue, To Bless the Space Between Us

Coach, Nursing Story Slam

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Werklund School of Education

Dr. John Williamson is a K – 12 Coordinating Teacher of Diverse Learning Services, adjunct assistant professor in the Werklund School of Education, and spoken word and “page” poet. His award-winning PhD Dissertation, The Case of the Appearing / Disappearing Slow Learner was republished in the Journal of Applied Hermeneutics, and, in 2019, he published his first chap book of poetry, Broken and Strong: Family Fragments through Calgary’s Loft 112. He continues to publish academically and creatively. John is a three-time winner of Calgary’s individual monthly poetry slam and a member of the Calgary 2018 poetry slam team that competed for the national title. He is also an executive member of Can You Hear Me Now? Provincial youth slam. Known for using humor and pathos to make the usual unusual and vice versa, John tries to live creatively by Emily Dickinson’s advice to “tell the truth but tell it slant.”