Nursing PhD student receives Dr. Tracy Truant Memorial Scholarship

Meet Kylie Teggart, a dedicated PhD student at McMaster’s School of Nursing (SON). Over the past decade, she has shown excellence, innovation, and a strong commitment to improving patient care. Supported by her PhD committee members, including SON Associate Professor, Rebecca Ganann, SON Professor, Denise Bryant-Lukosius, and Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact Assistant Professor, Sarah Neil-Sztramko, Teggart is making strides in oncology nursing research. Her doctoral work is also supported by a Doctoral Research Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
In October 2024, Teggart received the Dr. Tracy Truant Memorial Scholarship from the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO). The prestigious scholarship is awarded annually to a CANO member who is pursuing doctoral studies in nursing or another field relevant to cancer care. The recipient is also someone who reflects the qualities Tracy exemplified, including leadership skills and a commitment to advancing oncology nursing.
Learn more about Teggart and her experiences, insights, and the inspirations that have shaped her remarkable journey in this Q&A.
What has your journey at McMaster been like? Why did you choose to attend McMaster for your undergrad and now your PhD?
McMaster has felt like home since the first time I toured the campus as a prospective undergrad over 12 years ago. I was drawn to the School of Nursing for its international reputation, focus on research, and problem-based learning approach. As a student in the BScN program from 2012-2016, I made lifelong friendships and was afforded so many unique opportunities to learn and grow. One of my instructors, Dr. Rebecca Ganann, knew I was interested in research and kindly provided several opportunities for me to become involved in research projects happening within the School of Nursing. When I started thinking about returning to McMaster for grad school, my prior experiences and existing relationship with Dr. Ganann made it a natural decision to begin the MSc Thesis program under her supervision in 2019. In 2020, I had the opportunity to transfer into the PhD program, and here I am!
Please tell me more about your PhD research and why you’re interested in it.
I discovered a passion for oncology nursing during my final consolidation placement and worked for several years as an RN in cancer care. My research interests have been directly influenced by these professional experiences, where I experienced firsthand the gaps that exist between research and practice. This inspired me to pursue graduate research with a focus on implementation science (moving research into practice) in an effort to improve the care that patients get for common and distressing cancer-related symptoms.
In my PhD research, I am partnering with patients with hematologic malignancies, their caregivers, oncology nurses, and organizational leaders using an experience-based co-design approach. The aim is to better understand and address these research-to-practice gaps in cancer symptom management delivery.
What does it mean to you to have received the Dr. Tracy Truant Memorial Scholarship award?
I am incredibly honoured to receive this award. Dr. Tracy Truant’s legacy impact on the oncology nursing community is unparalleled, and to be recognized in her memory is truly humbling. My PhD research would not be possible without the foundational contributions of Dr. Truant and her colleagues in the field of cancer symptom management. It was a privilege and highlight of my PhD journey to travel to St. John’s to receive this award and present some of my recently published research to a national audience at the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology conference.
Who is someone that inspires you? Why do they inspire you?
I am extremely inspired by the patients and caregivers who I have been fortunate enough to partner with in my research so far. Their commitment to improving the care and experiences of other individuals living with cancer, while navigating their own health challenges, is truly admirable.
What advice would you give to current nursing students at the university?
The options available to you are truly limitless, and the greatest opportunities are often the ones you don’t see coming. Nursing has opened so many doors for me and taken me places I never could have expected. Enjoy the journey!
Awards, Graduate Program, Research