University of Calgary

Gina Dimitropoulos

  • Associate Professor
  • Clinical Practice
  • Disabilities
  • Family Therapy
  • Group Work
  • Mental Health

Currently Teaching

Not currently teaching any courses.

Profile

Gina Dimitropoulos joined the Faculty of Social Work as an Assistant Professor in 2015 and was appointed as Associate Professor in 2019.  She has over 20 years of clinical experience in both tertiary care and community based settings delivering family based treatments, group therapy and individual counselling for adolescents and adults with mental health issues. She teaches graduate level clinical and research courses.  Gina also has extensive research experience in various methodologies including randomized controlled trials, mixed methods, health services research and qualitative research.

Her research is in the area of youth and emerging adults with mental health concerns, chronic health conditions and trauma. She brings expertise in developing and testing interventions in youth and family peer support, patient navigation and care coordination for transitioning adolescents to the continuum of adult services with a focus on youth involved with multiple systems including justice and child protection services. 

Gina is involved in research to identify the longitudinal impact of child maltreatment and child pornography on the psycho-social development of children and adolescents. 

Finally, she is the research lead for the Calgary Eating Disorder Program where she is involved in overseeing national and international studies on family based interventions for adolescents with a range of eating disorders including typical and atypical anorexia nervosa. 

Research and Scholarly Activity:

  • Studying adolescent and transition-aged youth with mental health issues and complex health needs
  • Development and evaluation of family based treatments for eating disorders 
  • Clinical and community trials for youth with mental health, disabilities and chronic health conditions
  • Identifying barriers and facilitators to investigating and supporting children who have been affected by child sexual abuse material and online sexual exploitation 
  • Building knowledge of social work practice in the context of the health care setting and interdisciplinary teams

Current Research

Current projects include a clinical trial comparing a navigator service to treatment as usual for young people with complex health needs; clinical trials on family based interventions for adolescents and young adults with eating disorders; and. longitudinal studies on risk and resiliency associated with child maltreatment and exposure to child pornography. 

Education

Doctor of Social Work (PhD), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

Master of Social Work (MSW), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario

Professional and Community Associations

Gina is a registered social worker in Alberta. She is also a Clinical Fellow and supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and a Certified Family Therapist and Supervisor with the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders.   

Gina is cross appointed with the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Pediatrics. She also a full member of the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and Alberta Children’s Research Institute. Gina is also a core member of both the Strategic Clinical Network for Addictions and Mental Health and the Alberta Research Hub.   She is also on the Board for the Eating Disorder Association of Canada.

Grants and Awards

Awards: Selected Grants since 2015

Mackie, A (co-PI), Marelli, (co-PI), Brophy, J., Dimitropoulos, G., Fournier, A., Harris, K.,  Klarenbach, S., Kovacs, A., McCrindle, B.,  Woodgate, R., Yaskina, M., Zwicker, J. (2019-2023). The Impact of an Innovative eHealth Transition Intervention on Self-Management Skills Among Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease. Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). $959,384.

Samuel, S., Seidel, J., Chomistek, C. (PIs), Schraeder, K., Bakal, J., Dimitropoulos, G., Mackie, A., McBrien, K., Nettel-Aguirre, A., Pacaud, D., Patten, S., Reid, G., Scott, C., Zwicker, J., Arnold, P., Bahler, B., Jennings, J., Ryan, L., Thul, D. (2019-2021). Evaluating the Impact of Primary Care Patient-Provider Relationships on Emergency Department Utilization by Adolescents and Young Adults with Chronic Conditions. Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Operating Grant: Transitions in Care – Evaluation Grant. $81,572. 

Malla, A. (PI), Bokas, P., Iyer, S. N., Joobar, R., Shaw, J., Dimitropoulos, G., & Arnold, P. (Co-Is). (2019-2020) Developing, Implementing and Evaluating a Model of Youth Mental Health Services Transformation ACCESS Canada-ACCESS-Adolescent/young adult connections to community driven, early, strength-based and stigma free services. Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).$1,000,000.

Munce, S., Andrew, G., Arbour-Nicitopoulos, K., Bayley, M., Chan, B., Curran, C., Dimitropoulos, G., Hartman, L., Huang, L., Kastner, M., Kingsnorth, S., Mccormick, A., Nelson, M., Nicholas, D., Penner, M., Perrier, L., Thompson, L., Toulany, A., Woo, A., Zee, J. (2019-2020). Identification and Prioritization of Transitional Care Interventions (TCIs) for Adolescents and Young Adults with Childhood onset Disabilities. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) $99 333. 

Dimitropoulos, G. (PI). Scott, C (CoPI) MacNeil,L., Iyer, S., Henderson, J., Clements, R., Jones, S., Christie, R., Hayes, F., Raimundo, A., Allemang, B., Cullen, O., Parker, N., Taplin, D., Campbell, A., Phillips, K., Markoff, N., Schipper, E., Hayes, D. (2019-2020). A critical review of youth peer support models across the continuum of integrated mental health services. NCE-IKTP Youth mental Health (“Frayme”). 

Collin-Vézina, D.(PI)., Alaggia, R., Arnold, P., Berthelot, N., Daigneault, I., Dimitropoulos, G., Fallon, B., Geoffrion, S., Godbout, N., Gonzales, A., Lafortune, D., Lanctôt, N., Laurier, C; Pearson, J., MacLaurin, B., MacKenzie, M., MacMillan, H., Madigan, S., Maurer, K., Milne, L., Milot, T., Nixon, K., Romano, E., Stewart, S., Tarabulsy, G., Turcotte, M., Wekerle, C.(Co-Is).,Gabriel, W.,Geboe, B., Lwin, K., Rodger, S., Runtz, M., Whalen, C., Wathen, N. Canadian Consortium on Child Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care: Developing cohesive intersectoral practices and policies to support trauma-impacted children and youth – Letter of Intent. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) – Partnership Grants Phase. $20,000. 

Dimitropoulos, G. (PI), MacNeil, L (PI), Schraeder, K. (2018-2020).The role of peer support in the emergency department for youth and their families: Navigation to community and specialized mental health services. Alberta Health Services Addiction & Mental Health Strategic Clinical Networks. $134,350. 

Nicolas, D., Dimitropoulos, G. (Co-PI). (2018). Integrated Navigational Support for Children with Developmental Disability and Mental Health Issues, Valuing Mental Health, Policy Wise for Children and Families. $761,175.

Samuel, S., Mackie, A., Dimitropoulos, G. (Co-PI), Nettel-Aguirre, A., Klarenbach, S., Pacaud, D., Lang, E., Andrew, G., Guilcher, G., Zwaigenbau, L., Pinzon, J. Hamiwka, L., & Scott, S. (Co-Is). (2017-2020). The transition navigator trial: Evaluating a patient navigator service to improve transition to adult health services for youth and young adults with chronic health conditions.  Health Outcomes Improvement Fund, Maternal Child and Youth Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services. $375,000

Arnold, P., Binford, W., Dimitropoulos, G., McMaster, F., & Pfeffer, G. (2016-2019). Impact of child sexual abuse: Identifying biological and psychosocial predictors of risk and resilience. Special Award from Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education. $500,000.

Arnold, B., Dimitropoulos, G., & Patten, S. (Co-PI Mental Health Neuro-team). (2016-2018). Mental health and school success: a pilot study of an adolescent population, Brain and Mental Health Strategic Research Fund Program. $247,800.

Publications from 2015-Present

Samuel, S., Dimitropoulos, G., Schraeder, K., Klarenbach, S., Nettel-Aguirre, A., Guilcher, G., Pacaud, D., Pinzon, J., Lang, E., Andrew, G., Zwaigenbaum, L., Scott, S., McBrien, K., Hamiwka, L., Mackie, A.S. (accepted). A pragmatic trial evaluating the effectiveness of a patient navigator to decrease emergency room utilization in transition age youth with chronic conditions: The Transition Navigator Trial. BMJ Open, n/a.

Dimitropoulos, G., Lock, J.,Agras, W.S., Brandt, H., Halmi, K., Jo, B.,…Woodside, D.(2019). Therapist adherence to family-based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa: A multi-site exploratory study. European Eating Disorders Review, 1-11. doi:10.1002/erv.2695

Dimitropoulos, G., Morgan-Maver, E., Allemang, B., Schraeder, K., Scott, S., Pinzon, J.,…Samuel, S. (2019). Health care stakeholder perspectives regarding the role of a patient navigator during transition to adult care.  BMC Health Services Research, 19(1), 1-10. doi:10.1186/s12913-019-4227-6  

Dimitropoulos, G., Landers, A., Freeman, V., Novick, J., Schmidt, U., Olmsted, M. (2019). A feasibility study comparing a web-based intervention to a workshop intervention for caregivers of adults with eating disorders. European Eating Disorders Review, 1-14. doi:10.1002/erv.2678

Schraeder, K., Nettel-Aguirre, A., Mackie, A., Barrett, O., Johnson, D. W., Ryan, A. R., & Dimitropoulos, G. (2019). Identifying a retrospective cohort of adolescents with chronic health conditions from a pediatric hospital prior to transfer to adult care—The Calgary transition cohort.  BMJ Open, 9(5), 1-8. DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027045

Dimitropoulos, G., Kimber, M., Singh, M., Williams, E., Loeb, K., Hughes, E.,…Le Grange, D. (2019). Stay the course: Practitioner reflections on implementing family-based treatment with adolescents with atypical anorexia. Journal of Eating Disorders. 7(1), 1-11. doi:10.1186/s40337-019-02420-8

Fulton, A.E, Dimitropoulos, G., Ayala, J., McLaughlin, A.M, Baynton, M.E., Blaug, C., … Ragan, E. (2019) Role- playing: A strategy for practicum preparation for foundation year MSW students.  Journal of Teaching in Social Work 39(2), 163-180. doi:10.1080/08841233.2019.1576573

Tkachuk, M., Russell-Mayhew, S., Kassan, A., Dimitrolpoulos, G. (2019). Adapting Descriptive psychological phenomenology to include dyadic interviews: Practical considerations for data analysis.  The Qualitative Report. 24(2), 352-370.

Kimber, M., McTavish, J.R., Luo, C., Couturier, J., Dimitropolous, G., MacMillan, H. (2019). Mandatory reporting of child maltreatment when delivering family-based treatment for eating disorders: A framework analysis of practitioner experiences. Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol. 88, 118-128. doi:10.1016-j.chiabu.2018.11.010

Ladhani, S., Cullen, 0., Dawes, N., & Dimitropoulos, G. (2019).  Transitioning to adulthood. A glance at the education system. Children and youth services review, Vol. 96, 100-107. doi:10.1016-j.childyouth.2018.11.024

Astrachan-Fletcher, E., Accurso, E., Rossman, S.M., McClanahan, S., Dimitropoulos, G., Le Grange D. (2018). An exploratory study of challenges and successes of implementing a dialectical behavior therapy skills-enhanced family based treatment in a community setting. Journal of Eating Disorders. 6(44). doi:10.1186/s40337-018-0228-9

Kimber, M., Dimitropoulos, G., Williams, E., Singh, M., Loeb, K., Hughes, E.,…Vyver, E. (2018) Tackling mixed messages: Practitioner reflections on working with adolescents with atypical anorexia and their families. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, Vol. 11, 1-17. doi:10.1080/10640266.2018.1542888

Dimitropoulos, G., Freeman, V., Landers, A. (2018). Family-based treatment for transition age youth: The role of expressed emotion and general family functioning. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, 1-17. doi:10.1080/10640266.2018.1529472

Basterfield, A., Dimitropoulos, G., Bills, D., Cullen, O., Freeman, E.V. (2018) “I would love to have online support but I don’t trust it:” Positive and negative views of technology from the perspective of those with eating disorders in Canada.  Health and Social Care in the Community. 26(4), 604-612. doi:10.1111/hsc.12557

Madigan, S. Villani, V., Azzopardi, C., Laut, D., Smith, T., Temple, J., Browne, D., Dimitropoulos, G. (2018). The prevalence of unwanted online sexual exposure and solicitation amongst youth: A meta-analysis. Journal of Adolescent Health. 63(2), 133-141. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.03.012

Dimitropoulos, G., Landers, A., Freeman, V.E., Novick, J., Cullen, O., Engelberg, M.,  Steineger, C., and & Le Grange, D. (2018). Family-Based Treatment for Transition Age Youth: Parental Self-Efficacy and Caregiver Accommodation. Journal of Eating Disorders, 6(13), 1-11. doi:10.1186/s40337-018-0196-0   

Williams E.P., Moules, N. Mayhew, S.H. Dimitropoulos, G.(2018). Not quite this and not quite that: anorexia nervosa, counselling psychology and hermeneutic inquiry in a tapestry of ambiguity. Journal of Applied Hermeneutics. 1-19. doi:10.11575/jah.v0i0.53321

McKillop, A., McCrindle, B., Dimitropoulos, G., & Kovas, A. (2018). Physical activity perceptions and behaviours among young adults with congenital heart disease: a mixed method study. Congenital Heart Disease Journal. 13(2), 232-240. doi:10.1111/chd.12553

Dimitropoulos, G., Landers, A., Freeman, V., Novick, J., Garber A., & Le Grange, D. (2018). Open trial of family-based treatment of anorexia nervosa for transition age youth. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 27(1), 50-61.

McLuckie, A., Matheson, K., Landers, A. L., Landine, J., Novick, J., Barrett, T., & Dimitropoulos, G. (2018). The relationship between psychological distress and perception of emotional support in medical students and residents and implications for educational institutions. Academic Psychiatry. 42(1), 41-47. doi:10.1007/s40596-017-0800-7

Kimber, M., McTavish, J., Couturier, J., Boven,A., Gill S., Dimitropoulos, G.,&MacMillan, H. L. (2017). Consequences of childhood emotional abuse, emotional neglect and exposure to intimate partner violence for eating disorders: A systematic critical review.  BMC Psychology 5(33), 33-51. doi:10.1186/s40359-017-0202-3

Ragan, E., & Dimitropoulos, G. (2017). A critical look at food security in social work: Applying the socio-ecological lens.  Journal of Undergraduate Research in Alberta (JURA), 6, 40-50.

Edwards, K. R., Mendolwitz, S., Jackson, E., Champigny, C., Specht, M., Arnold, P., Gorman, D., & Dimitropoulos, G. (2017). A qualitative exploration of the experience of children and adolescents with Tourette Syndrome. Journal of Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26(1), 39-44.

Petruik, C., Freeman, V. E., McGillicuddy, P., & Dimitropoulos, G. (2017). Perceptions of health care social workers in Ontario: The importance of reflective practice.  Reflective Practice Leader, 18(3), 339-357. doi:10.1080/14623943.2017.1279135

Dimitropoulos, G., McCallum, L., Colasanto, M., Freeman,V. E., & Gadalla, T. (2016). The effects of stigma on recovery attitudes in people with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) in intensive treatment. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders, 204(5), 370-380. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000480

Dimitropoulos, G., & Freeman, V. E. (2015). The perceptions of individuals with anorexia nervosa regarding their family’s understanding of their illness, treatment and recovery. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 1-8. doi:10.1080/10640266.2015.1090870

Dimitropoulos, G., Freeman, V. E., Muskat, S., Domingo, A., & McCallum, L. (2015). You don’t have Anorexia, you just want to look like a celebrity: Perceived stigma in individuals with anorexia nervosa. Journal of Mental Health, 25(1), 47–54. doi:10.3109/09638237.2015.1101422

Dimitropoulos, G., Herschman, J., Toulany, A., & Steinegger, C. (2015). Qualitative study on the challenges associated with accepting familial support from the perspective of transition age youth with eating disorders. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 24(3), 255-270. doi:10.1080/10640266.2015.1064276

Dimitropoulos, G., Freeman, V. E., Lock, J., & Le Grange, D. (2015). Clinician perspective on parental empowerment in family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Journal of Family Therapy (Online), 39(4), 537-562. doi:10.1111/1467-6427.12086

Dimitropoulos, G., Farquhar, J. C., Freeman, V. E., Colton, P., & Olmsted, M. (2015). Pilot study comparing multi-family therapy to single family therapy for adults with anorexia nervosa in an intensive eating disorder program.  European Eating Disorder Review, 23(4), 294-303. doi:10.1002/erv.2359

Dimitropoulos, G., Freeman V. E., Allemang, B., Couturier, J., McVey, G., Lock, J., & LeGrange, D. (2015). Family-based treatment with transition age youth with anorexia nervosa: A qualitative summary of application in clinical practice.  Journal of Eating Disorders, 3(1), 1-13. doi:10.1186/s40337-015-0037-3

Dimitropoulos, G., Toulany, A., Herschman, J., Kovacs, A., Steinegger, C., Bardsley, J.,…Kaufman, M. (2015). A qualitative study on the experiences of young adults with eating disorders transferring from pediatric to adult care. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 23(2), 144-62. doi:10.1080/10640266.2014.976106

MacDonald, D. E., Dimitropoulos, G., Royal, S., Polanco, A., & Dionne, M. M. (2015). The family fat talk questionnaire: Development and psychometric properties of a measure of fat talk behaviours within the family context. Body Image. 12(1), 44-52. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.10.001

Khabarov, D., Dimitropoulos, G., & McGillicuddy, P. (2015). Qualitative study: Exploring the experiences of family caregivers within an inpatient neurology and neurosurgery hospital setting. Health & Social Work, 40(4), 290-297. doi:10.1093/hsw/hlv057 

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