Recent Research | Previous Research |Reports and Presentations
Recent Research
The purpose of my Doctoral research was to explore how paramedics in Western society maintain positive psychological well-being despite their demanding work, examining the interplay of their narrative identity, spirituality, worldviews, and social connections. Utilising a constructivist framework of narrative identity, transformational learning, and posttraumatic growth, I investigated how these professionals make sense of their realities, adjust their worldviews, and grow from distressing experiences. My overarching research questions examined how paramedics describe their identity, navigate workplace challenges, utilize spirituality and social connections to cope, and experience transformation. The findings suggest that while professional identity is anchored in clinical competence, it is deeply shaped by unexpected human connections. Furthermore, paramedics navigate difficult calls through compartmentalisation—focusing on skills and directives while keeping emotional connection at a distance—yet they rely on informal support and both secular and religious spirituality to cope, ultimately living with an ongoing tension between emotional distance and recognising the person behind the patient as they continue to grow.
A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree:
Doctor of Education, Department of Community Care and Counseling,
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Wolff, D. E. (2026). Anchored in the Shifting Tides: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study of Paramedic Resilience and Worldviews. Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8482. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8482
My focus of study in my Master's journey was transformational learning, critical thinking, and critical reflection.
My Master's research was to analyse how critical thinking skills and critical reflection skills are used to cope with stress and the general ability to deal with complex crises, ultimately becoming a resilience strategy. To summarise my current beliefs arising from my own life experience and formal, non-formal and informal learning, our critical thinking ability influences our personal resilience and has the potential to effect transformational learning experiences resulting in posttraumatic growth, and personal growth and development. The overarching questions are, what role does transformational learning play in resiliency? Can people become self-directed transformational learners, thus building personal resiliency?
My Research Report for partial fulfillment of the MAdEd at STFX:
Research Report
A new perspective on continuing mental health education. A case study on how reflective practice can improve resilience in paramedics.
My Research Proposal, including an updated but summarised literature review, can be viewed in its entirety here:
My original literature review can be viewed in its entirety here:
Published Reports and Conference Presentations
Click on the links below to review published papers, reports, and conference presentations I have written, co-written, or been involved with (close the pop-up window to return to davidwolff.ca).
Paramedic Stress and Resiliency
Wolff, D. (2026). Sharing strategies on how to improve paramedic wellness: A critical review [Keynote presentation]. OPAWC CoP Forum: Revisiting Your PTSD Prevention Plans. Refining and Evolving for Today’s Challenges. May 28, 2026. Stouffville, ON.
Wolff, D. (2026). Beyond the broken narrative [Oral presentation]. Canadian Paramedic Research Day, May 21, 2026.
Wolff, D. & Tavares, C. (2024). Sharing strategies on how to improve paramedic wellness. Canadian Paramedicine, 47(5). 26-37.
Wolff, D. (2023). Trauma, soul wounds, and PTSD. Canadian Paramedicine. 2023: 46(2). 20-27
Wolff, D. (2021). It's Okay to be Okay: The Implications of a Reflexive Practice on Paramedic Resiliency [Oral presentation]. Canadian Critical Incident Stress Virtual Congress, Apr 13-15. 2021.
Wolff, D. (2020). Recommendations for a resilient workforce: How to foster a reflective practice [Oral presentation]. Canadian Critical Incident Stress Congress, Nov 24-25, 2020.
Wolff, D. (2020). Paramedics don’t always develop PTSD: Emerging data on how paramedics prepare for and process their day to day critical stressors experienced on the Job. Antistasis, 10(1), 69-84. https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/antistasis/article/view/30406
Wolff, D. (2019). Recommendations for a resilient workforce: How to foster a reflective practice as a resiliency strategy. Canadian Paramedicine, 2019; 43(1). 11-13.
Wolff, D. (2019). Paramedics don't develop PTSD! Canadian Paramedicine, 2019; 42(4):30-32
Wolff, D. (2019). A new perspective on continuing mental health education: A case study on how reflective practice can improve resilience in paramedics [Oral presentation]. Qualitative Health Research Conference, Vancouver, BC. Oct. 26-29, 2019. Abstract (In Conference Proceedings).
Wolff, D. (2019). A new reality: How early guided experiential learning in critical reflection can influence lifelong paramedic resilience and transformations [Poster presentation]. CASAE East 2019 Conference, Halifax, NS. Oct 17-19, 2019. Abstract (In Conference Proceedings).
Wolff, D. (2019). A new perspective on continuing mental health education: A case study on how reflective practice can improve resilience in paramedics [Poster presentation]. Paramedics Across Canada Expo (PACE), Winnipeg, MB, Sept 19, 2019. Abstract (In Conference Proceedings).
Wolff, D. (2019). Paramedics don’t always develop PTSD: Emerging data on how paramedics prepare for, and process their day to day critical stressors experienced on the job [Oral presentation]. Atlantic Education Graduate Student Conference, Fredericton, NB. July 13, 2019.
Wolff, D. (2019). A new perspective on continuing mental health education: A case study on how reflective practice can improve resilience in paramedics [Poster presentation]. 38th CASAE Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC. June 4, 2019. Abstract (In Conference Proceedings)
Wolff, D. (2018). An Adult Educator’s Role in Building PTSD Resiliency in First Responders [Poster presentation]. Qualitative Health Research Conference, Halifax, NS. Oct. 26-29, 2018. Abstract (In Conference Proceedings)
Wolff, D. (2018). Psychological health and safety: The role of an adult educator in building resiliency in First Responders. Canadian Paramedicine. 2018; 41(5). 39-40.
Field of Community Paramedicine
Black, D., Cremin, D., Greenaway, J., Listenmaa, M., Prevost,, C., Nixon, J., Ritchie, S., Sherman, J., & Wolff, D. (2016). Developing a sustainable model of community paramedicine for Northern Ontario, Canada: Lessons learned [Poster presentation]. Faculty of Health Conference, Laurentian University December 7, 2016
Black, D., Cremin, D., Greenaway, J., Listenmaa, M., Prevost, C., Nixon, J., Ritchie, S., Sherman, J., & Wolff, D. (2016). Developing a sustainable model of community paramedicine for Northern Ontario, Canada: Lessons learned [Poster presentation]. International Roundtable on Community Paramedicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan June 2-5, 2016
The Cochrane and Manitoulin-Sudbury Joint Community Paramedicine Program: Final Evaluation Report