Richard Hovey
Dr. Hovey is an Associate Professor in the Division of Oral Health and Society with the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, 㽶Ƶ; as well as an Adjunct Professor in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
Research Interests
Dr. Hovey has defined expertise in bridging gaps between theory and practice in areas such as patient centered care and communication in healthcare. His research approach utilizes applied philosophical hermeneutics and phenomenology in strengthening our understanding of the experiences of vulnerable and underserved populations. such as those living with chronic illness, cancer, disability, or the affects of medically induced trauma. Topics of interest include patient and health professional education, communication, leadership, and interdisciplinary practice.
MA (McGill) 1989
PhD (Calgary) 2007
- Qualitative research
- Patient centred care
- Chronic illness
- Cancer Experiences
- Medical Education / Communication
Dr. Richard B. Hovey’s Teaching 2023 |
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Course |
Engagement |
Credit Weight |
Time Teaching / without preparation included |
Winter 2023 |
|
*DENT 406 Ethics and Jurisprudence |
Course Director |
0.5 |
10 hours |
Fall/Winter 2023 |
|
DENT 310 Clinical Practice/Junior Clerkship (1.33 credits) |
Lecturer |
1.5 |
2 hours |
Winter 2023 |
|
DENT 305- Dental Public Health |
Co-Course Director |
1.0 |
21 hours |
Winter 2023 |
|
DENT 224Transition to Clinic |
Lecturer |
1.5 |
1.5 hour |
Winter 2023 |
|
DENT 625- Applied Qualitative Health Research |
Lecturer |
3.0 |
2 hours |
Winter 2023 |
|
DENT 665 - Leadership and Management Skills in Research |
Co-Course Director |
1.0 |
15 hours |
Winter 2023 |
Hovey, R. (2024). Teaching Empathy Through Qualitative Research in Dental & Medical Health Promotion Education: A Snapshot. Creative Education, 15, 1921-1929.
Vigouroux, M. & Hovey, RB. (2024).Gadamerian Hermeneutics and Feminist Thought: Exploring Preunderstandings to Uncover Experiences of Prejudice. International Journal of Qualitative Methods Volume 23: 1–9. DOI: 10.1177/1609406924127895.
Gogovor, A., Hunt, M., Hovey, R., & Ahmed, S. (Submitted). Patients’ Experiences Participating within an Interdisciplinary Primary Care Program for Low Back Pain. Manuscript submitted for publication in the Journal of Patient Experiences.
Hovey, R. (2024) SURROUNDED BY TEXT: An exploration of a life narrative through pain and cancer Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine | Copyright ©2024 ISSN 2766-628X
Hovey, RB. Encountering chemotherapy 2.0. CMAJ August 08, 2023, 195 (30) E1014-E1015; DOI:
Vigouroux M, Newman G, Amja K and Hovey RB (2023) “He told me my pain was in my head”: mitigating testimonial injustice through peer support. Front. Pain Res. 4:1125963. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1125963
Hovey RB. The Daily Grind of Living with Chronic Pain: An Applied Hermeneutic Exploration. Glob Qual Nurs Res. 2023 Jan 10;10:23333936221148591. doi: 10.1177/23333936221148591. PMID: 36644372; PMCID: PMC9834916
Sherif M. Elsaraj, Mervyn Gornitsky, Richard Hovey, Firoozeh Samim, Zovinar Der Khatchadourian & Ana Velly (2023) The contribution of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea on the transition from acute to chronic painful temporomandibular disorders, and its persistence: a prospective 3-month cohort study, Canadian Journal of Pain, DOI:
Adriana Angarita-Fonseca, Anaïs Lacasse, Manon Choinière, Jean-Luc Kaboré,Marie-Pierre Sylvestre, Gillis Delmas Tchouangue Dinkou, Julie Bruneau, Marc O. Martel, Richard Hovey, Aude Motulsky, Elham Rahme, M. Gabrielle Pagé.Trajectories of opioid consumption as predictors of patient-reported outcomes among individuals attending multidisciplinary pain treatment clinics. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2023;1‐18. doi:10.1002/ pds.5706
Vigouroux M, Newman G, Amja K and Hovey RB (2023)“He told me my pain was in my head”: mitigating testimonial injustice through peer support. Front. Pain Res. 4:1125963.doi: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1125963
Hovey RB. The Daily Grind of Living With Chronic Pain: An Applied Hermeneutic Exploration.Global Qualitative Nursing Research. 2023;10. doi:
Khalili-Mahani, N., Hovey, R. B., Mischkowski, D., eds. (2022). Qualitative pain research: Capturing and integrating cultural, social and linguistic data. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. doi: 10.3389/978-2-83250-995-1
Khalili-Mahani N, Mischkowski D and Hovey RB (2022) Editorial: Qualitative pain research: Capturing and integrating cultural, social and linguistic data.Front. Pain Res. 3:1082044.
doi: 10.3389/fpain.2022.1082044
Hovey RB, Pavate V and Vigouroux M (2022) Lives Penciled in, the Reality of Chronic Health Conditions and Trauma: Reflexivity, Health, and Shadowed Identities. Front. Pain Res. 3:903724. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2022.903724
Vigouroux, M, Amja, K, Bertolizio, G, Ingelmo, P, Hovey, R. Reflecting back to move forward: Lessons learned about COVID-19 safety protocols from pediatric anesthesiologists. Pediatr Anesth. 2022; 00: 1- 6. doi:
Hovey RB, Vigouroux M, Noushi N, Pavate V, Amja K. Applied Philosophical Hermeneutic Research: the unmethod. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. January 2022. doi:surgery: a pediatric patient perspective. Journal of Patient Experience.
Mandy M. J. Li, BSc, Cynthia L. Larche, BSc, Kelsey Vickers, BSc,Marie Vigouroux, PhD, Pablo M. Ingelmo, MD, Richard Hovey, PhD, Catherine E. Ferland, PhD. Experience and Management of the Adverse Effects of Analgesics After Surgery: A Pediatric Patient Perspective. Journal of Patient Experience. January 2022. doi:
Wafaa Safour, BDS, MSc; Richard Hovey, BEd, PhD: Advice for Dentists from Temporomandibular Disorder Patients: A Phenomenological Study: J Can Dent Assoc 2022; 88:m4. ISSN: 1488-2159.
Hovey RB. Enriching Clinical Encounters Through Qualitative Research. J Patient Exp. 2022 Feb 16;9:23743735221077536. doi: 10.1177/23743735221077536. PMID: 35187222; PMCID: PMC8855454.
Play the Pain: A Digital Strategy for Play-Oriented Research and Action, by Najmeh Khalili-Mahani, Eileen Holowka, Sandra Woods, Mathieu Roy, Myrna Lashley, Tristan Glatard, Rilla Khaled, Janis Timm-Bottos, Albert Dahan, Marieke Niesters, Richard Bruce Hovey, Bart Simon, Laurence J Kirmayer, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, section Digital Mental Health.
P. Malik, B. Ferraz dos Santos, F. Girard, R. Hovey, and C. Bedos. (2021) Physical Constraint in Pediatric Dentistry: The Lived Experience of Parents. JCT - JDR Clinical & Translational Research (Original report: Qualitative research) DOI: 10.1177/23800844211041952
Hovey, RB. (2021). Experiencing Cancer during a Pandemic: Reflections, Perspectives and Wagers with a Leap of Faith and Belief. Ars Medica. Feature Piece.
Amja, K., Vigouroux, M., Gabrielle Pagé M., and Hovey, RB. (2021).The Experiences of People Living with Chronic Pain During a Pandemic“Crumbling Dreams with Uncertain Futures”. Qualitative Health Research.
Safour, Wafaa and Hovey, Richard (2021) "Exploring mental health experience in individuals living with temporomandibular disorders," Patient Experience Journal: Vol. 8: Iss. 1, Article 18. DOI: 10.35680/2372-0247.1437
Hovey RB, Pavate V, Vigouroux M, Amja K. (2020). A reconceptualization of the negative self-stereotyping of the patient-partner to the introduction of the patient perspective consultant. Perm J 2020; 24:20.006. DOI:
Hovey RB, (2020) “Living with a Trifecta of Pain and Cancer with Personal Reflections of COVID-19”. Volume 7, Issue 5 of Journal of Patient Experience and is availableat
Hovey, Richard B. Dr.; Linkiewich, Delane Ms.; and Brachaniec, Mary Ms. (2020) "Chronic pain, vulnerability and human spirit while living under the umbrella of COVID-19," Patient Experience Journal: Vol. 7: Iss. 2, Article 8. DOI:
Richard B. Hovey, Charo Rodríguez, Steven Jordan (2020). Beyond Lecturing: An Introduction to Gadamer's Dialogical Hermeneutics with Insights into Health Professions Education. . Volume 6, Issue 4,
Sylliboy JR, Hovey RB. CMAJ. 2020 Jan 20;192(3):E70-E72. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.190754
Rachel Szwimer, Manuella Widjaja, Dr. Pablo Ingelmo, Dr. Richard Hovey. (2020). A phenomenological exploration of the personal implications of female adolescents living with chronic pain. J Pediatr Health Care. 34, 470-477.
Gabrielle M. Page ́; Anaıs Lacassec; the Quebec Back Pain Consortium (in alphabetical order):Nicolas Beaudetd, Manon Choiniere, Simon Deslauriersg, Luda Diatchenko, Laurent Dupuisd, Stephanie Gregoire, Richard Hovey, Erwan Leclaird,Guillaume Leonard,Carolina B. Melotoi, Francesca Montagna, Alexandre Parent, Pierre Rainville, Jean-Sebastien Roy, Mathieu Roy, Mark A. Ware, Timothy H. Wideman, Laura S. Stone. (2020). The Quebec Low Back Pain Study: a protocol for an innovative 2-tier provincial cohort. Pain Reports..
Richard B. Hovey, M.A. PhD, Rachel Szwimer, M.Sc., Mona Jillani, B.D.S, M.Sc., Manuella Widjaja, M.Sc. (2020). Philosophical Hermeneutics and Teaching through Behandlung: The Treatment and Handling of Patients with Care. Journal of Patient Experience.
Mark J. Yaffe, Richard B. Hovey & Charo Rodriguez. (2019). Use of patients’ unsolicited correspondence to a family doctor to describe and understand valued components of a doctor-patient relationship: A Hermeneutics approach. BMC Family Practice. 20:136
, . (2019). A Phenomenological Study About the Dietary Habits and Digestive Complications for People Living with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. Jun 24. doi: 10.11607/ofph.2302.
Oral healthcare experiences of humanitarian migrants in Montreal, Canada. (2019)., Belinda Nicolau, , Shahrokh Esfandiari, Franco Carnevale, . Canadian Journal of Public Health.DOI:
A qualitative study on the oral health of humanitarian migrants in Canada. (2019) Mark Keboa, Belinda Nicolau, Richard Hovey, Shahrokh Esfandiari, Franco Carnevale, Mary Ellen Macdonald. Community Dental Health Journal.doi: 10.1922/CDH_4455Keboa06
Hovey RB, Khayat VC, & Feig E. (2018) Listening to and letting pain speak: Poetic 2018, Vol 12(2) 95–103 reflections. British Journal of Pain.
Hovey, R. B., Seganathy, E., Morck, A., Phillips, M., Poulette, A., King, M., Macaulay, A. C., & Gruber, R. (2018). Understanding the sleep habits of children within an Indigenous community. IJIH, 13(1), 42 – 64. https;//doi.org/10.18357/ijih.v13i1.30279
Hovey RB, Khayat VC, Feig E. (2018). Cathartic poetry: Healing through narrative. Perm J 2018;22:17-196. . DOI: .
Hovey, RB. (2018) "The gift of pain with transformative possibilities," Patient Experience Journal: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 4. Available at: . ().
Keboa M, Beaudin J, Cyr J, Decoste J, Power F, Hovey RB, Lafrance L, Ouellet D, Wiseman M, & Macdonald ME. (2018). Dentistry and nursing working together to improve oral health care in a long-term care facility. .
Hovey RB. (2018). Serendipity meets Extemporarily: Soul of the Healer. Perm J: Fall Volume 22 Number 4. P60. .thepermanentejournal.org/issues/2018/fall/6825-serendipity-meets-extemporaneity.html
Salsberg J, Macridis S, Delormier T, Hovey RB, Andersson N, McComber AM, Macaulay AC (2018). Engaging communities to identify needs and develop solutions: Participatory research incorporates community voice in all aspects of health research decision-making. In N Arya & T Pigott (Eds.), Pursuing Health. Edmonton, AB: Athabasca University Press.
Hazaveh M, & Hovey RB. (2018). Patient Experience of Living with Orofacial Pain: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study. JDR Clinical & Translational Research.
Lachance J, Hovey RB, & Desbiens JF. (2018). Self-Transformations of Health Professionals in the Field. International Journal of Whole Person Care Vol 5, No 2. DOI:
Apelian N, Vergnes JN, Hovey RB, & Bedos C (2018). How can we provide person-centreddental care? British Dental Journal. 223(6), 419-424.
, , , , , , , B, , , , , . (2018). Assessing Dental Students' Readiness to Treat Populations That Are Underserved: A Scoping Review. May;82(5):483-491. doi: 10.21815/JDE.018.053.
Hovey R (2017). Occasionally a Patient: Always a Person (Perspective). Journal of PatientExperience, 1-2.doi: 10.1177/2374373517726074.
Murdoch-Flower J, Tremblay MC, Hovey R, Delormier T, Gray-Donald K, DelarondeE, Macaulay, AC. (2019). Understanding how Indigenous culturally-based interventions canImprove participants’ health in Canada. Health Promotion International. 2019 Feb 1;34(1):154-165. doi: 10.1093/heapro/dax059.
Hovey R, Seganathy E, Phillips M, Morck AC, Poulette A, King M, Macaulay, AC & Gruber(2018). Understanding the sleep habits of children within an Indigenous community.International Journal of Indigenous Health Research.
Kiessling C, Tsimtsiou Z, Essersc G, van Nuland M, Anvik T, Bujnowska-Fedak MM, Hovey R,Joakimsen R, Junod Perron N, Rosenbaum M, & Silverman J. (2017). General principles to consider when designing a clinical communication assessment program. Patient Education in Counselling. doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.03.027
Hovey R, Delormier T, McComber A, Martin D, & Levesque L (2017). Enhancing Indigenoushealth promotion research through two-eyed seeing: A relational process. Journal ofQualitative Health Research. doi: 10.1177/1049732317697948
Hovey R (2016). Cathartic narratives for chaotic thinking. Canadian Medical AssociationJournal. Humanities (Encounters)188(17-18), E543-545. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160831.Blogcast version:
Hovey R, Rodriguez R, Jordan S, & Morck AC (2016) Synergistic research in medicaleducation: Some philosophical reflections. Journal of Applied Hermeneutics. 2016, Article 9.
Hovey R, Delormier T, & McComber A (2014). Social-relational understandings of health andwell-being from an Indigenous perspective. International Journal of Indigenous Health, 10(1), 35-54. doi:
Hovey R, & Apelian N (2014). Is our incapacity for conversation a serious barrier to personcentred medicine? The International Journal of Person Centred Medicine, 4(1), 52-59. doi:
Hovey R. and Apelian N. (2014). Is our incapacity for conversation a serious barrier to person centred medicine? The International Journal of Person Centred Medicine. Vol. 4, Issue 1 pp 52-59.
Hovey RB, Delormier T, & McComber A. (2014). Social-relational understandings of health and well-being from an Indigenous perspective. International Journal of Indigenous Health.
Hovey RB & Natoli A. (2014). Working through disclosure and apology with the person and family: A humanizing approach to medical error. The European Journal of Person Centred Health Care, Vol. 2, No 3.
Rajeh M., Hovey R. and Esfandiari S. (2014) An Inquiry into Female Dentists’ Professional Lives and Concerns. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2, 121-129.
Hovey R (2014). “Where the word breaks off, no thing may be:” Testimony, research and hermeneutics. Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine, Spring 2014. Available online.
Hovey RB & Amir N (2013). The hermeneutics of suffering: Researching trauma. The International Journal of Person Centred Medicine, 3(2), 160-169.
Lévesque MC, Hovey RB & Bedos C (2013). Advancing patient-centered care through transformative educational leadership: A critical review of health care professional preparation for patient-centered care. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 5, 535-546.
Hovey R & Massfeller H (2012). Exploring the relational aspects of patient and doctor communication. Journal of Medicine and the Person, 10(2), 81-86.
Hovey, R., & Massfeller, H. (In press). Exploring the relational aspects of patient and doctor communication. Journal of Medicine and the Person.
Hovey, R., Cuthbertson, K., Birnie K., Thomas, B. C., Robinson, J., Massfeller, H., Ruether, J. D., & Scott, C. (2012). The influence of distress on knowledge transfer for men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. Journal of Cancer Education, doi 10.1007/s13187-012-0343-2
Hovey, R., & Craig, R. (2012). Learning to live with osteoporosis: A metaphoric narrative. Journal of Applied Hermeneutics, Article 3.
Hovey, R. (2012). Assessment in health promotion: Deconstruction and metaphoric considerations in a nutshell. In G. D. Gilmore (Ed.), Needs and Capacity Assessment Strategies for Health Education and Health Promotion (4th edition) (pp. 333-344).Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Hovey, R., & Craig, R. (2011). Understanding the relational aspects of learning with, from, and about the other. Nursing Philosophy, 12(2), 262-270. doi:10.1111/j.1466-769X.2011.00491.x
Hovey, R., Dvorak, M., Hatlie, M., Burton, T., Padilla, J., Worsham, S., & Morck, A. (2011). Patient safety: A consumer's perspective. Qualitative Health Research, 21(5), 662 - 672. doi: 10.1177/1049732311399779
Hovey, R., Morck A., Nettleton, S., Robin, S. Bullis, D., Findlay, A., & Massfeller, H. (2010). Partners in our Care: Patient Safety from a Patient Perspective. British Medical Journal: Quality Safety in Health Care, 19,1- 4. doi: 10.1136/qshc.2008.030908
Yen, W., Hovey, R., Hodwitz, K., & Zhang, S. (2010). Emotional intelligence (EI) meets the multiple mini-interview (MMI). Advances in Health Sciences Education, 16(1), 59-67. doi: 10.1007/s10459-010-9241-8
Hovey, R., & Paul, J. (2007). Healing, the patient narrative-story and the medical practitioner: A relationship to enhance care for the chronically ill patient. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 6(4), 53-66.
Hovey, R. (2007). “What does it mean to live with Osteoporosis?” Doctoral Dissertation. Graduate Division of Educational Research, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Calgary.
Bell, A, Dorsch, K.D., McCreary, D.R., & Hovey, R. (2004). Enhancing Performance? A Look at Nutritional Supplement Use in Adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 34, 508-516.