Karen Lok Yi Wong is a Liu Scholar and a Ph.D. student at the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Social Work. She received her MA in social policy at the University of York, the United Kingdom and Master of Social Work at UBC, Canada.
Karen’s research interests include ageing and technology, stigma on people living with dementia, and ageing and cultural and language diversity. She researched and analyzed policies in Canada, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. She published and presented widely academically and professionally. She was interviewed by radio and press media on her research. She will be mentored by Dr. Heidi Tworek (SPPGA; History).
Apart from the Liu Scholars program, she is also affiliated with Simon Fraser University Science and Technology for Aging Research (STAR) Institute as a research scholar, the University of British Columbia Centre for Research on Personhood in Dementia (CRPD) as a research assistant, and Innovation for Dementia and Aging (IDEA) Lab as a project manager. She has been invited as the reviewer of academic and professional journal articles, conference presentation abstracts and community project proposals.
Karen is a registered social worker in British Columbia, Canada and has been practicing in diverse settings related to older adults such as community senior services centre, long-term care, and geriatric acute care. She is the recipient of the Inspiring Social Worker of the Year in British Columbia 2021. She also serves in the Seniors Community of Practice and Anti-racist and Actions Committee of the British Columbia Association of Social Workers. She is a long-term volunteer of Alzheimer’s Society BC as a family support group facilitator and educator.