Rate My Professor Barry Bultz

Dr. Barry D. Bultz serves as Conjoint Professor in the School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, at the University of Newcastle, Australia, a position he has held since 2017. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from United States International University in 1974, M.A. in Counselling Psychology from Pasadena College in 1971, and B.A. in Psychology from Concordia University in 1969. Bultz's distinguished career spans over four decades in psychosocial oncology. At the University of Calgary, he was Professor and Head of the Division of Psychosocial Oncology in the Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, until appointed Professor Emeritus in Oncology and Psychiatry in 2024. He founded and directed the Department of Psychosocial Oncology at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre starting in 1982, held the Daniel Family Leadership Chair in Psychosocial Oncology from 2016, and served as Program Leader in Supportive, Pain, and Palliative Care from 2005 to 2017. Earlier roles included clinical psychologist positions at Douglas Hospital, Nova Scotia Hospital, Dalhousie University, and Concordia University from 1972 to 1981.

Bultz's research specializations focus on psychosocial oncology, with pioneering work on implementing distress screening as the sixth vital sign in cancer care. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and 25 book chapters, including 'From foundation to inspiration: Implementing screening for distress (6th vital sign) for optimal cancer care – international leadership perspectives on program development' (2021, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice), 'Lessons learned about virtual cancer care and distress screening in the time of COVID-19' (2021, Supportive Care in Cancer), 'The effectiveness of a men-only supportive expressive therapy group intervention for psychosocial health outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer patients' (2021, Health and Quality of Life Outcomes), 'Integration of Psychosocial Oncology Services into Urological Practice: Pro: The Psycho-Oncologist—A Critical Role in a Cancer Center Survivorship Program' (2020, European Urology Focus), and 'Progress toward integrating Distress as the Sixth Vital Sign' (2019, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice). Known as the 'Father of the 6th Vital Sign,' his influence is evident in leadership roles: co-founder and Past President of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (1985, President 2001-2003), President of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (2012-2014, President Emeritus 2018), and Invited Director of the Board for the American Psychosocial Oncology Society. Major honors include Officer of the Order of Canada (2021), Alberta Order of Excellence (2016), Arthur M. Sutherland Award (2016), Fellow of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (2017, first non-American), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022), and Honorary Life Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association (2022).