As a medical anthropologist and PhD candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Montreal (UdeM), I conduct research on sociocultural and ethical aspects of care—particularly long-term and palliative care—and aging.
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I studied at the University of French Polynesia, specializing in Polynesian studies, before focusing my work on the (post-)pandemic socio-sanitary context (Living Through COVID-19 in Nursing Homes Project).
As part of my doctoral research, I am conducting the Caring Between Living and Dying Project, a multi-sited ethnography focused on the lived experiences of older residents, healthcare workers, managers, and family caregivers in long-term care institutions (CHSLDs and MDAs) in Québec. More specifically, my work examines the ethical, organizational, and relational issues that shape the dynamics, practices and moralities of care between life and the end of life.
Visit my Faculty profile or the Research section to learn more.
This research is supported by a Joseph-Armand Bombardier Doctoral Fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (BESC D - SSHRC), the Blanchard Family Chair in Palliative Care Teaching and Research, as well as the Alma Mater and J.A. DeSève Research Excellence Scholarships. I was also awarded a Master's to PhD Fast Track Scholarship and an Award of Excellence on COVID-19 and its Impacts to pursue this project.
Explore the Publications & Presentations section to listen to my talk on healthcare providers' moral distress in conflicted end-of-life situations in long-term care (Lajeunesse, 2026).
You will also find one of my articles on the ethical issues raised by pandemic decision-making practices related to the allocation of medical resources and the treatment of older adults, both in healthcare settings and at the societal level (Lajeunesse, 2022).
© 2025 Alizée Lajeunesse, all rights reserved.
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Research and Teaching
Alongside my anthropological research, my most recent work engages with the field of clinical and organizational ethics.
I currently serve as a research and policy consultant on practices related to advance requests for medical assistance in dying (MAID) with the Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers (CAMAP | ACEPA). I have also recently worked on the ethical dimensions of cancer care delivery and services in Québec (University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre).
I additionally hold a fellowship in the newly established Interinstitutional Research Program in Clinical and Organizational Ethics, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at UdeM, the Sainte-Justine University Hospital, and the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM).
The interinstitutional projects to which I contribute address contemporary ethical issues facing healthcare systems, as well as the ongoing development of clinical ethics as a field, with the aim of strengthening governance, practice, and the quality of interventions in clinical and organizational ethics.
From 2023 to 2026, I joined the Marguerite-d'Youville Research Chair in Humanistic Nursing Interventions (Faculty of Nursing and CRCHUM) to develop the interfaculty technosocial innovation project Inter-Aging+.
My research and teaching work in nursing sciences within the Chair is centred on the co-construction of a learning object repository (LOR) and the collaborative development of interprofessional health education on aging. Designed for health and social services professionals affiliated with the UdeM RUISSS network, this e-learning tool aims to deepen interprofessional collaboration and competencies while improving care for older adults and support for family caregivers across Québec.
Since 2021, I have been a guest lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Montreal, where I teach and lead various seminars in the graduate and undergraduate programs.
Introduction to the Anthropological Approach: Ethnology.
Anthropology, Society, Health: Care and Cure, Politics and Society.
Ethnology Seminar: Fieldwork Practices.
Anthropology, Society, Health: The Clinic as Social Space.
Anthropology of Ethics: Ethics of Care and Feminist Approaches.
Stay updated on my latest presentations and conferences by visiting the News section.
I offer consultancy, training and mentoring services in the fields of qualitative and ethnographic methods, and sociocultural and health anthropology. For a conference proposal or potential collaboration, please see the Contact section.
In parallel with my doctoral research, I have studied pediatric palliative and end-of-life care experiences in contexts of cultural diversity, as part of the End-of-Life Experiences in a Plural Montreal project (University of Montreal).
Visit the Publications section to read our article on end-of-life trajectories, trust, and perceived quality of care as reported by parents who accompanied their child through a serious illness (Fortin et al., 2023).
Using an ethnographic approach, I have explored the rehabilitation experiences of adults with occupational injuries as part of the Exploratory Study of Injured Workers' Care Experiences in Physiotherapy (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal - CRIR).
At the Sainte-Justine University Hospital, Canada's leading mother-and-child centre, I have also participated in research on pediatric psychosocial development within the i-Care Longitudinal Study (Interuniversity Research Group on Psychosocial Maladjustment in Children - GRIP).
Throughout my academic journey, I have also held various research, teaching, and coordination roles at the School of Kinesiology, the School of Social Work, and the college level.
Service and Commitments
Over the past few years, I have assumed various positions within the University of Montreal community, including at the Student Services Office, Communications, Events and Public Relations Office, Philanthropy Development and Alumni Relations Office, Faculty of Music, and Cultural Activities Office.
I have served as a mentor for the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program and the University of Montreal Student Mentorship Program. Committed to addressing ageism and socio-sanitary inequalities, I have volunteered as a caregiver, supporting isolated and marginalized older adults through the Volunteer Action Center des Moulins.
© 2025 Alizée Lajeunesse, all rights reserved.
On a more personal note, I am particularly committed to advocating for neuroinclusion and mental health, as well as for women's health rights and interests, in both academic and societal spheres.
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