Laura MacGregor

In 2019, I successfully defended my PhD dissertation in Human Relationships at Martin Luther University College-Wilfrid Laurier University. I also completed an MA at Luther, in 2011, when it was known as Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.

I started my professional life as an occupational therapist, completing a BSc(OT) at the University of Toronto in 1990 and a MSc at Western University in 1995.

Feel free to view my Meet the Prof @LutherWaterloo video.

I am a qualitative researcher at heart. I believe our lived experiences often form the core of some of our most profound questions.

My research focuses on the lived experiences of extreme caregivers: specifically mothers and parents of complex-care children. My MA work explored the spiritual journeys of parents of medically fragile children, with a particular emphasis on the theological challenges and parental need for pastoral care.

My doctoral work explored the interconnection between mothers and children and how this interrelationship informed maternal caregiving decisions. My work is interdisciplinary in nature, often engaging theology, phenomenology, and health sciences.

• 2021 — MacGregor, Laura; Jorgenson, Allen. Research project grant for Beyond Saints and Superheroes: A Phenomenological Study of the Spiritual Care Needs of Parents Raising Children with Disabilities. Louisville Institute.
• 2019 — Academic Excellence Award, Martin Luther University College.
• 2019 — The Richard L. Crossman Memorial Award for Work in Christian Ethics, Martin Luther University College.
• 2016 — Keynote Address, Professional Pinning Ceremony,School of Occupational Therapy, Western University.
• 2012-2013 — Ontario Graduate Scholarship.
• 2011 — Charlotte and Otto W. Heick Memorial Award in Systematic Theology, Martin Luther University College.
• 2011 — Academic Excellence Award, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.
• 2011 — Gold Medallist, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.

• MacGregor, Laura (2021). "A Present Absence: The Spiritual Paradox of Parenting a Medically Complex Child." The Canadian Journal of Theology, Mental Health and Disability https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cjtmhd/article/view/36909
• MacGregor, Laura (2021). "Mingled bodies and voices: Maternal Reflections on Caregiver Expertise and Intellectual Disability." Journal of Intellectual Disabilities.  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17446295211009339
• MacGregor, Laura (2021).  "Embodied Spirituality:  Maternal Reflections on the Intellectualization of Worship and the Embodied Worship of People with Intellectual Disabilities." Canadian Journal of Theology, Mental Health and Disability. https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cjtmhd/article/view/35012/27480
• MacGregor, Laura, "Blurred lines: A phenomenological study of maternal-child interconnection." (2019). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 2217. https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2217
• MacGregor, L. (Summer, 2019). A chaos story: How faith communities can support overwhelmed caregivers. The United Church of Canada: Mandate.
• MacGregor, L & Martin, J. (April, 2018). "Hello from the other side: Parental reflections on the patient-parent, family physician triadic relationship." Canadian Family Physician Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) S76-S78 https://www.cfp.ca/content/64/Suppl_2/S76 

• Caregiving
• Disability and theology
• Qualitative research