Merrill Tanner
Doctoral Candidate
Office: 3-48 CH (PhD mailbox)
Email: merrill.tanner@ualberta.ca
Background
BSc in Speech Pathology and Audiology, University of Alberta, 1979
MBA Healthcare Administration, University of Saskatchewan, 1982
BMus in Voice Performance, University of Alberta, 1987
MMus in Voice Performance, University of Alberta, 1989
Supervisor
Dr. Lili Liu
Research Interests
Voice, speech and swallowing disorders in Parkinson’s disease, the use of singing and vocalization therapies in speech, language and voice disorders.
Commenced PhD Program
September 2005
Publications
Tanner, Merrill; Liu, Lili; Campbell, Melanie; Warren, Sharon; Ratzlaff, Leonard and Rammage, Linda. (2011) Singing and Voice Therapy Combined: An Effective Group Vocalization Program for People with Parkinson’s Disease. Poster at Society for Arts in Healthcare, Burlingame, California, April 14 & 15, 2011.
Tanner, Merrill; Liu, Lili; Campbell, Melanie; Warren, Sharon; Ratzlaff, Leonard and Rammage, Linda. (2011) Voice Improvement Following A Singing and Vocalization Program for People with Parkinson’s Disease. Poster at the AD/PD International Congress, Barcelona, March 10 & 11, 2011.
Tanner, Merrill; Liu, Lili; Campbell, Melanie; Warren, Sharon; Ratzlaff, Leonard and Rammage, Linda. (2010) Quality of Life Improves for People with Parkinson’s Disease through Voice and Singing Therapy. Poster at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Annual Conference, December 4, 2010, Montreal.
Tanner, Merrill. (2008) Choirs for People with Parkinson’s Disease? Quires, The Alberta Choral Federation Newsletter. 33(1). 10-13.
Tanner, Merrill. (2008) Singing Therapy. In Tune, Words in Music, University of Alberta Department of Music Newsletter. 18(3)8.
Wiens, H., Campbell, M.M., & Tanner, M. (2007). The benefits of singing on the vocal quality of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association, Edmonton, AB.
Tanner-Semple, Merrill. (2007) Singing as a Rehabilitation Tool. Rehab and Community Care Medicine, Fall, 16(3)42.
Tanner-Semple, Merrill. (2005) Singing Therapy for People with Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study. Poster at the Canadan Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists Annual Conference, Regina, May, 2005.
Semple, Merrill (1999) Treating Voice Problems Among Teachers. Health Services Utilization and Research Commission Newsletter, Spring, 1999.
Presentations
Tanner, Merrill; Liu, Lili; Campbell, Melanie; Warren, Sharon; Ratzlaff, Leonard and Rammage, Linda. (2011) Voice and Singing Therapy Improves Self Assessment of Intelligibility in People with Parkinson’s Disease. Poster at the Advancement for Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS) Annual Conference, St. John’s, Newfoundland, July 11, 2011.
“Vocalization Therapy for People with Parkinson’s Disease”. Alberta College of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists Annual Conference, Edmonton, Nov. 7, 2008.
“Choral Singing for People with Parkinson’s Disease”. Alberta Choral Federation/Alberta Music Conference, Red Deer, Oct. 31, 2008.
“Parkinsong: Vocalization Therapy for People with Parkinson’s Disease”. Canadian Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists Annual Conference, Kananaskis, May, 2008.
“Singing Lessons for People with Parkinson’s Disease: The House Study”. Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association Edmonton, October 26, 2007.
“Sing for the Health of It”. Creative Aging Symposium, Vancouver, June, 2007.
“Singing as a Healthcare Tool”.American Society for Arts in Healthcare Conference, Edmonton, 2005.
“Dementia, Singing and Communication”. Creativity and Dementia Conference, Vancouver, 2005.
“Dementia and Communication”. Glenrose Conference on Geriatrics in Teleconference Series, 2003.
“Aphasia Group Therapy with Music”. Fun and Practical Approaches to Aphasia, Vancouver, 2002.
Awards
2011 Gyro Club of Edmonton Graduate Scholarship - Alberta Centre on Aging
2011 Alberta Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA) - Centenary PhD Scholarship
2010 Donald Menzies Scholarship - Canadian Association on Gerontology
2010 Travel Grant - Canadian Association on Gerontology
2009 Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation Education Grant
2009 Health Sciences Association of Alberta George C Hall Bursary
2007 University of Alberta Provost Doctoral Entrance Award Renewal
2007 University of Alberta Graduate Teaching Assistantship Award
2007 Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation Education Grant
2007 Parkinson’s Society of Alberta Daniels/Rabin Parkinson’s Society of Alberta Graduate Scholarship
2006-2007 University of Alberta Graduate Intern Tuition Supplement Award
Capital Health Reach Award for Teamwork- Communication Disorders Test Committee
2006 University of Alberta Graduate Research Assistantship Award
2006 University of Alberta Provost Doctoral Entrance Award
Research Awards
2010 Community Rehab Clinical Research Grant - Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists Topic: Vocalization Therapy for Speech and Voice Disorders in Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease
2009 Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation Clinical Research Grant.
1996 Health Services Utilization and Research Commission (now called the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation) and Saskatoon District Health Research Fund Research Grant
Personal Interests
Singing, hiking, my children.