Hartley Jafine, who joined the Arts & Science Program in 2012-13, teaches ARTSSCI 3CL3 / Theatre, Self, and Social Development. Hartley also teaches in the Honours Health Sciences Program, the Integrated Rehabilitation and Health Humanities program, and the Department of Family Medicine. His areas of teaching and research include applied drama, health humanities, and arts-based research practices.

He is a Survivor superfan and currently teaches a course on Survivor. He has had the privilege has co-moderated “Real Talk” panels, which included former Survivor contestants as panelists. The panels have focused on the intersection of Reality TV and race and Reality TV and identity and self (hosted by McMaster).

When not on the McMaster campus, he is a specialist in arts-based education as part of the Arts, Health, and Humanities Program at Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and works as a medical improv and applied drama practitioner in healthcare across the country. For nearly two decades, he has been integrating drama, improv, and play within health professions education. He is interested in questions of how theatre can enhance the performance of healthcare, build community, and create systemic change. Upcoming projects include investigating the efficacy of medical improv to address imposter phenomenon with medical residents and exploring how the dental humanities can support the practice of dentistry.

Hartley holds a BA in Theatre Studies from Acadia University and an MA in Applied Drama from Goldsmiths, University of London (UK). He has facilitated theatre workshops and productions both nationally and internationally, including England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Bulgaria and Kosovo. He has been honoured to receive six McMaster Students Union Teaching Awards for his work in the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Arts & Science Program.

He is a clown nose enthusiast and believes pears make an excellent pizza topping.