Rick Csiernik earned his BA, BSW, and BSc in Psychology from McMaster University, his MSW from the University of Toronto, his Graduate Diploma in Social Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, and his PhD in Social Work from the University of Toronto.
His research interests include addiction, Employee Assistance Programming and workplace wellness, social work field practice, spirituality, mental health, housing and homeless, poverty and social inclusion, school-based social work, and social worker retention.
Ciernik is the author of over 140 peer-reviewed articles and 8 books, including "Substance Use and Abuse: Everything Matters," "Responding to the Oppression of Addiction: Canadian Social Work Approaches," and "Wellness and Work: EAP in Canada." After leaving Ryerson, Csiernik taught for over 25 years at McMaster University, where he co-developed the McMaster University Addiction Studies Program and was the inaugural recipient of the McMaster University Instructor Appreciation award.
Csiernik is currently a professor in the School of Social Work at King's University College at Western University, Canada.