Credentials:

• B.Sc., Biochemistry, Trinity University
• MD, Harvard University
• M.Sc., Health Research Methodology, McMaster University
• Diplomate, American Board of Anesthesiology
• Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Current Appointments:

• Associate director, obstetrical anesthesia, women and babies program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Associate scientist, evaluative clinical sciences, Women and Babies Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Director, Obstetrical Anesthesia Research Unit (OARU), Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Active staff, department of anesthesia, Women's College Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Assistant professor, anesthesia, University of Toronto

Invited Lectures and Visiting Professorships:

2009–2010

• Multi-centered RCT Examining the Effect of Small vs Large Tuohy-type Epidural Needles on PDPH, Plenary Session, Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society Meeting, Vancouver BC, June 2009.
• Regional Anesthesia and the Tattooed Mama. 4th Annual Obstetric Anesthesia Day, Toronto Anesthetic Practice Meeting, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto. November 27, 2009.
• Myths and Truths About Epidural Analgesia. College of Family Physician's Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. November 28, 2009.

2008–2009

• Key Issues and Barriers to Maternity Anesthesia Care in Ontario. Sunnybrook Health Services Sciences Symposium, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada. October 23, 2008.
• Emergency Airway and Cricothyroidotomy Session. 2nd Annual Obstetric Anesthesia Day, Toronto Anesthesia Practice Meeting, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto. November 28, 2008.
• The Case of the Parturient with the Labor Epidural from Hell. 2nd Annual Obstetric Anesthesia Day, Toronto Anesthesia Practice Meeting, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto. November 28, 2008.
• Opening the Windows on Maternity Anesthesia Care. CAPPA Canada Conference, Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association, Scarborough Civic Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. November, 14, 2008.
• A Choice Between Stroke and Cardiac Arrest – Severe Bradycardia and Hypotension after Spinal Anesthesia in a Hypertensive Patient. 3rd Annual Obstetric Anesthesia Day, Toronto Anesthesia Practice Meeting, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto. November 28, 2008.

2007–2008

• Visiting Professorship: University of Dalhousie, Department of Anesthesia, Halifax, Nova Scotia: Examining the Effect of Small vs Large Tuohy-type Epidural Needles on the Incidence and Severity of Post dural Puncture Headache. October 2007.
• Visiting Professorship: University of Dalhousie, Department of Anesthesia, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Resident's research seminar: Anesthesia Resident Academic/Research Teaching Block. An Evidence-based Approach to Treatment of PDPH. October 2-3, 2007.
• Lecture: Epidural blood patch in the age of EBM--Gold standard therapy for PDPH or Quackery. IWK Hospital, Department of Anesthesia, Halifax, Nova Scotia. October 2007.

2006-2007

• Oral Presentation: The Anesthesia Human Resource Crisis:  Impact on Provision of Maternity Anesthesia Services in Community, Rural and Rural Remote Hospitals in Ontario. Canadian Health Services and Policy Research Meeting (National Conference), Toronto. June 12, 2007.
• PBLD sessions x 2: Evidence-based Management of PDPH. Canadian Anesthesiologist's Society Meeting, Calgary. June 23, 2007.
• International workshop: How to Teach Evidence-based Clinical Practice. Instructor (tutor trainee). Internal Medicine Group, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. June 24–29, 2007.
• Lecture: Epidural Blood Patch in the Age of Evidenced-Based Medicine: Gold Standard Therapy for PDPH or Quackery? Ontario Medical Association Meeting, Ontario Anesthesiologist's Section, Burlington, Ontario. September 17, 2006.
• Oral Presentation: The New Labour Pain Scale (LPS): Description and Properties. American Society of Anesthesiology Annual Meeting, SOAP Special Session, Chicago. October 16, 2006.
• 2 Workshops: (1) The case of a woman with postpartum headache, (2) Using Combined Spinal Epidurals for Labour. Obstetric Anesthesia Workshop Anesthetic Practice Meeting. November 24–27, 2006.
• Presentation: Labour Analgesia – getting it right? Anesthetic Practice Meeting, Toronto. November 24–27, 2006.

Committees:

• Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society, vice-chair, obstetrical anesthesia section
• Provincial Council for Child Health Ontario, Provincial Maternal Newborn Advisory Council
• University of Toronto, continuing medical education committee, department of anesthesia

Honours, Awards and Major Grants:

• 1999–2000, Physicians' Services Inc. Foundation: $21,500
• 2007–2008, RA Gordon Patient Safety Award, Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society: $40,000
• 2007–2008, Physicians' Services Inc. Foundation: $149,500
• 2008, RA Gordon Clinical research Award, Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society: $20,000
• 2009–2011, Merit Award, University of Toronto: $80,000

Administrative Assistant: Doris Cheung
Phone: 416-480-6100 x 87757
Fax: 416-480-5614
Email: doris.cheung@sunnybrook.ca

Education:

• MD, 1988, Harvard University, U.S.
• M.Sc., 1994, health research methodology, McMaster University, Canada

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Associate scientist, evaluative clinical sciences , Women & Babies Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Clinician scientist, Women's College Hospital
• Assistant professor, department of anesthesia, University of Toronto
• Associate director, obstetric anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Research Foci:

• Diagnosis, prevention and treatment of postdural puncture headache
• Knowledge transfer and teaching evidence-based clinical practice
• Development of new health measurement tools for use in obstetric anesthesia
• Improving the quality of labour pain and post-caesarean pain relief

Research Summary:

• Multi-centred randomized controlled trial examining the of small gauge epidural needles and catheters to reduce the incidence and severity of postdural puncture headache
• Health services research: women's access to obstetrical anesthesia services; knowledge translation
• Post-caesarean analgesia: methods of measurement, treatment, prevention
• Health research methodology
• Evidence-based clinical practice in obstetrical anesthesia - knowledge transfer: development of a virtual hospital network for maternity anesthesia care in Ontario
• Health measurement: development of a multi-attribute index to measure the quality of neuraxial analgesia for labour
• Systematic reviews: labour pain and post-caesarean pain relief

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

1. Angle P, Kurtz PA, Landy C, Murthy Y, Cino P. Key issues and barriers to obstetrical anesthesia care in Ontario community hospitals, with fewer than 2000 deliveries annually. Can J Anaesth. 2009 Sep;56(9):667–77.
2. Morely-Forster P, Singh S, Angle P, Littleford J, Currin M, Halpern SH. The effect of epidural needle type on postdural puncture headache: a randomized trial. Can J Anaesth. 2006 Jun;53(6):572–8.
3. Angle P, Hussain K, Morgan A, Halpern S, Van der Vyver M, Yee J et al. High quality labor analgesia using small gauge epidural needles and catheters. Can J Anaesth. 2006 Mar;53(3):263–7.
4. Angle P, Tang S, Thompson D, Szalai JP. Expectant management of postdural puncture headache increases hospital length of stay and emergency room visits. Can J Anaesth. 2005 Apr;52(4):397–402.
5. Angle P, Kronberg J, Thompson D, Ackerly C, Duffin J, Fauer P et al. In vitro investigation: epidural catheter penetration of human dural tissue. Anesthesiology. 2004 Jun;100(6):1491–6.

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Related Links:

• Obstetrical Anesthesia Research Unit
• U of T profile, department of anesthesia