DAN Women & Babies Program

Credentials:

• B.Sc., biochemistry, Trinity University, Canada
• MD, Harvard University, U.S.
• Diplomate, American Board of Anesthesiology
• Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• M.Sc., health research methodology, McMaster University, Canada
• M.Sc., evidence-based health care programme, Oxford University, U.K.
• PhD candidate, evidence-based health care programme, Oxford University, U.K.

Current Appointments:

• Associate scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Women & Babies Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Director, Obstetrical Anesthesia Research Unit, SRI
• Active staff, department of anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Associate professor, department of anesthesia, University of Toronto
• Assistant professor, clinical epidemiology, Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, School of Graduate Studies, U of T
• Affiliate associate professor, pharmacology and therapeutics, department of anesthesiology, University of British Columbia
• Co-director, introduction to measurement course, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, U of T
• Associate professor, randomized control trial, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, U of T

Invited Lectures and Visiting Professorships:

2014

• Development of the Labor Pain Questionnaire. Anesthesia Grand Rounds. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada. February 2014.

2013

• Proposing Formal Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Post-Epidural PDPH, Multicenter Canadian PDPH Trial. Richard Knill Competition, Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society. Southlake Regional Hospital, Calgary, Canada. June 2013.
• Postdural Puncture Headache in the Age of EBM. Anesthesia Grand Rounds. Southlake Regional Hospital, Newmarket, Canada. October 2013
• Development of the Labor Pain Questionnaire. Obstetrics Grand Rounds, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada. Nov. 1, 2013.

2012

• Evidence Based Clinical Practice in OB Anesthesia: Using the Evidence Cycle for Articles Related to Therapy. Breakfast With the Experts Session, Society for Obstetrical Anesthesia and Perinatology Meeting, Monterey, U.S. May 2012.
• The Complex Parturient. Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Annual Meeting, Quebec City, Canada. June 2012
• Debate: Cesarean Section Should Be Managed With Low Dose CSE, Not High Dose Spinals With Vasopressors. Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Annual Meeting, Quebec City, Canada. June 2012
• Labour Analgesia: State of the Art or State of the Evidence? Obstetric Anesthesia Meeting Day, Toronto Anesthetic Practice Meeting, Toronto, Canada. November 2012

2011

• Evidenced Based Medicine/Epidural Morphine for Prevention of PDPH: Al-Metwalli article. Mixed anesthesia residents journal club, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Feb 23, 2011.
• Current Concepts Regarding Post-Dural Puncture Headache. 52nd Annual McGill Anesthesia Update, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. May 22, 2011.
• PDPH Update: Understanding and Treating it. Rural Emergency Continuum of Care Conference, Kelowna, Canada. June 15–18, 2011.
• Issues and Barriers to Maternity Anesthesia Care in Ontario Hospitals With Fewer than 2,000 Deliveries per Annum (keynote speaker). Rural Emergency Continuum of Care Conference, Kelowna, Canada. June 15–18, 2011.
• Should Labor Epidurals Be Considered a Negative Health Outcome? Rural Emergency Continuum of Care Conference, Kelowna, Canada. June 15–18, 2011.
• Using the Evidence Cycle in Clinical Decision-Making. Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada. June 25, 2011.
• Reducing Maternal Risk Symposium (session chair). Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Annual Meeting. June 25, 2011.
• Understanding and Designing a Simple RCT. Research Methods Symposium, Canadian Anesthesiologist’s Society Meeting, Toronto, Canada. June 2011.
• Should Women Be Allowed To Eat During Labor? (session chair) Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada. June 2011.
• Evidence Based Approach to PDPH. Obstetric Anesthesia Meeting Day, Toronto Anesthetic Practice Meeting, Toronto, Canada. November 2011.
• Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia. Obstetric Anesthesia Meeting Day, Toronto Anesthetic Practice Meeting, Toronto, Canada. November 2011.

2010

• Through the Looking Glass: Examining Evidence in Obstetrical Anesthesia. Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada. June 2010.
• PDPH Update. Ontario Medical Association Meeting, Toronto, Canada. October 2010.
• Nuts and Bolts of Operationalizing Your Trial. Introduction to Randomized Controlled Trials, department of clinical epidemiology, Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. November 2010.
• The Case of a Woman With Headache and Diplopia After an Epidural. 5th Annual Obstetric Anesthesia Day, Toronto, Canada. Nov 26, 2010.
• Should Epidurals Be Considered a Negative Outcome? Pregnancy and Birth Conference, Toronto, Canada. December 2010.

Committees:

• National Maternity Guidelines Writing Committee (Family Centered Maternity Care), Canada
• University of Toronto, Continuing Medical Education Committee, Department of Anesthesia
• Admissions Committee: Dept of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Toronto. Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society, Vice-Chair, Obstetrical Anesthesia Section
• Provincial Council for Child Health Ontario, Provincial Maternal Newborn Advisory Council

Honours, Awards and Major Grants:

• 1999–2000, Physicians' Services Inc. Foundation
• 2007–2008, RA Gordon Patient Safety Award, Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society
• 2007–2008, Physicians' Services Inc. Foundation
• 2008, RA Gordon Clinical research Award, Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society
• 2009–2011, Merit Award, University of Toronto
• 2014–2015, Academic Health Science Centre Alternate Funding Plan (AFP), Ontario Medical Association and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
• 2016, The Langar Foundation
• 2016, Clinical Impact through Innovation Expo, SRI