Research Chairs

Dark blue and turquoise hexagons.

Strategically transforming the delivery of health care

Many people passionate about improving the delivery of health care come together at North York General Hospital (NYGH). Our strategy for research and innovation is built around our Research Chairs, thinking beyond what we know to excel in applied community-based research.

Our Research Chairs are embracing the NYGH strategy of “Thinking Beyond our Walls” by their guiding role in the newly formed “Ontario Health Team, North York Toronto Health Partners”, and additional national and international partnerships.

Research Chairs have the expertise and mandate to lead a concerted investigation in the key areas of health care delivery shown below.

 

Hexagons explaining the strengths of the NYGH research chairs.

Monika Kastner: Research Chair in Knowledge Translation and Implementation

Monika Kastner joined NYGH in February 2016 as the Research Chair in Knowledge Translation and Implementation. Knowledge translation is regarded as a bridge between the creation and implementation of knowledge and as such, it is highly relevant to our strategic objectives. 

Monika is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. She earned a PhD in e-health and health services research from the Institute of Health Planning Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Later, she received the prestigious Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CHIR) Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship and the CIHR Rising Star Award. Since joining NYGH, Monika has been awarded $1.4 million from CIHR and QoC Health. The external funding is enabling Monika to lead the Aging Well Initiative for seniors with multiple chronic conditions across primary care, hospital, and community settings. Monika is also the recipient of a CIHR New Investigator Award. 

Learn more about Monika on the University of Toronto's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation website. Read an article on Monika's role at NYGH.

Patricia Trbovich: Badeau Family Research Chair in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement 

Patricia Trbovich is the Badeau Family Research Chair in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement at North York General Hospital. Patricia has recently joined the University of Toronto as an Associate Professor of Health Informatics and Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She also is appointed to the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto and the Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.

Learn more about Patricia on the University of Toronto's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation website. Read an interview with Patricia Trbovich on her role at NYGH.

Katie Dainty: Research Chair in Patient-Centred Outcomes

Katie Dainty joined NYGH in September 2017 as the Research Chair in Patient-Centred Outcomes. Katie is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) at the University of Toronto. She earned her PhD in Critical Qualitative Study of Collaborative ICU Quality Improvement from the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. She is also appointed to the Program Area of Study Lead — Outcomes & Evaluation at the IHPME. She received the American Heart Association Young Investigator Award and the CIHR Rising Star Award. 

Learn more about Katie on the University of Toronto's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation website. Read an article about Katie's role at NYGH.

Gordon F. Cheesbrough Research Chair in Family and Community Medicine

The Gordon F. Cheesbrough Research Chair in Family and Community Medicine is named after one of North York General's greatest leaders and champions. Mr. Cheesbrough had just completed a five-year term as Chair of the Hospital's Board of Governors when he passed away after a sudden onset of aggressive lymphoma in June 2010. To honour his legacy and leadership, an endowment to fund the Cheesbrough Chair was established with a lead gift by Mr. John Braive along with tribute donations from family, friends and the business community.

Mr. Cheesbrough was first appointed to North York General Hospital's Board of Governors in June 2000. He was elected Treasurer in June 2001 and served in that capacity until his appointment as Chair in 2005. In these roles he provided incredible vision and leadership to our hospital, in service to our community, and led North York General Hospital to many great successes.

Ervin Sejdić: Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence for Health Outcomes

Ervin Sejdić, PhD, is the new Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence for Health Outcomes. He comes to North York General from the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Ervin Sejdić earned his PhD degree in electrical engineering from the University of Western Ontario. His enormous potential has been recognized by his peers through numerous awards, including the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award and the 2013 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, which is the highest honour bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers. He was also honoured with the 2018 Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award at the University of Pittsburgh.

Contributing to improvements in the delivery of health care

Physicians and staff at NYGH have first-hand knowledge of health care delivery. Our investigations, by their very nature, involve teams of collaborators from many organizations where our vision is shared. 

The achievements of NYGH investigators demonstrate our effectiveness in contributing to improvements in the delivery of health care and guide us in making decisions on the most appropriate course for continued innovation.

Visionary advocates in our community are lending their support through guidance on our Research Advisory Committee and generous support for research and innovation through the North York General Foundation