Management of Sport Related Concussion.
The research that I have conducted since 2006 has largely been directed at the management of sport-related concussion. I have published a number of articles on this topic, including knowledge translation articles in widely read journals. The bulk of my original research has actually taken place over the past 5 years, culminating in several publications particularly in the June 2014 edition of Canadian Family Physician. My research has led to advancement of knowledge and contributions of an original nature. I have also had a sustained and current productivity in research that has resulted in significant changes and presented creative insights, ideas and concepts. For example, my concussion research has been focused on Return to Learn for students post-concussion. The recent acceptance by the York Region District School Board of a Concussion Management Program, was evolved by a committee of teachers upon my prompting. This has led to considerable change in the way that concussion has been managed. We have seen a number of students from local high schools present with a “green folder” that essentially provides a teacher-accepted and teacher-formulated Return to Learn, initiated by my research efforts. In addition, my published chart review of sport-related concussion patients added to this new knowledge, indicating that 45% of patients return to learn too soon. My validated survey of physicians both in the Greater Toronto Area and across Canada, has led to an increase in understanding and has been cited several times, including in a letter by Dr. Roger Zemek to the editor of Canadian Family Physician. This chair of the Pediatric Concussion Guidelines lauded our effort. He agreed with our commentary that it is about time that family physicians champion the management of sport-related concussion.
ACL Injury Prevention Position Statement
In 2014, our CASEM ACL injury prevention position statement was published after a 10-year effort in collaboration with Dr. Cathy Campbell. We gathered a wide group of Canadian experts to support us at a meeting in Newfoundland in 2011. Through multiple iterations and based upon 6 worldwide meta-analyses and systematic reviews, our position statement became acceptable to our group of authors including several prominent orthopaedic surgeons from across Canada. We successfully lobbied for support from the Canadian Soccer Association. Our position statement is currently being utilized by Bone and Joint Canada in their knowledge translation granted venture with the Ontario Soccer Association. The FIFA 11+ is relatively new knowledge. The effort that I led synthesized this knowledge and gave it an authoritative CASEM “stamp” indicating that these neuromuscular training programs are effective for both boys and girls teams at preventing these life-altering knee injuries. In addition, we indicated to the world that medical experts could call for a Canada-wide roll out of an innovative and effective injury prevention program.
I am delighted to now take on the role of the Resident Research Coordinator for the Scarborough Hospital Family Medicine Residents. This will allow me to mentor our residents with my experience as a community-based physician doing community-based research that matters.