Debra A. Butt

With the DFCM since 2000

Degrees: University of Toronto MD; University of Toronto MSc Clinical Epidemiology

Current academic appointment/faculty rank: DFCM Associate Professor

Affiliations:  

• The Scarborough Health Network
• Departments of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto

Research summary:  

Dr. Debra A. Butt is an Associate Professor and Clinician Investigator in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and the Scarborough Health Network, a Research Scientist at North York General Hospital, and a family physician in community practice in Scarborough, Ontario. Her research focuses on advancing mental health care in primary care, with particular expertise in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), health services research, and population-based epidemiology.  

Dr. Butt has extensive expertise in Ontario health administrative and primary care electronic medical record (EMR) data. She has been involved in the development of several validated algorithms to identify chronic diseases including neurological and mental health conditions, such as Parkinson's disease and ADHD, enabling high-quality population health research. 

Her research has advanced understanding of ADHD epidemiology, healthcare utilization, and treatment patterns to address critical evidence gaps in primary care. She collaborates with national organizations, including CADDRA and CADDAC, serves on the CADDRA Research Committee, and is a collaborator with the International Consortium of Primary Care Big Data Researchers (INTRePID). She also leads the development of innovative artificial intelligence tools that leverage real-world EMR data to support personalized, evidence-based ADHD care.