Dr. Aravind Ganesh
July 5, 2024
Introducing O'Brien Institute’s "Shaping the Future of Healthcare" series
Acute care
At the O'Brien Institute for Public Health, we are privileged to work alongside some of the brightest minds in healthcare research. Our members are dedicated to advancing knowledge and developing innovative solutions that address the most pressing health challenges in Alberta and beyond.
We recognize that as Albertans, we are in unprecedented times as our healthcare system undergoes restructuring. In light of this, we are excited to launch O'Brien Institute’s Shaping the Future of Healthcare series, where we will be highlighting some exceptional researchers who are driving change and making a profound impact in the following key areas:
Each week, we will feature dedicated members from these categories, showcasing their groundbreaking work, achievements, and the positive influence they have on our community. These individuals exemplify the O'Brien Institute’s spirit of innovation, compassion, and excellence.
Join us in celebrating these healthcare research innovators and learning more about the incredible strides they are making to improve health outcomes for all Albertans. Stay tuned for inspiring stories, insightful research, and a glimpse into the future of healthcare.
Let’s honour the people behind the progress. Together, we can foster a healthier, brighter future.
Acute Care:
Acute care is the care we receive during emergencies or while treating severe injuries or illnesses. It encompasses emergency care and medical services, surgeries, cancer care, and so on. Improving the quality of acute care Albertans receive is imperative. Learn about some of our members who are at the forefront of acute care innovations.
Dr. Aravind Ganesh: Advancing stroke care: Harnessing AI to fill treatment gaps
Dr. Aravind Ganesh, MD, is a leading expert in vascular and cognitive neurology. His clinical research focuses on understanding, preventing, and treating stroke and cognitive impairment, including related behavioural and neuropsychiatric issues. With extensive training in clinical epidemiology, imaging, trials, and mixed-methods research, Dr. Ganesh is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through innovative approaches.
Addressing gaps in stroke treatment using artificial intelligence (AI)
Through Alberta Innovates funding, Dr. Ganesh is working with a team to utilize AI and imaging innovations to solve an acute care challenge. Reperfusion therapies are common treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but they require rapid delivery to be successful. Neuroimaging is used to quickly identify AIS patients that are eligible for reperfusion therapies. However, this method of quickly identifying treatment-eligible patients is a current triage challenge for physicians who are not stroke specialists. Additionally, healthcare systems also face an efficiency challenge of auditing and resource planning for AIS care because it is hard to determine the ratio of AIS patients successfully treated versus those eligible for treatment. Dr. Ganesh will use AI technology to evaluate and improve the efficiency of tools designed to address the above challenges using real-world data. His work will also inform relevant stakeholders on how to best integrate AI tools into the point-of-care and population-level audits of successful treatment of eligible patients.
Why does this work matter?
Dr. Ganesh's AIS project aims to assess and address current gaps in stroke treatment by leveraging advanced technology to swiftly and accurately identify patients eligible for critical stroke treatments. This initiative not only proposes innovative solutions for enhancing routine care and quality monitoring but also promises to significantly advance stroke care for Albertans.
Dr. Ganesh is an assistant professor in the departments of community health sciences and clinical neurosciences. He is a member of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health, the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.