EQuIS Paired Speaker Events

Barbara K. Burian, Ph.D. is a senior research psychologist in the Human Systems Integration Division at NASA Ames Research Center. Her research focuses on the development, design, functionality, and use of paper, electronic, and integrated cognitive aids, checklists, procedures, and apps; flight deck technology and displays; and on the performance of experts and novices in high consequence, dynamic, socio-technical domains. She is a steering committee member of the (medical) Emergency Manual Implementation Collaborative (EMIC), and a member of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesiology Quality and Safety Committee, the EPIC ICare Committee, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and the American Psychological Association. Dr. Burian is a co-editor of the Anesthesia Illustrated book series, published by Oxford University Press, and consults on the application of human factors and cognitive science research to medicine and clinical practice. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the Southern Illinois University, is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a private pilot, and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist.

Description of Talk (2018)

On their face, checklists appear to be relatively simple tools – easy to construct, easy to use. What could be so hard about creating a list of things to check? Sit down to write one or try to use a poorly constructed one, though, and the challenges in developing an effective and useful tool quickly become apparent. The task can become even more daunting when the “checklist” is part of dynamic, integrated, and context-sensitive instrument, such as a clinical decision support system (CDSS)—relatively new tools being developed to support clinicians formulate accurate diagnoses and consider all relevant factors to provide timely and tailored patient care.

In this talk, Dr. Barbara Burian will begin with a lively, interactive, and relatively in-depth exploration of some of the basics of medical checklists and cognitive aids. What qualifies as a checklist or cognitive aid and for what purposes are they best or ill-suited? What is the checklist/cognitive aid lifecycle? How is appropriate content determined and what design features affect their utility? How can they help or hinder workflow and team communication and coordination? These issues and related topics will be explored, with many illustrations and examples, to set the stage for the next talk which considers more sophisticated cognitive aids integrated into clinical decision support systems.

Dr. Peter T. Masiakos is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Visiting Surgeon at MGH, where he has a clinical interest in pediatric trauma care and has become a vocal injury prevention advocate. He has been involved in successfully educating the Massachusetts Legislature and the United States Congress on the inherent risks that all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) pose on children and testified both at the Massachusetts State House and at the consumer product safety commission on the need for new legislation which would prohibit the use of ATVs by children. As a result of this work, the first law imposing an age restriction on ATV use in the U.S. was enacted on July 31^st, 2010. Dr. Masiakos continues to work alongside Massachusetts State Legislators as he evaluates the outcomes on several other injury prevention laws relating to safe driving, youth sports concussion, and firearms.

Dr. Natalie Yanchar is an EQuIS partnered researcher with significant experience in childhood injury prevention. Dr. Yanchar holds a strong interest in pediatric trauma. She holds a Master’s degree in Community Health and Epidemiology which facilitates her research and policy initiatives on evidence-informed practice. Dr. Yanchar has a strong research interest in clinical management of pediatric trauma, pediatric trauma systems and primary injury prevention. She sits on the advisory committee for Parachute Canada, is the founding president of Injury Free Nova Scotia, chairs the Pediatric Trauma Society’s Research Committee and has been the president of the Trauma Association of Canada for the past two years.

Description of Talk (2018)

Because of the significant physical, emotional and psychological distress that it causes victims, families, and communities, gun-related violence constitutes a serious social concern. Medical practitioners and health researchers have a critical role to play in tackling this public health issue. Hosted by EQuIS and the O’Brien Institute, Dr. Peter Masiakos and Dr. Natalie Yanchar will share ideas on what health care professionals can do to mitigate these challenges. In this talk, Dr. Masiakos and Dr. Yanchar speak to their efforts in shaping injury prevention legislation in the U.S. and Canada and investigate what surgeons can do to confront this social topic.