ICDC Team Members
Julie Babione
Julie is a graphics, website, user experience, and Human-Centred Designer working on a range of projects aimed at improving and innovating the patient experience of chronic conditions and their ongoing care needs. With her unique combination of computer science, psychology, and biological sciences background, and twenty years experience working in healthcare, she brings her experience and empathy to the projects she works on. She has created several digital tools to support both acute and chronic care needs, bringing together patient and care provider needs and has had projects recognized by the American Heart Association, the CanSOLVE-CKD network, and by the patients she aims to better support. She has a master’s degree in Computer Science (immersive and interactive visualization of medical imaging data in virtual reality environments), is working to add implementation science to her toolbox, and her publication list can be viewed at Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Z9t8DPoAAAAJ&hl=en).
Eleanor Benterud
Eleanor has been working as a Senior Research Coordinator with Dr. Matthew James focusing on acute kidney injury for the past 5 years In the role, Eleanor enjoys organizing projects and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health professionals/systems for patients Eleanor has a master’s degree in Nursing and when she is not working Eleanor enjoys kitesurfing, travelling, and spending time with her husband and two boys
Dr. David Campbell
Dr. David Campbell has been working as a researcher and medical specialist, focusing on diabetes care and prevention of cardiovascular disease for 10 years. In this role, Dr. Campbell enjoys creating new ways to improve patients’ access to care for their chronic diseases. Dr. Campbell is a physician with specialist training in endocrinology & metabolism and a Ph.D. in Health Services Research. Outside of the office, Dr. Campbell enjoys watching hockey and football and playing sports with his four kids.
Maria Dalton
Raised in quiet Prince Edward Island, Maria brings her unique rural insight to all the work she does. Currently a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Libin Cardiovascular Institute's APPROACH Research Group (Dr. Wilton, Dr. James) and Person-Centered Methods lab (Dr. Sajobi), the work she is involved with investigates the role of patient reported outcomes and experience measures in cardiac care, seeking to improve clinical care. She is passionate about community/patient engagement, teaching, and mentorship with an interest in healthcare system improvement, complex chronic illness, geospatial analysis, and scientific misinformation. Outside of work, Maria loves spending time being active - be it on her skis, on her bike, or competing in high-level five pin bowling.
Dr. Maoliosa (Mo) Donald
Maoliosa (Mo) Donald has been working as an Implementation Scientist with Dr. Matthew James and the team focusing on the PAUSE study for the past 2 years. In this role, Mo enjoys supporting the team in investigating strategies to support person-centered care for patients with chronic diseases. Mo’s has a Ph.D. in Health Sciences and has been a Physical Therapist since 1992. Outside of the office, Mo enjoys cycling, hiking, and hanging with her Dachshunds (Lola and Faryn).
Sarah Gil
Sarah Gil is a graphic designer and digital engagement specialist with the Division of Nephrology at the University of Calgary. Sarah loves the challenge of taking scientific research and turning it into tools, figures and images that can be enjoyed and understood by all. Sarah has a BSc. with honours in Ecology and Evolution, as well as a graphic design, digital engagement and on-line marketing certificate. When Sarah isn’t creating you can find her outside or at the gym. She loves dragging her dogs, kids and husband up mountains even if they don’t always agree with the adventure.
Dr. Michelle Graham
Dr. Michelle Graham is a cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta. Her primary research interests are varied and include Acute kidney injury after invasive cardiac procedures, perioperative medicine, cardiac care in the elderly, processes of care, and decision support tools. Michelle obtained her medical degree at the University of Ottawa, followed by training in Internal Medicine at Western University, Cardiology at Dalhousie University, and a fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at the University of Calgary. She has spent her entire academic career at the University of Alberta. Outside of the office, Michelle enjoys reading, cooking and hanging out at her cottage with her husband and three children.
Dr. Tyrone Harrison
Dr Tyrone Harrison MD PhD is an assistant professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary, where he works as a health services researcher and nephrologist. He completed his Nephrology clinical training in 2018, followed by a PhD in Health Services Research at the University of Calgary in 2022 which was sponsored by a Kidney Foundation of Canada KRESCENT post-doctoral fellowship, and completed within the ICDC. His current research program is supported by a KRESCENT New Investigator Award, and is focused on integrating person-centredness and novel digital approaches within risk prediction strategies and population-based cohort studies for people with chronic diseases. He is also the current Chair of the Canadian Society of Nephrology Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee, where he is focused on improving how people with lived experience are incorporated throughout the guideline development process. Outside of work, Tyrone enjoys being outside with his wife and children - whether that be hiking, kayaking, skiing, or chasing his two daughters (they have way too much energy).
Dr. Matthew James
Dr. Matthew James is a kidney doctor and clinical researcher who specializes in health systems and services research. His research involves working with multidisciplinary teams involving close partnerships with patients, clinicians, and health system decision makers. His recent work is focused on risk prediction, computerized decision support tools, and clinical trials incorporating pragmatic designs to improve the quality of care, experiences, and health outcomes of people with or at risk of kidney and cardiovascular diseases. He holds research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Alberta Innovates, and his work has been recognized with a Mid-Career Research Leader Award from the O’Brien Institute of Public Health at the University of Calgary, a Killam Emerging Research Leader Award, and the Monique Bégin Award in Knowledge Translation from CIHR. Outside of the office, Matt enjoys spending time with his family skiing, biking, and walking in the Rocky Mountains in the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region and returning to the qathut region of British Columbia to enjoy the beaches and ocean.
Pantea Javaheri
Pantea has been working as a Project Coordinator with Dr. Matthew James focusing on ensuring the success of crossover AKI projects in the departments of nephrology and cardiology for the past 8 years. Pantea plans, coordinates, and executes assigned research projects, with a focus on identifying areas of improvement, research priorities and developing research roadmaps. Pantea offers extensive knowledge of the development, implementation, evaluation and sustainability of strategic plans and community-based health programs and is the developer of the AHS’s online Psychological First Aid educational series designed for the front-line workers at times of disasters, such as the Fort McMurray fire and COVID-19. Pantea has a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Science and is a certified PMP. Outside of work, Pantea enjoys volunteering, travelling, and spending time with her family
Dr, Ping Liu
Dr. Ping Liu is an epidemiologist and health services researcher, with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing, a PhD in epidemiology, and post-doctoral training in clinical epidemiology. Her research is dedicated to the development, evaluation, and implementation of innovative prediction tools for shared decision-making and chronic disease prevention and management. Her research is supported by the Roy and Vi Baay in Kidney Research, Alberta Innovates, and the KRESCENT New Investigator Award, co-funded by CIHR, the Kidney Foundation of Canada, and the Canadian Society of Nephrology. [If required] Outside of the office, Dr. Liu enjoys spending time with her family, connecting with people, and enjoying the outdoors
Dr. Shania Liu
Dr. Shania Liu is a postdoctoral research fellow based at the University of Alberta with Dr. Ross Tsuyuki. Shania’s research involves close collaborations with patient partners, cross-disciplinary researchers, and health professionals. Her work aims to improve the quality of care received by people with chronic conditions, with a particular focus on clinical trials to evaluate the role pharmacists can play in the delivery of care. Shania joins the team from Sydney, Australia, where she is a registered pharmacist and completed her Ph.D. in pharmacy practice research. Outside of the office, Shania loves to bake, grow her indoor plant jungle, and travel.
Dr. Kerry McBrien
Dr. Kerry McBrien has been working as a researcher and family doctor, focusing on the development and evaluation of innovative models of care for 11 years. In the role, Dr. McBrien enjoys integrating a focus on the social determinants of health in primary care. Dr. McBrien is a family physician with an MPH and post-doctoral training in applied health economics. She is an Associate Professor in family medicine at the University of Calgary. Outside of the office, Dr. McBrien enjoys spending time with her kids and dog, biking in the summer, and skiing in the winter.
Dr. Neesh Pannu
Dr. Neesh Pannu has been working as a researcher and kidney doctor at the University of Alberta since 2002. Her work focuses on understanding how acute kidney injury affects long term health and what can be done to minimize the risk of developing it and its health consequences. Dr. Pannu is a nephrologist with additional training in critical care medicine as well as an MSc in epidemiology. She is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta, and the Associate Dean of Clinical Research. She is co-scientific director of the Kidney Health section of the Alberta Health Services Medicine Strategic Clinical Network. Outside of the office, Dr. Pannu enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, spin classes, gardening and enjoying the outdoors.
Dr. Amity Quinn
Dr. Amity Quinn is a health economist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. She received her PhD in Social Policy from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and postdoctoral fellowship in health economics at the University of Calgary. She focuses on studying how health care is paid for and organized to improve access to high value care for marginalized and vulnerable populations, including women and people with chronic diseases.
Sandra Robertshaw
Sandra Robertshaw has been working as a patient partner with the PAUSE research project team, for the past 24 months. As a patient partner Sandra believes strongly in ensuring patients with lived experience provide additional information to researchers from a patient perspective. She asks questions when unclear on discussion points, participates in focus groups and enjoys hearing about the work in progress from other research team members. Sandra’s areas of lived experience include PCOS, hypertension (along with 3 of her siblings), diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, and she is a supportive caregiver to her mother and mother-in-law. When not participating in research Sandra loves spending time with family especially her new grandbaby. She also enjoys connecting with friends, going to movies, long walks, decorating for holidays and reading.
Dr. Paul Ronksley
Dr. Paul Ronksley has been working as a health researcher, focusing on improving access to care for patients with multiple chronic conditions, for 15 years. In this role, he enjoys finding new ways to use the vast amount of health data generated within Alberta to identify and remove the barriers to healthcare that exist for many patients. Paul’s education includes an MSc and Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Calgary, and a Post-doctoral Fellowship in Clinical Epidemiology from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Outside of the office, Paul spends his time playing guitar, piano, and drums and is out in the mountains with his wife and two kids as much as possible.
Dr. Ross Tsuyuki
Dr. Ross Tsuyuki is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Director of EPICORE Centre at the University of Alberta. In these roles, Ross enjoys supporting his colleagues in their research and other academic endeavours. Ross’s education or background includes a BSc, PharmD, residency and fellowship in clinical trials and an MSc in health research methods. Outside of the office, Ross enjoys hiking, cycling, and watching hockey.
Nancy Verdin
Nancy Verdin has been working as a patient partner with the PAUSE team, for the past year. As a patient partner, Nancy enjoys participating in meetings, providing the patient voice and representing others who are too quiet to join. Nancy’s areas of lived experience include living with kidney failure which was diagnosed in a crash-start on hemodialysis at the age of 28, 3 failed transplants, and the use of peritoneal dialysis, in-centre dialysis, and home hemodialysis. Her knowledge as an occupational therapist (now retired) was instrumental in helping her cope with her kidney failure. She had bilateral atypical fractures of the femur and numerous other surgeries, and she has also spent time in the ICU following a minor stroke.
Dr. Kaitlyn Watson
Dr. Kaitlyn Watson is Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta. In this role, Kaitlyn teaches and researches the social sciences aspects of health services research in pharmacy. Kaitlyn completed 2 post-doctoral fellowships specializing in clinical trial management and implementation science. Dr. Watson has a Ph.D. in mixed methods pharmacy practice research, focusing on disaster and emergency management and she was clinically trained as a pharmacist in Australia. Outside of the office, Dr. Watson enjoys getting outside, hiking, skiing, and exploring Canada with her family..
Dr. Stephen Wilton
Dr. Stephen Wilton is a Cardiologist and Associate Professor of Cardiac Sciences and Community Health Sciences. His research spans epidemiology, clinical trials and health services investigations of cardiovascular disease. He leads the activities of the APPROACH cardiac registry and is the Principal Investigator of the IMPROVE CV Care Trial, which is part of the ICDC SPOR Innovative Clinical Trials Program. In this role, Steve enjoys working with our amazing multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers and patient partners to better understand and hopefully improve cardiovascular care in Alberta. Outside of work, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife Jan, his 3 great children and their dog, and playing in the Rocky Mountains.