ACOA Invests $2million in Orthpaedic Innovation

Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) announced a $2 million investment for a NSHA orthopaedic project on Wednesday April 17th. 

Left to right: Dr. Travis McDonough (CEO & Founder Kinduct), Barbara Campbell (CEO OrthoMX), MP Andy Fillmore (MP for Halifax), Dr. Alex Fuentes (Chief Scientific & Technology Officer, Emovi), Dr. Michael Dunbar (Principal Investigator & Orthopaedic Surgeon), Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy (VP Research & Innovation, NSHA)

Dr. Michael Dunbar and the orthopaedic research team, in conjunction with partners Kinduct, Emovi and OrthoMX, are seeking to advance the standard of care, increase treatment options and improve orthopaedic wait times.

NSHA puts a priority on translating research into clinical practice and this project will provide medical staff with enhanced information such that they can make more timely and precise decisions.

“Once again, we are drawing a straight line from research and innovation to improved patient outcomes. Nova Scotia Health Authority places a high priority on research and this particular project will advance the standard for patients who need orthopaedic care. We are very pleased to collaborate with industry partners to improve care for Nova Scotians.”
      - Janet Knox, President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health Authority

The technology involved is a three part partnership between Kinduct, Emovi and OrthoMX. Kinduct developed a platform for remote patient monitoring where patients can access information about their care and interact with their healthcare team. Emovi's KneeKG system is a wearable knee assessment device that assesses knee joint functions dynamically. OrthoMX uses the InStride app to track walking patterns. These three parts together will shape the new Mobility Assessment Clinic at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. 

“Today we see that meaningful collaboration fosters innovation. With the support of ACOA, our NSHA collaborative research partnership with Kinduct, Emovi and OrthoMX is bringing transformative innovations to patients across Nova Scotia.”
    - Dr. Michael Dunbar, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Endowed Chair of Arthroplasty Outcomes, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
 
Congratulations to Dr. Dunbar and the orthopaedic team!

Researchers Explain Projects to Executive

Dr. Emily Marshall & CEO Janet Knox

About a dozen NSHA Researchers brought posters, iPads and virtual reality tools to NSHA's Lovett Lake corporate office on December 5th. The Executive Leadership team and the Board of Directors toured a make-shift village of project posters on display. 

It was an excellent opportunity for NSHA Researchers to explain their projects and take questions from the top leadership of NSHA.  

The Researchers in attendance spoke with members of the Executive and Board. Dr. Emily Marshall (Primary Health Care) spoke with CEO Janet Knox about the MAPP project and Dr. David Clarke (Neuroscience) spoke with VP of People & Organizational Development Carmelle d'Entremont before she tried the PeriopSim virtual reality tool. Neuroscience, Primary Health Care, Medical Physics, Geriatrics, Aging, Mental Health, and Cancer were some of the other areas represented.

The event was organized by Interim Vice President Research, Innovation and Knowledge Translation Dr. Thomas Marrie to help educate and promote research at the highest level. Packages detailing research activities were handed out and a presentation was given by Dr. Marrie to the Board as part of their meeting.

Thank You Patrick McGrath

Dr. Patrick McGrath and NSHA CEO Janet Knox

On November 23rd a luncheon was held in honour of Dr. Patrick McGrath, former Vice President of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Translation at NSHA. 

The Patrick McGrath Research & Innovation Student Award was created to recognize Dr. McGrath’s significant contributions to the Nova Scotia Health Authority. The $5000 award will be presented to the trainee with the highest ranked application from the 2018 NSHA Research Fund competition.

Dr. Patrick McGrath was the Vice President of Research, Innovation & Knowledge Translation at NSHA from 2012 until 2017. He is the recipient of the Governor General’s Award for Innovation, HealthCareCan’s Legacy of Leadership Award, the Ernest C. Manning Foundation Principle Award, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Although retired from his Vice President position at NSHA, Dr. McGrath continues to do research and we wish him the very best.

Welcome Dr. Thomas Marrie

Dr. Thomas Marrie

We welcome Dr. Thomas Marrie as the interim Vice President Research, Innovation & Knowledge Translation at NSHA. 

Dr. Thomas Marrie is an accomplished researcher, administrator and infectious disease specialist. Having studied pneumonia for more than 4 decades, Dr. Marrie came full circle as the 14th Dean of Dalhousie Medical School (2009-2014) – the very institution where he studied medicine. 

As Dean, he ended his tenure with several significant accomplishments. The first class of the expansion of Dalhousie Medical School (Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick) graduated in 2014 and an increased number of African-Nova Scotians now are enrolling in medical school.  

A priority as Dean was to increase research capacity and in 2013 Canada’s First Endowed Occupational Medicine Research Chair was established with J.D. Irving. 

Dr. Marrie is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and served as the President of the board from 2011-2013. 

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Marrie to NSHA!