Ann Russell

Senior Director, Learning, Innovation and Research, The Michener Institute of Education at UHN

Dr. Ann Russell is a Cognitive Scientist who completed her PhD at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Her clinical background is in the area of neuropsychology and cognitive-behavioural therapy working across the spectrum of healthcare from primary care to rehabilitation and complex continuing care. While her clinical experience is in the area of individual assessment and treatment of cognition and emotion, her design research focuses on distributed cognition, especially design, implementation and evaluation of interprofessional networks of practice and expertise. Dr. Russell is the Senior Director of Learning, Innovation and Applied Educational Research at the Michener Institute for Education at UHN. Dr. Russell is responsible for advancing the Institute’s simulation, innovation and research strategies and priorities which are guided by the following questions: “What will health professionals be doing in 2040 and beyond? How are we responding to and anticipating change in the professions through innovative programming and partnerships?”

#Support4Research – Why Research Matters

At University Health Network (UHN), we’re proudly home to countless innovations and dozens of world-first breakthroughs that have transformed health care. The research behind these advances has gone on to inform everyday medical treatments and tests that have had a global impact on health care delivery. Continued investment in health research is therefore critical to supporting health care innovation and ensuring that research and discovery is translated into treatments and patient care.

This week, Research Canada is raising awareness of the critical need to invest in health research through their #Support4Research campaign. They are calling on government and policy leaders to heed the recommendations of the 2017 Naylor Report and increase support and funding for research in the 2018 Canadian federal budget.

Why is support for research so important?

In the words of Research at UHN, insulin, radiotherapy and other research firsts only come after years of support for research.

Insulin, radiotherapy and other research firsts https://t.co/wGLskCMj1y only come after years of #Support4Research @JustinTrudeau pic.twitter.com/tSKf7WkRZL

— UHN Research (@UHN_Research) October 10, 2017

Here at Michener, we train a wide variety of health care professionals who provide tests and treatments to patients. From medical laboratory technologists who test and analyze blood and tissue samples, to radiation therapists who use advanced technology to treat cancer, these highly skilled professionals have a huge impact on patient care every single day. And in order to advance the quality of care and access to the best care possible, the work they do depends heavily on health research and innovation.

Because research matters to us, at Michener we’re developing a first-of-its-kind Research Institute for Health Care Education – a hub that will transform health care education by mobilizing research and innovation networks to benefit learners, patients, health professionals, industry and policy makers. Support for research matters to us because it will continue to inform how we educate health care professionals, and how we turn research innovation into patient care.

To learn how to get involved with the Research Institute for Health Care Education, email researchinstitute@michener.ca.