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New scientist profile: Dr. James Downar wants more people to benefit from palliative care


August 7, 2019

Dr. James Downar“I’m interested in identifying people who need palliative care earlier. Many people don’t know that they’re near the end of their life until it’s too late, and I want to change that,” - Dr. James Downar. Dr. James Downar has many ideas about how to improve end of life care, and in Ottawa he’s found enthusiastic colleagues and an integrated palliative care system well suited to the task. His research vision includes better identifying people who need palliative care using hospital admission data. He recently led a study with Dr. Carl van Walraven and others that shows this approach has promise. Dr. Downar also wants to explore new treatments for the existential distress patients feel when their illness and declining function threaten their sense of purpose. He’s also interested in improving support for families who have a loved one die in the Intensive Care Unit.

 “I’m interested in identifying people who need palliative care earlier. Many people don’t know that they’re near the end of their life until it’s too late, and I want to change that,” said Dr. Downar. 

Dr. Downar is Head of the Division of Palliative Care at the University of Ottawa, and was recently appointed as an associate scientist in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. The critical care and palliative care physician splits his time between The Ottawa Hospital and Bruyère.

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Media Contact

Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca

 

Disease and research area tags: Behaviour, Big data, Critical care, Palliative care