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New members of the Royal Society of Canada join the ranks of academic trailblazers


September 7, 2017


Dr. Ian Graham has been elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), the highest academic accolade for scholars, artists and scientists in Canada. Fellowship includes sitting on panels to advise policy makers on decisions of great impact.

Dr. Graham is at the forefront of knowledge translation, a new area of research that is reducing costs and improving quality of care and health outcomes. He enhances patient care in Canada and abroad by using a social science lens to develop tools and frameworks to integrate research findings into everyday clinical practice. It has been estimated that $170 billion in research funding is wasted in part because the findings from the research are not being used by health care systems, doctors, nurses, other health care providers and patients. Dr. Graham’s knowledge-to-action framework is one of the most widely used to guide practice change, and he has become internationally renowned for the theory and tools he has developed to ensure research is considered when decisions are made about Canadians’ health.

“We often hear it takes 17 years for as scientific discovery to make its way into routine health care practice, and as a patient, a taxpayer, a researcher, this is far too long,” Dr. Graham says. “Knowledge translation research is beginning to reveal how we can reap the benefits of our investments in research as quickly as possible.”

Dr. Ruth Slack of the University of Ottawa was also elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Her research focuses on the regeneration of the damaged brain after a stroke or as a result of neurodegenerative diseases.

The two researchers will be recognized via official ceremony in November.

The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion


The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.

University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas


The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca

Media Contact


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