Once our PSI Knowledge Translation (KT) Fellows take off from the starting line, they make strides as they move their knowledge translation activities and research program forward. As the finish line becomes clearer in their sight, we asked our 2024 PSI Graham Farquharson KT Fellow, Dr. Lauren Lapointe-Shaw, some questions to share her progress thus far, and what she looks forward to in the remainder of her KT Fellowship.

What are some of your accomplishments from the KT Fellowship thus far?

We engaged over 300 patients and caregivers across Canada in a group concept mapping study to identify which experiences on general medical inpatient wards most impacted them, and which should be prioritized for quality improvement efforts. The study manuscript is currently undergoing peer review at a journal, and the findings will be presented as an oral abstract at the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research annual meeting in May 2026.

Please describe any challenges/barriers that you have encountered thus far and what actions were/will be taken to resolve them? 

Engaging hospital inpatients and their caregivers in data collection certainly presented many challenges – many patients are quite sick, often going for tests or otherwise occupied, and caregivers are often not at the bedside. In addition, group concept mapping is a multiphase approach, so we had several waves of recruitment and data collection at each site. It was a huge lift, and I credit the many dedicated site principal investigators, their staff and students with making it all happen through their tireless efforts.

What are some items/deliverables that you look forward to coming to fruition in the remainder of your KT Fellowship?

We are preparing work that compares physicians’ ratings of the same experience items for perceived importance to experience, and as priorities for quality improvement. A scoping review to identify quality metrics related to a top priority item is also underway. We will continue to share this growing body of work with the clinical, quality improvement and health administrative communities, where it will be useful to shape improvement efforts and performance measurement.

What are some things that surprised you during your fellowship thus far?

Prospective research involving the recruitment of hospital inpatients is so much harder than it seemed at first glance. Due to the time and number of people involved, it requires a large budget of both time and money. This took me out of my comfort zone, and I learned a lot.

Once our PSI Knowledge Translation (KT) Fellows take off from the starting line, they make strides as they move their knowledge translation activities and research program forward. As the finish line becomes clearer in their sight, we asked our 2024 PSI Graham Farquharson KT Fellow, Dr. Kamila Premji, some questions to share her progress thus far, and what she looks forward to in the remainder of her KT Fellowship.

What are some of your accomplishments from the KT Fellowship thus far?

Since starting my KT fellowship, I have:

• Completed my PhD Family Medicine program. Thesis: “Improving access to comprehensive family physicians: Insights from workforce trends and policy initiatives.”
• Completed 3 first author papers from my KT Fellowship’s program of research (2 submitted, 1 published)
• Collaborated as a co-author on 14 studies published in high impact journals that also relate to primary care access
• Been invited to present my work at several different venues and to diverse audiences that have included researchers, decision-makers, patient partners, and clinicians. My presentation of my work from my KT Fellowship at the 2025 ICES Research Forum was awarded First Place.
• Led or been involved in 21 presentations at competitive international and local conferences as either first author or co-author – several of these directly from my KT Fellowship, and the others also aligned with my program of research on primary care access.
• Been awarded a Clinical Research Chair from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine so I can continue my work beyond my PSI Fellowship.
• Obtained an Investigator appointment with Bruyere Health Research Institute in Ottawa.
• Received as co-investigator various grants from CIHR, SSHRC, and Health Canada totaling $3,191,336
• Led my first Nominated PA grant application for the CIHR in their 2026 Spring Project grant competition (decision pending)
• Been included on a successful RFP from the Ministry of Health to assist in their Primary Care Action Team’s activities aiming to attach all Ontarians to a regular source of primary care by 2029.
• Received the University of Ottawa Department of Family Medicine’s Scholarly Achievement Award.
• Received a patient-nominated recognition for my clinical work as a family physician from the Ontario College of Family Physicians.
• Had my work featured in the media, including CBC Radio and the Globe & Mail.

What are some items/deliverables that you look forward to coming to fruition in the remainder of your KT Fellowship?

Completing and publishing the remaining studies from my PSI Graham Farquharson KT Fellowship and continuing to share my results with key stakeholders, including decision-makers and policymakers. I want my work to help Ontario and Canada achieve the ultimate goal of universal access to comprehensive primary care.

What are some things that surprised you during your fellowship thus far?

The PSI Graham Farquharson KT Fellowship has been a game-changer for my research productivity. I am excited about the progress I have been able to make with the protected time this fellowship provides.

Once our PSI Knowledge Translation (KT) Fellows take off from the starting line, they make strides as they move their knowledge translation activities and research program forward. As the finish line becomes clearer in their sight, we asked our 2024 PSI Mid-Career KT Fellow, Dr. Venkatesh Thiruganasambandamoorthy, some questions to share his progress thus far, and what he looks forward to in the remainder of their KT Fellowship.

What are some of your accomplishments from the KT Fellowship thus far?

The overarching objective of my PSI Mid-Career KT Fellowship was to lead four major research initiatives focused on syncope care and knowledge translation:

• National Implementation of the Canadian Syncope Pathway (CSP):
  I led a multicentre stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial to implement the Canadian Syncope Risk Score (CSRS)–based CSP across 16 hospitals in Canada. This work was supported by a CIHR grant of $1.25 million. Patient recruitment was completed in April 2026, and we are currently conducting data cleaning and analysis to evaluate the clinical and system-level impact of the pathway.
• Knowledge Translation Process Evaluation:
  This project was funded by PSI ($195,500) and aimed to formally evaluate how evidence-based implementation strategies influence CSP uptake in clinical practice. The study includes (1) pre- and post-implementation surveys at all 16 participating hospitals, with post-implementation surveys underway, and (2) qualitative interviews with physicians and clinical staff across low-, medium-, and high-uptake sites at four Ontario hospitals. The interview component is complete, and the findings have been submitted for publication. Through this work, I co-mentored a postdoctoral fellow who has since secured a faculty appointment.
• Validation and Prehospital Implementation of the Canadian Prehospital Syncope Risk Score (CPSRS):
  With CIHR funding of $397,800, we initiated a study to validate the CPSRS and prepare for its implementation in the prehospital setting, with the goal of diverting very-low-risk patients away from the emergency department. Recruitment began in late 2025, and we are currently expanding participation to additional EMS organizations.
• Development of an Artificial Intelligence–Enabled Syncope Algorithm:
  This project aims to develop an AI-based clinical decision support tool that integrates historical and comorbidity data to guide emergency department investigations, predict syncope etiology, and assess 30-day serious outcomes using the CSRS. Start-up funding from the local academic medical organization supported study design and pilot enrollment. Recruitment is currently underway at both emergency departments of The Ottawa Hospital.

In addition to these core projects, my broader research program received CIHR funding ($520,000) for a randomized controlled trial evaluating live cardiac monitoring for higher-risk syncope patients discharged from the emergency department. The program has also expanded into AI research, supported by $375,000 in funding, focusing on natural language processing and machine learning applications in chest pain presentations, diagnosis of obstructive myocardial infarction, and AI-assisted translation to promote equitable clinical care and patient education.

During the fellowship, I received the University of Ottawa Exceptional Leadership Award (2024), was nominated for the 2026 Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada Clinician Scientist Award and was recognized by CIHR for outstanding contributions to peer review. In 2025, I was appointed Chief Research Information Officer for The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and currently serve as Chair of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine GRACE-5 Syncope Guidelines, which are forthcoming.

Throughout the fellowship, I have also mentored a PhD student completing a thesis on ethical and methodological aspects of prediction tool knowledge translation, as well as a postdoctoral fellow from France whose work focused on the development and implementation of emergency department prediction tools.

Please describe any challenges/barriers that you have encountered thus far and what actions were/will be taken to resolve them?

After the COVID pandemic, lack of trained health care personnel in the emergency department (ED) and in the prehospital setting has placed an enormous strain on the system leading to ED closures, long wait times and delays in ambulance off loading. It has been extremely challenging engaging ED physicians, paramedics, and their respective institutions/organizations to participate in research given the operational pressures.

We have mitigated these challenges by integrating research into clinical care and harnessing the capabilities of the electronic health records (EHR) and information technology to achieve our research data collection objectives.

What are some items/deliverables that you look forward to coming to fruition in the remainder of your KT Fellowship?

I hope to accomplish the following knowledge translation activities in the next year prior to the completion of my fellowship:

• Publish the results of the large SW-CRT assessing the implementation of the CSRS
• Publish the SAEM GRACE-5 guidelines on ED management of syncope
• Obtain funding to develop an AI algorithm for ED syncope care beyond the pilot phase
• Publish the other AI studies that are underway

What are some things that surprised you during your fellowship thus far?

One of the most unexpected and positive aspects of my fellowship has been the research potential of modern electronic health record platforms. Through targeted training on the EPIC system, I have been impressed by its capacity to support robust clinical research. In the context of mounting operational challenges, these enhanced EHR capabilities have enabled our program to advance evidence-based patient care through innovative, and integrated research approaches.

After a few years of tirelessly working towards their research program and knowledge translation (KT) activities, our PSI KT Fellows reach the finish line of their fellowship. As they cross the end point towards their award, we asked our fellows for reflections on their journey to share their highlights from the fellowship and advice for other aspiring or current KT Fellows.

What are the key accomplishments and outcomes from your award?

With the support of the PSI Graham Farquharson KT Fellowship, I was able to assemble a multidisciplinary team of key stakeholders to develop the first Canadian best practice recommendations for diagnosis and management of three types of skin and soft tissue infections: cellulitis, skin abscess, and necrotizing fasciitis. These best practice recommendations are endorsed by the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. I also gained valuable experience through direct mentorship with experienced KT scientists for the duration of the Fellowship.

What are some lessons learned during the PSI KT Fellowship?

An important lesson I learned was the importance of working with all relevant stakeholders, who all bring important and varied expertise to the projects. The most important thing was to obtain mentorship from experienced KT scientists to ensure that the projects stayed on track for success.

What was the most memorable moment of this KT Fellowship?

The most memorable moment was obtaining full endorsement of the best practices checklists we had developed from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, which is the largest professional body for emergency physicians in Canada.

What are some general tips and advice you would give to those who are currently completing their KT Fellowship?

I would strongly recommend thinking carefully about the components of the team you will need to ensure success. This should include key stakeholders and experienced KT scientists. Working with patient partners with lived experience was a hugely valuable experience and can lead to much more robust patient-centred evidence generation.

Upon receiving their approval letters and sharing the exciting news of the award with their community, the PSI Knowledge Translation (KT) Fellows begin preparing to get settled in their place at the starting line. As Dr. Robert Simpson embarks on their KT Fellowship journey, we asked them few questions to know them beyond their recipient biography, as well as some notes they could pass on to future applicants. 

Please use 3 words to describe how you feel as you begin your KT Fellowship.

Excited, engaged, committed (but also a little nervous).

Why did you apply for the PSI Graham Farquharson KT Fellowship? How does this award align with your current research and career goals?

I applied for this award because I felt the PSI definition of knowledge translation (‘taking clinical research findings and encoding them into clinical policies’) aligned very well with where my research was at the time.  I had completed many years of preparatory work to understand the scope of the issue at hand i.e., high levels of psychological distress in people with multiple sclerosis contrasted with limited treatment offerings in clinical care, but strong evidence in knowledge syntheses to support the effectiveness of psychological therapies in this context.  The need to translate this into practice was thus really clear and I think that created a strong sense of purpose in my mind to present the proposal to PSI. I’m glad I did.

What are 3 to 5 general tips and notes you would pass on to those preparing their KT Fellowship application?

• Be intentional and be organized – although there is a good lead in time from advertisement of the fellowship to submission of a letter of intent and then the full application, there is a lot of documentation required and this involves requests for time and support from collaborators, mentors, and sponsors, who themselves will need time to review materials and provide any necessary documentation.
• Be confident in communicating your passion for the work you propose.  You would not be doing this unless it is important and the passion you have will sustain you to be successful in your project whether in this opportunity or the next.
• Draw on the generous and invaluable support of your trusted colleagues and mentors. Their critical reviews can greatly enhance the messaging in how you present your application, and their expertise, which likely differs from your own, can bring enhanced design thinking and application of methods to bolster your ideas.

Upon receiving their approval letters and sharing the exciting news of the award with their community, the PSI Knowledge Translation (KT) Fellows begin preparing to get settled in their place at the starting line. As Dr. Sophiya Benjamin embarks on her KT Fellowship journey, we asked her a few questions to know her beyond her recipient biography, as well as some notes she could pass on to future applicants.

Please use 3 words to describe how you feel as you begin your KT Fellowship.

Grateful, Energized, Hopeful

Why did you apply for the PSI Mid-Career KT Fellowship? How does this award align with your current research and career goals?

My interest in sleep began through my work at GeriMedRisk. Over years of providing medication optimization consultations for older adults across Ontario, I noticed a persistent pattern: so many of the people referred to us were on sedative-hypnotic medications or off label antipsychotics for sleep. It became clear that insomnia was being managed almost entirely through potentially inappropriate prescribing, rather than through the evidence-based behavioural interventions we know are safer and more effective. That observation set me on a path that has shaped the last several years of my career.

The more I looked into it, the wider the gap appeared. Despite more than 40 randomized controlled trials establishing cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia as the gold standard first-line treatment, most clinicians still default to sleep hygiene advice that doesn’t work or medications that carry real risks for older adults. I realized that the problem wasn’t a lack of evidence, the challenge was with translating evidence into practice.

I have worked on this by co-chairing the Ontario Health’s Quality Standard for Insomnia Disorder, and started the Older Adult Insomnia Collaborative, a 45-member multidisciplinary network spanning Canada and the U.S. More recently, we completed co-design research with residents and staff across Ontario’s long-term care system. With grants in place to support some of this work and strong partnerships established, what I needed was protected time to focus on the next steps. The PSI Mid-Career KT Fellowship provides that. Over three years, I’m implementing a coordinated knowledge translation strategy focused on insomnia in older adults.

What are 3 to 5 general tips and notes you would pass on to those preparing their KT Fellowship application?

• Show your relationships and collaborations and how they will shape your KT activities. Knowledge translation doesn’t happen in isolation. Demonstrate that you have genuine partnerships with the people who will use, benefit from, or be affected by the knowledge you’re translating — whether that’s clinicians, patients, families, or policymakers. Letters of support are helpful, but describing how those relationships shaped your plan is even more compelling.
• Show what you’ve already built. The KT Fellowship isn’t about starting from scratch. Rather, it’s about having the right foundation in place and making the case that protected time is what will turn your groundwork into impact.
• Connect your goals so they reinforce each other. If you’re working across settings or populations, show how the pieces fit together. Shared frameworks, coordinated dissemination, and cross-sector learning can help make your plan more compelling beyond a collection of standalone activities.