February 24, 2022
Many would consider the study of law and the study of medicine to be diametrically opposed. However, the career of Institut du Savoir Montfort's new associate vice-president-research shows us that it's easy to swap the gown for the stethoscope when intelligence, determination and altruism come together.
It's now official: Dr. Sharon Johnston is the new Associate Vice-President Research at the Institut du Savoir Montfort. A clinician-researcher for over 15 years now, this renowned figure in the world of medicine excelled in a field that might seem the antithesis of her current one.
In 1994, Dr. Johnston began her university studies at Harvard University in the United States. After four years at this institution, recognized in numerous rankings as the best university in the world, Dr. Johnston decided to move to Great Britain after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She earned a second LLB from Cambridge University in 1996, and began examining the laws and policies that shape our interactions and the allocation of resources in society, including healthcare. “I have always been driven by a desire to contribute to the well-being of the population, and this necessarily involved an understanding of the laws that make up the structure of the society in which we live,” she informs us.
While working in England in the 90s, the judicial context prompted her to take a critical look at her career. “As a law student, I witnessed the allocation of healthcare resources in the legal courts.
She believes that access to healthcare resources is the very foundation of an equitable society. That's why she chose to go into medicine, to be part of the solution and contribute to improving the services on offer.
Returning to Canada in 1996, Dr. Johnston completed a Master's degree in Law and Bioethics at McGill University, as well as a Doctorate in Medicine at Dartmouth University in the U.S., before finishing her residency in Family Medicine at McGill University in 2005. After obtaining her degrees, Dr. Johnston opted without hesitation for duality, including caregiving and research.
“Research improves, and business improvement is part of any professional mandate. The difference between a professional and a researcher is that the latter has an obligation to share his knowledge outside his team,” she says.
A member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, as well as the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the new Associate Vice-President-Research is also a researcher at the IMS and the Bruyère Institute. She is also a clinician-researcher in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and an associate professor. “I am grateful to have been able to provide patient care and contribute to the improvement of the Canadian healthcare system through my research projects throughout my career,” she says.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Johnston has always been driven by the quest to improve the system. As a family physician committed to providing the best care to all those who need it, she has made improving primary care her top priority. To achieve this, she focuses on patient engagement through the use of new technologies and patient-reported variables, with the aim of evaluating and perfecting the primary care system.
Working closely with primary care providers as well as other researchers, it aims to establish a primary care information network to facilitate information sharing and communication between individual practices and their patients. “Sophisticated technology platforms, artificial intelligence methods, personalized medicine and wearable health technologies, if properly deployed and anchored in the public interest, can contribute to a healthier population and a more effective and efficient healthcare system,” she says.
ISM's new Associate Vice-President Research has been involved in the development of a number of important initiatives. A general practitioner with a specialization in concussion, she was instrumental in setting up 360 Concussion Care, a center dedicated exclusively to the management of concussion in the Ottawa region. She also co-directed the research and implementation of what has become a foundation for the new provincial model of self-management support for people with chronic illnesses. Her research projects in this field have led to the development of new services dedicated to a multitude of patients according to their needs. Her innovative approach has earned her a reputation as a key contributor to the world of medicine.
Now Associate Vice-President Research at IMS, this woman of action intends to fulfill her new role to the full. “As a bilingual researcher with collaborations across the country, I feel ready to promote our center's growing expertise and innovation in the health of French-speaking Canadians in minority situations, essential to our commitment to the community we serve, as well as to our national leadership,” she says. Focused on a collaborative approach, she is committed to positive change and collective effort.
She intends to build on the united strengths of the scientific and administrative corps to assert ISM's competencies.
“In addition to its much-needed mandate, ISM has a great staff whose work culture boils down to always aiming higher.”
For her, diversity in research is an indispensable factor. “I'm aware that groups with greater diversity of experience can bring more insights and learning. I also think we need to focus on optimal support and integration of team members to ensure we get the most out of the diversity among us.”
While continuing to serve the communities to which she is already committed, Dr. Sharon Johnston will take up her new position on April 1, 2022. She will succeed Dr. William Hogg, who has served as Interim Associate Vice President-Research since May 2020.