Investigators

Gina Browne
E-mail: browneg@mcmaster.ca

Dr. Gina Browne, RN, PhD, Hon.LL.D., is Founder and Director of the System-Linked Research Unit (SLRU) on Health and Social Service Utilization based at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Director of the Community Linked Evaluation AIDS Resource Unit (CLEAR), and Consulting Investigator at the School of Health Science,University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Durham. She is a Professor in the School of Nursing and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.

The System-Linked Research Unit on Health and Social Service Utilization has been funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care since 1991 to investigate interventions to improve the health status and alter the pattern of health and social service utilization by the chronically ill. To this end the Unit initiates, implements and coordinates studies of persons with co-existing problems simultaneously using health and social services. The studies test the effectiveness and efficiency of multisectoral and proactive service interventions provided through alliances between service agencies for vulnerable children, adults or seniors. Gina credits the success of the Unit to the partner health and social service agencies that together as a group discuss, review and implement current research priorities in the regions of Hamilton and Halton.

Lehana Thabane
E-mail:
thabanl@mcmaster.ca

Lehana Thabane BSc, MSc, PhD, is Director of the Biostatistics Unit at the Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare and Professor/Associate Chair, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University.  Dr. Thabane is a research methodologist with research interests in the development and application of statistical methods health research.  He collaborates with researchers in community-based research, HIV/AIDS, evidence-based medicine and health technology assessment.  He provides statistical leadership in studies in various areas of population health research, clinical research and health services and outcomes research.  As research methodologist, his research interests cover a wide spectrum of research areas including clinical trials, research ethics, conjoint analysis of patient preferences for health services, the applications of Bayesian hierarchical methods to model health data, systematic reviews and meta-analysis of RCTs using both Bayesian and classical approaches.

For more information on Dr. Thabane's work and interests please visit his website at:
http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/ceb/faculty_member_thabane.htm

A. Abigail Payne
E-mail: paynea@mcmaster.ca

A. Abigail Payne, Ph.D., J.D., is Director of the Public Economics Data Analysis Laboratory (PEDAL) at McMaster University; Professor, Department of Economics, McMaster University; and Associate Investigator, Health and Social Service Utilization Research Unit, McMaster University.

For more information on Dr. Payne's work and interests please visit her websites:
http://www.economics.mcmaster.ca/faculty/paynea
http://www.economics.mcmaster.ca/pedal/pedal-home

Lindsey George
E-mail: lgeorge@stjosham.on.ca

Lindsey George, BA, MES, MD, FRCP(C) is an Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, and Director, Adult Mental Health Research, Health and Social Service Utilization Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University; Research Associate, Health Systems Research and Consulting Unit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; and Director of Clinical Programs and Lead Psychiatrist, Hamilton Family Health Team, Hamilton, ON.

Lindsey's involvement with the HSSU presently involves evaluating the feasibility of a minimal therapist intervention to treat social anxiety for 18-25 year olds with social anxiety.

Helen Kirkpatrick
E-mail: hkirkpat@mcmaster.ca

Helen Kirkpatrick, RN, MScN, MEd, PhD. Helen is an Assistant Clinical Professor with the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University and Co-ordinator of the Best Practice Spotlight Organization at St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton.

Helen has a particular interest in stories.  Research using narrative includes: 1) people with major illnesses who have been homeless and who get permanent housing with supports; 2) harm reduction for individuals who have been chronically homeless and alcoholic; and, 3) a WEB-based study of people who have attempted suicide and decided to go on living.  She has worked with Sandra Ireland and Gina Browne on case study research:  Implementation and Evaluation of RNAO Prevention of Falls and Fall Injuries in the Older Adult Best Practice Guideline.

Dillon Browne
E-mail: brownedt@gmail.com

Dillon Browne, MA, is currently pursuing his PhD in School and Clinical Child Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto; and is an Associate Investigator with the Health and Social Service Utilization Research Unit.

Dillon's research examines the contextual, family-level and child-specific influences on the development of psychopathology and health problems in children. He is particularly interested in the family-level and child-specific influences that mediate and moderate the relationship between environmental adversity and developmental outcomes.

Dillon also conducts research on the health and social service utilization patterns of parents and children with emphasis on the factors that predict differential utilization expenditures amongst high risk populations, such as families involved with child welfare services or among families of children with disabilities.

Jeffrey Hoch
E-mail: hochj@smh.toronto.on.ca

Jeffrey Hoch, MA, PhD, is Co-Director of the Applied Research in Cancer Control; Adjunct Scientist with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES); Director of the Pharmacoeconomics Research Unit in the New Drug Funding Program, Cancer Centre Ontario; Associate Professor (Adjunct) at University of Toronto, Health Policy, Management and Evaluation Department in the Faculty of Medicine; and is a Health Economist Research Scientist with St. Michael's Hospital Centre for Research on Inner City Health.