Annual Shields Research Day 2023

44TH Annual Shields Day 2023 - Register Now
Shields Research Day 2023

General Information

The overall purpose of our Annual Shields Day event is to bring together our clinical faculty, fellows, residents and anesthesia assistants from the University-affiliated hospitals. Shields Research Day aims to provide a forum for updates on and stimulate further research into the frontiers of clinical science with regards to anesthesia and related topics (e.g., critical care management, obstetrical anesthesia, pain management, etc.). We have been growing in recent years!  

We aim to provide an excellent research and training opportunity for Anesthesia faculty, residents, fellows, graduate students and anesthesia assistants who wish to keep abreast of current research initiatives in the field. Our trainees (residents, fellows and graduate students) are provided with a unique opportunity to experience all the stages of presenting their peer-reviewed work at a scientific meeting, from the abstract writing and submission process to the poster design and oral presentation phase. The Annual Shields Research Day prepares trainees for a future role in academia, under the guidance of experienced faculty mentors.

The goal is to create synergies for collaborative research (both clinical and basic science) that will enhance the work and advance knowledge beyond what each investigator can accomplish independently.  The participants will have an opportunity to discuss topics of interest in the field of anesthesia and gain a better understanding of research methodologies.

Event Details

  • Date: Friday, May 5, 2023
  • Time: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: The Omni King Edward Hotel, 37 King St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1E9

Keynote Speaker and Other Presentations

Dr Steven Shafer

Keynote Address by Dr Steven Shafer on "The Problem with P Brains"

Biography

Dr. Shafer received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his medical degree from Stanford University. Dr. Shafer has been a member of the Stanford Faculty since 1988. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine.

Dr. Shafer’s primary research interests are pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models of intravenous anesthetic drugs. Dr. Shafer’s algorithms and software for computerized delivery of intravenous anesthetics are the basis of all commercial TCI systems.

From 2006-2016 Dr. Shafer served as the Editor-in-Chief of Anesthesia & Analgesia. Dr. Shafer was the first editor of an anesthesiology journal to mandate statistical review of every manuscript. During his tenure as EIC Dr. Shafer identified the most prolific fraudsters in biomedicine: Joachim Boldt and Yoshitaka Fujii. His work in research integrity included development of statistical methods to identify research fraud. By the end of his tenure as EIC Dr. Shafer had retracted more papers for research fraud than any previous editor of a medical journal.

Dr. Shafer currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the ASA Monitor. He has published over 200 peer reviewed papers and over 100 additional reviews and editorials. Dr. Shaferis founder or cofounder of two public corporations, Pharsight and Pharmacofore. He is funded by multiple research grants, including a program project looking at the analgesic effects of oxytocin.

Learning objectives

  • The learner will understand common misinterpretations and misrepresentations of p values.
  • The learner will understand the role of Bayesian inference on statistical interpretation of data.
  • The learner will understand why scientists and journals prize irreproducible novelty over reproducible discovery.
  • The learner will understand the evidence that much of the medical literature cannot be reproduced.
  • The learner will understand how to distinguish likely truth from likely fiction in science.

Other Presentations

Dr. Hannah Wunsch

Lecture by Dr. Hannah Wunsch on "From Polio to COVID-19: An Origin Story"

Biography

Dr. Hannah Wunsch is an intensive care physician in the Department of Critical Care Medicine at Sunnybrook Hospital and Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is the Associate Director of Critical Care Research at the University of Toronto and holds a Canada Research Chair in Critical Care Organization and Outcomes. She is the author of the book, The Autumn Ghost: How the Battle Against a Polio Epidemic Revolutionized Modern Medical Care.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the epidemiology of polio
  • Distinguish the benefits of positive versus negative pressure ventilation
  • Understand how polio changed medical care 
Dr Kat Butler

Lecture by Dr. Kat Butler on “Perioperative care of trans and gender diverse patients”.

Biography

Dr. Kat Butler is a senior anesthesia resident at the University of Toronto, with an interest in mobilizing medical education to improve care for trans patients. They have a background in qualitative research and emergency nursing, and completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees at McGill and undergraduate medical studies at McMaster. Outside of clinical work, Kat is a parent, a member of the PARO board of directors, and can be found biking, gardening, knitting, and studying.

Learning Objectives

  • Develop familiarity with principles of competent care for trans patients
  • Gain an overview of the current state of evidence regarding perioperative care of trans patients
  • Identify areas of practice change in their own practice or clinical setting to improve the experiences of their trans patients

Registration

Registration closed on April 23, 2023.

Download the Program

If you need help registering for the event, download our helpful registration guide.

Submit Your Abstracts

Submit an abstract for a chance to present at the 44th Annual Shields Research Day.

The deadline for the submission of abstracts has passed.

2023 Shields Research Day - Teaching, Clinical and Trainee Awards

Learn how to submit a nomination for the 2022-2023 Teaching and Clinical Excellence Awards. Trainees can also nominate themselves for Trainee Awards.

The deadline to submit a nomination for teaching, clinical and trainee awards has passed.