Dr. Hance Clarke is the GoodHope Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Chair in Translational Medicine at UHN and University of Toronto
The University Health Network, Department of Anesthesia & Pain Management, and the University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Hance Clarke as the inaugural GoodHope Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Chair in Translational Medicine, effective September 1, 2023.
The GoodHope Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Clinic at Toronto General Hospital/University Health Network is particularly unique. Since its inception in 2017, the clinic has used an interdisciplinary model to address ongoing gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). The clinic works with experts from various fields, including rehabilitation medicine, anesthesiology, cardiology, and genetics, to provide outstanding care as well as specialized self-management programs for EDS patients.
Supporting research that improves the lives of people with EDS and HSD is a critical mission of the clinic, and as Chair, Dr. Clarke will lead the development of an integrated clinical and research translational program for the next ten years. He will build upon his work as the clinic’s director, a role he has held since 2018.
Commenting on the announcement, the Head of the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management at the University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Dr. Keyvan Karkouti, said, "Hance’s appointment marks a significant step forward in the clinic’s relentless pursuit to improve the lives of EDS patients. With him at the helm of this organization, it will continue to translate cutting-edge research into tangible, compassionate care, ushering in a new era of hope and healing."
These sentiments were shared by the Vice Chair of Research and Innovation at the University of Toronto’s Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Dr. Brian Cuthbertson.
"Hance’s exceptional track record in research and innovation, as well as his commitment to advancing medical knowledge and translating it into transformative care, make him an excellent fit for this role. I have every confidence that he will excel in this position. Stable and sustained support for non-clinical time, such as the support provided by this chair, is a tremendous enabler for our outstanding clinician-investigators."
Dr. Clarke is the Director of Pain Services and the Pain Research Unit at the Toronto General Hospital, the Knowledge Translation Chair for the University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is also the incoming president of the Canadian Pain Society.
A prolific researcher, he has authored over 160 peer-reviewed publications and has received substantial funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research ($5,654,082) and other organizations.
The department, faculty, and staff wish Dr. Clarke every success in this role.
