Since joining the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine as Research Coordinator in April last year, Eily Shaw has brought a strong foundation in both clinical and basic science research to the department’s growing research activities. With prior experience coordinating complex clinical trials in critical care settings, Eily has quickly become a key resource for faculty, staff and trainees, supporting a wide range of research initiatives and departmental programs.
Before stepping into her current role, Eily served as a research coordinator at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where she managed the SAVE-ICU clinical trial on inhaled sedation in critically ill patients. In that role, she oversaw all aspects of study coordination, including participant recruitment, investigational product management, data collection and collaboration across multiple trial sites, while working closely with multidisciplinary clinical teams. Her earlier graduate research in physiology, which focused on circadian gene regulation in the cerebrovasculature, further reflects the breadth of her scientific background.
Now well into her time with the department, Eily continues to play an integral role in advancing research operations, helping to coordinate major initiatives and events while building strong connections across the research community. We caught up with Eily to reflect on her experience in the role so far, what she has learned and what she is looking forward to as she continues supporting the department’s research mission.
What have you enjoyed most about working with the department’s research community so far?
I’ve really appreciated being exposed to the range and creativity of the research happening in our department. Anesthesiology is so powerful as it keeps patients safe and comfortable during their most vulnerable moments in the OR, but also has a massive impact on patients’ recovery and long-term outcomes outside the hospital. It’s been very inspiring to see and support the work our faculty are leading to improve patients’ day-to-day lives and create a brighter future.
You played a major role in the SAVE-ICU clinical trial – how has your previous clinical trial experience influenced the way you approach this role?
I know firsthand the urgency and complexity of what we do, and how dedicated and hardworking our anesthesia research community is. Critical care taught me how to spread my focus and expect the unexpected, which is how I try to support the needs of our faculty and research program here at the department. Most importantly, the patients and families I worked with told me time and time again how meaningful our work was to them, so I carry that with me every day.
As you continue in the role, what are you especially excited to build on?
Shields Day and the Merit Awards are very exciting projects. Taking some of our country’s foremost researchers and trainees and putting them all in a room together; it’s amazing to see the energy and ideas bouncing back and forth at Shields Day. Everyone leaves having learned something new and you can almost see the wheels turning in people’s heads. With the Merit Awards, I’m astonished to see the level of innovation and ingenuity that our faculty is operating at. They’re a true vanguard. Showcasing their accomplishments can also lead to opportunities to expand funding, so recognizing people in as many ways as we can is a top priority for me. We are hoping to do a write up on our website of every Merit Award holder to further visibility and public awareness of our department’s research.
Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time?
It’s such a blessing to have four distinct seasons in Canada so on the weekends I’m usually snowboarding, running, open water swimming, or playing baseball. Otherwise, I love watching my puppy wrestle dogs way bigger than her at the park, cooking, and Jeopardy.
