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From Concept to Impact – 10 Years of Progress SCIENTIFIC ADVICE FOR A HEALTHY CANADA The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) 180 Elgin Street, Suite 1403, Ottawa, ON Canada K2P 2K3 Notice: This history of the Canadian Academy of ISBN 978-0-9877815-5-0 (paperback). Health Sciences was authored by John A Cairns ISBN 978-0-9877815-6-7 (pdf) (CAHS president 2013-15) and Paul W Armstrong (CAHS president 2004-07) on behalf of the 1. 2. 3. Entries to be received from Library and Academy and with the approval of the Board of Archives Canada. CAHS. The information contained herein is based Codes to be received from Library and Archives upon the personal perspectives of the authors Canada. gained since the earliest planning of the CAHS I. Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, issuing and augmented by perusal of the electronic body archives of the CAHS and the Council of Canadian Academies. Allison Hardisty, CAHS Director This report should be cited as: Canadian Academy of Operations and Executive Assistant to the of Health Sciences, 2015. From Concept to Impact – President assisted the authors in the acquisition 10 Years of Progress of files and data. Inputs were also sought from prior CAHS presidents Martin Schechter (2007-09), Disclaimer: The internet data and information Catharine Whiteside (2009–11) and Thomas Marrie referenced in this report were correct, to the best (2011–13). Any opinions, findings, or conclusions knowledge of the Canadian Academy of Health expressed in this publication are those of the Sciences at the time of publication. Due to the authors, and do not necessarily represent dynamic nature of the internet, resources that the views of their organizations of affiliation are free and publicly available may subsequently or employment. require a fee or restrict access, and the location of items may change as menus and webpages Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing are reorganized. in Publication Layout: Accurate Communication Inc., Ottawa Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. From Printing: The Lowe-Martin Group, Ottawa Concept to Impact – 10 Years of Progress. Also issued in French under title: Du concept Translation: Permutation of Montreal aux retombées – dix ans de progress © 2015 Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Includes bibliographical references. Electronic Printed in Ottawa, Canada monograph in pdf format available on CAHS website at www.cahs-acss.ca Also available in print format with text in English and French on inverted pages. Canadian Academy of Health Sciences 1 Table of Contents 2 Forward: A message from the authors 3 The Genesis of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences 8 The Growth and Development of CAHS – Perspectives of the Presidents 2004–15 11 The Fellows of CAHS 13 CAHS assessments 23 Annual Forums 24 The Council of Canadian Academies 25 CAHS – A look at the future 26 The Board of CAHS 27 Members of Standing Committee on Assessments 27 Members of the Fellowship Selection Committee 28 References 2 Scientific Advice for a Healthy Canada Forward: A message from the authors The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) celebrates its 10th Anniversary during the Annual meeting in Ottawa on September 17–18, 2015. Prior to the creation of the CAHS, unlike the UK, the serve the people of Canada. The CAHS has conducted US and many European countries, Canada had no 8 major and 2 focused assessments and has held a widely recognized national academy of medicine or major forum every year as a highlight of the Annual health sciences. The Canadian Institute of Academic Meeting. Now is a propitious time to take stock and Medicine (founded in 1989) had begun to fill this void, reflect on where we have been, where we are and but its membership and mission were aligned largely where we propose to go. We hope that readers of with academic medicine. A vision for the Canadian this document “From Concept to Impact – 10 Years Academy of Health Sciences emerged in the early of Progress” will gain insights into our development 2000’s to meet a major unmet national need. and be inspired to collaborate in supporting our Over 10 short years, the CAHS has grown to include mission in the challenging times ahead. 577 fellows, whose recognition by this honor is increasingly acknowledged by their academic institu- John A Cairns Paul W Armstrong tions. Importantly, CAHS fellows share a covenant to The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Mission: To provide assessments of, and advice on, key issues relevant to the health of Canadians. Objectives: (d) Support the development of sound and informed public policy related to these issues; (a) To elect to fellowship, individuals who are recognized by their peers nationally and (e) Enhance understanding of science and technology internationally for their leadership, creativity, issues affecting the public good by transmitting distinctive competencies and commitment the results of assessments and providing opportu- to advance academic health sciences; nities for public discussion of these matters; (b) Serve as a credible, expert and independent (f) Provide a collective authoritative multi-disciplinary assessor of science and technology issues voice of health sciences communities; and relevant to the health of Canadians; (g) Represent Canadian health sciences internationally (c) Support the development of timely, informed and liaise with like international academies to and strategic advice on urgent health issues; enhance understanding and potential collabora- tions on matters of mutual interest. Fellows: Selected from the full breadth of academic health sciences from basic science to clinical science to social science and population health and including all the health disciplines: Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Sciences (Occupational and Physiotherapy) and Veterinary Medicine. Canadian Academy of Health Sciences 3 The Genesis of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences On reflection, the absence in Canada of an independent, expert, broadly representative national body willing and able to provide sound evidence-based advice on health related matters seems implausible today. Such an absence appears even paradoxical, given the NSO working group, was incorporated in April 2002, prior existence of health science-related academies it existed only as a legal entity and had no operating in all other G7 countries and the enshrinement of funds. Unfortunately, national security concerns universal health care in Canada for over half a following the September 2001 World Trade Center century. Moreover, at the turn of the millennium, disaster, coupled with changes in federal govern- there was no broad-based national science organiza- mental priorities and personnel, essentially curtailed tion able to speak with a single voice representing progress on the initiative until 2004. To strengthen Canada on the global scene. and broaden the health sciences academy, a further working group was convened by Charles Hollenberg In response to this recognized deficiency and in association with Eliot Phillipson and drawn from the increasing calls to rectify it, Dr. Gilbert Normand, CIAM and other health disciplines to consider developing Canada’s then Secretary of State for Science, a Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS). Research and Development, hosted a national round table October 2000. It considered whether Canada The CAHS working group reviewed international required a National Science Academy (analogous to precedents for academic academies, focusing the National Academies in the US) to provide credible especially on the U.K and U.S. The U.K. Royal Society and independent assessments of scientific knowledge founded in 1660 is one of the world’s most venerable that could inform discussions of pressing contempo- scientific academies. Interestingly however, the U.K. rary issues of the day. This nascent organization was Academy of Medical Sciences was not established referred to as the National Science Organization until 1998 when it took its place alongside the Royal (NSO). Although from the outset the Royal Society Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering (1976). of Canada (RSC) and the Canadian Academy of It has the authority to speak out on the multitude Engineering (CAE) had been proposed as the anchor- of public policy issues that involve the biomedical ing pillars of this initiative, it was soon appreciated disciplines, provides an intellectual focus for the that matters affecting health and health science medical sciences and seeks to influence national, should be incorporated in any new science body fiscal and regulatory policy. A considerable amount to ensure an appropriately broad base. When in of the Academy’s effort and resources is devoted to February 2001, a small NSO working group was providing expert advice to Government and policy formed, it included Eliot Phillipson [who had been makers. Among its highly influential publications present at the round table and was then President have been Strengthening Clinical Research (2003) of the Canadian Institute of Academic Medicine and A New Pathway for the Regulation and Governance (CIAM)], to develop a proposal for a new Canadian of Health Research (2011). national science organization. Although the Canadian Academies of Science (CAS), as conceived by the 4 Scientific Advice for a Healthy Canada Background, Creation and Progress of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences – CAHS Working Group reactivated – Speech from the Throne 2000 2001 2002 announces funding of CAS – CAHS Letters patent issued – National