Researcher

Title

• Researcher, CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 2008.

• PhD, Institute for Public Health Genetics, University of Washington, 2008.
• Masters in Public Health, Institute for Public Health Genetics, University of Washington, 2005.
• Fellow in Medical Genetics, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, 2003.
• Specialization in Medical Genetics, University of Montreal, 2003.
• MD, University of Montreal, 1998.

In my future research, I am particularly interested in the use of genetic technologies and services real-life settings, in their impact on health outcomes and resources, as well as in the broader health policy, legal, and ethical implications of their use. In recent years, genetic research had produced huge amounts of knowledge about associations between genetic variants and disease. As new genetic tests and services become available for clinical practice, it is important to evaluate their clinical utility. My multidisciplinary training enables me to examine these questions using different methods, both quantitative and qualitative.

I plan to pursue the work I started during my doctoral dissertation, on the clinical use of the genetic test for Factor V Leiden, a genetic risk factor for venous thrombo-embolism and fetal loss. I plan to study the use of other genetic tests commonly used in clinical practice, particularly in the investigation of children with developmental delay and congenital deafness.

I also have a continued interest in genetic diseases with particularities in the French Canadian population, as well as the implications these particularities can have for the use of available genetic tests in the context of population screening strategies.

Awards and Distinctions

• Top Scholar Award, University of Washington Graduate School, 2005.

Presentations

• Practice guidelines and uptake of genetic testing for Factor V Leiden. Pre-conference workshop titled Supporting Policy Development in Genetics/Genomics: Where HTA, HSR, Public Health and ELSI Research Meet. 5th Annual Meeting of Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi), Montréal, July 6, 2008.
• Clinical Practice Guidelines about FVL Testing: Their Intended Purpose in Practice and Their Role in Defining the Standard of Care. Leducq International Network Against Thrombosis (LINAT) Annual Meeting, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 30, 2008.
• Effets fondateurs et leur impact sur la distribution des maladies génétiques au Québec. Congrès annuel de la Société québécoise de biologie clinique, Pointe-au-Pic, Québec, October 5, 2006.
• Principaux éléments contribuant au succès d’un programme de dépistage de porteurs : regards sur quelques expériences clés. Journées annuelles de santé publique, Québec, November 17, 2005.