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Overview

Welcome to the Canadian Society of Nephrology's Quality Improvement and Implementation Science (CSN-QUIS) Committee webpage.

The major purpose of the CSN Quality Improvement and Implementation Science (CSN-QUIS) committee is the promotion of quality assurance (i.e., achievement of performance indicators) and quality improvement (i.e., ongoing activities to improve care) within all aspects of nephrology practice in Canada.

This includes three broad goals:

1. To establish and monitor key nephrology performance indicators (i.e., quality assurance)
2. To educate and act as a resource for nephrology healthcare providers on quality improvement methods
3. To increase the number of quality improvement initiatives being done in nephrology and spread best practices

QI Repository

The CSN-QUIS Quality Improvement Repository is a compilation of QI related projects from across Canada that is continually updated.

The repository will include a comprehensive list of projects from all levels of completion and spans the full spectrum of nephrology.

The repository will be accessible to both members and non-members of the CSN, and will allow users to submit projects for upload directly from the website using a simple process.

This resource aims to allow for increased awareness on the QI projects being done in Canada, reduce project redundancy, and foster collaboration across sites and provinces.

Click here to visit the QI Repository.

Fellow QI Project

The next scheduled courses are as follows:

Session 4: Tues, Feb 7th '23, 2-4pm EDT

For more information and registration information on the above upcoming courses, please contact the QUIS team anytime at quis@csnscn.ca.

Download assets from past courses:

QI Course 104: Held on Feb 7th, 2023

  • Course Recording

  • Download Presentation Slides

QI Course 103: Held on Dec 6th, 2022

  • Course Recording

  • Download Presentation Slides

QI Course 102: Held on Oct 4th, 2022

  • Course Recording

  • Download Presentation Slides

QI Course 101: Held on Aug 2nd, 2022

  • Course Recording

  • Download Presentation Slides

  • Download Articles for Reference

Terms of Reference

Click to download a PDF of the CSN-QUIS Committee Terms of Reference.

Please feel free to share ideas or insights with the CSN-QUIS committee by contacting the committee at quis@csnscn.ca.

Follow the CSN-QUIS team on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/NephQI

Our Members

SILVER_Samuel

Dr. Samuel
Silver

Chair

Dr. Samuel Silver

Samuel Silver is an Associate Professor in the Division of Nephrology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He completed his clinical training in internal medicine and nephrology at the University of Toronto. He holds a Master of Science in quality improvement and patient safety and completed the Veteran Affairs Quality Scholars program at the University of California-San Francisco. Samuel then trained as a research fellow at Stanford University, with a focus on health services research. Samuel has received salary support through the Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training (KRESCENT) program, as well as funding from CIHR, the Kidney Foundation of Canada, and Ontario Renal Network. The objective of his research program is to use administrative data and systematic reviews to inform the design of quality improvement interventions that may improve patient outcomes, with a focus on patients with acute kidney injury and patients receiving in-centre hemodialysis.

Dr. Silver's Bio
Atkinson_Teresa

Ms. Teresa
Atkinson

Ms. Teresa Atkinson

I have the privilege to work, live and play within the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.

I have lived with kidney disease for 35 years and have spent more time on dialysis than living with a successful transplant. After a 17 year wait on dialysis, I was lucky enough to receive my 3rd miracle transplant from the highly sensitized list.
My professional background is in Administration and Project Management, and I am currently under contract with the Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC and Yukon Branch as Project Coordinator/Liaison.

As a person with a lifetime of lived experience with a chronic disease, I am a passionate advocate for empowering others and building community. I have 25 years of volunteer experience with various kidney related heath charities. Raising public awareness, peer engagement, promoting organ donation, strategic planning, and governance. I love connecting people within the Kidney Community and helping them along their kidney journey.

Research has become an exciting area where I can make a difference for patients and clinicians by sharing my patient journey and insights. My recent engagements with various research projects have been some of the most satisfying work I’ve done.

Ms. Atkinson's Bio
AUGUSTE_Bourne

Dr. Bourne
Auguste

Dr. Bourne Auguste

Dr. Bourne Auguste is a nephrologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an Assistant Professor in Department of Medicine with the job description of Clinician in Quality and Innovation at the University of Toronto. Dr. Auguste obtained his MD from McMaster University and completed his internal medicine and nephrology residencies at the University of Toronto.

He completed advanced training with a clinical fellowship in home dialysis at the University Health Network and a Master of Science in System Leadership and Innovation from the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. He also obtained a Certificate in Quality Improvement Patient Safety (CQuIPS) from the Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (C-QuIPS).

Dr. Auguste’s main areas of interests within the quality improvement domain focus on patient safety and equity. He is working on developing innovative tools to meet the needs of a diverse patient population with CKD, particularly amongst those with an interest in pursuing home-based dialysis therapies.

Dr. Auguste's Bio
BERALL_Laura

Dr. Laura
Berall

Dr. Laura Berall

Laura E. Berall, MD, MSc, FRCPC received her Doctor of Medicine degree at Western University followed by her Internal Medicine residency and Nephrology fellowship at the University of Toronto.

She went on to complete additional fellowships in Glomerular Disease as well as Pregnancy and Nephrology, while simultaneously completing a Master of Science degree in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. She works as a staff nephrologist at Humber River Hospital (HRH), where she leads both the Glomerulonephritis Clinic as well as the Pregnancy and Nephrology Clinic. She is also a member of the HRH Medical Quality Improvement Committee.

Her research interests include: quality improvement, glomerulonephritis, and pregnancy and kidney disease.

Dr. Berall's Bio
BLUM_Daniel

Dr. Daniel
Blum

Dr. Daniel Blum

Daniel Blum works at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. He trained in Toronto as the inaugural Marc Goldstein Fellow in Advanced Hemodialysis at the Division of Nephrology at St Michael's Hospital, and also obtained a certificate in quality improvement and patient safety from the University of Toronto.

He previously attended McGill University and the University of Toronto. Daniel does clinical research and pragmatic quality improvement work in Hemodialysis.

Dr. Blum's Bio
CHIU_Michael

Dr. Michael
Chiu

Dr. Michael Chiu

Dr. Chiu is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario. He completed medical school and Internal Medicine training at the University of Ottawa. Subsequently, he finished his Nephrology training and Home Dialysis fellowship at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Chiu recently completed a Master’s of Science in Healthcare Quality at Queen’s University. He is interested in patient safety and process improvement and serves as a physician lead on the Renal Quality Council at London Health Sciences Centre.

DR. CHIU'S BIO
CHRISTIE_Emily

Dr. Emily
Christie

Dr. Emily Christie

Dr. Emily Christie is a clinical nephrologist at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. She completed her medical school at the University of Calgary, followed by internal medicine residency and nephrology fellowship at the University of Alberta. She then pursued her renal transplant clinical fellowship at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Christie recently completed a Master’s of Science in Healthcare Quality through Queen’s University. She is the lead for quality improvement and assessment for Renal Transplant Services at the University of Alberta. Her main research interest is transplant process improvement with focus on special groups including transgender patients, paediatric to adult transition and patients with obesity. She is also the incoming director of the renal transplant fellowship program at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Christie's Bio
COTE_Gabrielle_Pic

Dr. Gabrielle
Cote

Dr. Gabrielle Cote

Dr Gabrielle Côté, MD, MSc, FRCPC completed medical school at Laval University in 2014 and continued her internal medicine and nephrology residencies there until 2019. She has completed a 2-year clinical fellowship in Onco-Nephrology at the University of Toronto, while simultaneously completing a Master of Science degree in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. She is a staff nephrologist at CHU de Québec and Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis where she leads the onco-nephrology clinic. 

Dr. Cote's Bio
COURTNEY_Mark

Dr. Mark
Courtney

Dr. Mark Courtney

Dr. Mark Courtney graduated medical school University of Ottawa 1995 and completed internal medicine and nephrology training at the University of Alberta. Dr. Courtney has a masters degree in patient safety from Imperial College London and is the program director for the nephrology residency training program at the University of Alberta. His research interest is in virtual care outcomes.

Dr. Courtney's Bio
DUBROSKY_Lisa

Dr. Lisa
Dubrofsky

Dr. Lisa Dubrofsky

Lisa Dubrofsky is a nephrologist practicing at Women's College Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her clinical and research interests are in improving quality of care for patients with complex hypertension and hypertension in pregnancy.

Dr. Dubrofsky's Bio
ETHIER_Isabelle

Dr. Isabelle
Ethier

Dr. Isabelle Ethier

Dr. Isabelle Ethier is a Nephrologist and early career researcher from Montreal. She has completed a 2-year clinical and research fellowship in home dialysis in Brisbane, Australia. She holds a Master's degree in Biomedical sciences - Applied clinical research from Université de Montréal. She currently works at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and its affiliated research center.

Dr. Ethier's Bio
FLOOD_Kayla

Dr. Kayla
Flood

Dr. Kayla Flood

Dr. Flood is a pediatric nephrologist and assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Saskatchewan. She obtained her undergraduate and medical degree at the University of Alberta and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Saskatchewan.

Her pediatric nephrology fellowship was completed at BC Children's hospital in Vancouver, BC. She is currently enrolled in the Clinical Quality Improvement Program (CQIP) through the Health Quality Council of Saskatchewan. Her clinical interest involve dialysis, nephrotic syndrome, AKI, and fluid overload.

Dr. Flood's Bio
Gersberger_Michael

Dr. Michael
Girsberger

Dr. Michael Girsberger

Dr. Michael Girsberger moved to Canada in 2017 after finishing his training in Internal Medicine and Nephrology in Switzerland. He did a fellowship in Home Dialysis at UHN in Toronto with Dr. Christopher Chan and Joanne Bargman.

During this time, he conducted several research projects and developed a keen interest in Quality Improvement leading to successful completion of a Master's degree program at the Bloomberg School for Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

He is currently working as a provincial nephrologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Dr. Girsberger's Bio
GLAVINOVOC_Tamara

Dr. Tamara
Glavinovic

Dr. Tamara Glavinovic

Dr. Tamara Glavinovic completed her undergraduate training and medical school at McGill University. She then went on to complete her Internal Medicine training at the University of Manitoba, and her Nephrology training at the University of Toronto. She then moved to Melbourne, Australia to complete an MSc in Public Health along with further training in glomerulonephritis.

She is currently completing a Master of Clinical Education through the University of Melbourne. Her clinical interests are in glomerulonephritis and pregnancy-related kidney disease, and her research interests are in both medical education and quality improvement.

Dr. Glavinovic's Bio
HARRIS_Claire

Dr. Claire
Harris

Dr. Claire Harris

Claire is a graduate of UBC Medical School and completed her Internal Medicine and Nephrology training at UBC. After her nephrology fellowship, she pursued an additional year of training in Hemodialysis. Claire has a Master’s in Health Administration from UBC and pursued additional quality improvement training through the University of Toronto’s Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.

Claire works at Vancouver General Hospital where she is the Hemodialysis Medical Director and is a Clinical Assistant Professor within the UBC Division of Nephrology involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. Claire has an interest in quality improvement and pragmatic clinical trials in hemodialysis and participates in several national and provincial QI and research projects.

Dr. Harris' Bio
HILLIER_David

Mr. David
Hillier

Mr. David Hillier

I am a retired finance executive having worked for over 35 years within the financial services industry, primarily within the Toronto market. I have a wife, two daughters and two granddaughters. I was raised in Ottawa, Ontario and currently reside in Newmarket, Ontario.

I volunteer with the Can-SOLVE CKD Network holding a co-chair position with the Patient Governance Council, Patient Partner Lead on two research projects under Dr. York Pei, and a member of the Steering Committee and CANA-Can-SOLVE CSN Joint Symposium Committee.

As an individual with stage 4 CKD and an advocate and caregiver for family members affected by Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), I have experienced peritoneal dialysis, in-centre hemodialysis and living donor transplantation. I believe that there can be better, more effective research and health care models based on Patient-focused research and Quality improvement and Implementation science initiatives.

Mr. Hillier's Bio
HINGWALA_Jay

Dr. Jay
Hingwala

Dr. Jay Hingwala

Jay Hingwala is a Nephrologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Manitoba and serves as the Medical Director of the Home Hemodialysis and Transitional Dialysis Care at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre. He completed his clinical training in Internal Medicine at the University of Manitoba, followed by subspecialty training in Nephrology at the University of Toronto. He has also completed a Master of Science Degree in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto, where he now also holds a faculty cross appointment. His research interests focus on quality improvement interventions that improve care of patients that are transitioning onto chronic dialysis.

I grew up in the Winnipeg and have many strong roots to our prairie community. Through the years, I have gained extensive experience in working on committees and in previous elected council positions within the University, with key successes including initiatives to foster collaborations with stakeholders and industry, creating future visions and strategies, and improving the financial positions of the organizations. My nephrology quality improvement work includes innovative initiatives in transitional care for chronic dialysis, growing home dialysis, reducing medication administration errors in hemodialysis, improving ambulatory care referral processes, streamlining virtual ambulatory renal care, and establishing key performance indicators. I value the contributions that each unique allied team member (including patients!) brings, and know that our best care is delivered when we work together as a team. I maintain national connections through the Canadian Nephrology Quality Improvement and Implementation Science Collaborative and through my previous training in Ontario, as I believe we can learn from our Canadian colleagues to further our collective goals. As a Western Province Director, I hope to bring a creative energy and out of the box thinking to represent my colleagues and help move forward our National agenda.

Dr. Hingwala's Bio
LOTFY_Khaled

Dr. Khaled
Lotfy

Dr. Khaled Lotfy

Dr. Lotfy completed his medical school at Ain Shams University in Egypt. He then went on to complete his Internal Medicine and Nephrology training at the University of Western Ontario. He subsequently completed a fellowship in renal transplantation at the University of Western Ontario.

He is currently an Assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology at University of Western Ontario. He will also complete his Masters in Healthcare Quality MSc(HQ).

Dr. Lotfy's Bio
MOLNAR_Amber

Dr. Amber
Molnar

Dr. Amber Molnar

Dr. Amber Molnar is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology at McMaster University and holds a cross appointment with the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact.

She received her MD at the University of Saskatchewan and completed Internal Medicine training at Western University. She then completed her Nephrology training followed by a two-year research fellowship and MSc in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa.

She is an Adjunct Scientist with ICES. In this role, she is able to use large, provincial healthcare databases to answer research questions pertinent to patients with kidney disease. Her research program focuses primarily on improving outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease and on hemodialysis.

Dr. Molnar's Bio
MORE_Keigan

Dr. Keigan
More

Dr. Keigan More

Keigan More is a Nephrologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University. He received his MD at the University of British Columbia and completed Internal Medicine and Nephrology training at Dalhousie University.

He has also completed a Master of Science in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto.

He is currently serving as the Medical Director of Renal Quality for the Nova Scotia Renal Program, Central Zone.

Dr. More's Bio
MYSORE_Priyanka

Dr. Priyanka
Mysore

Dr. Priyanka Mysore

Dr. Priyanka Mysore completed her MD at the University of Manitoba and her Internal Medicine at the University of Calgary. She then completed her Nephrology and Nephrology Transplant fellowships at the University of Alberta. She developed an interest in quality improvement and completed a certificate course through the University of Toronto. She then relocated to Boston where she completed her Master of Healthcare Quality and Safety at Harvard University.

She has since moved back to her hometown of Winnipeg where she is an Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba. Her interests include quality improvement and implementation science in ambulatory settings and patient reported outcome and experience measures.

Dr. Mysore's Bio
NADEAU-FREDETTE_Annie-Claire

Dr. Annie-Claire
Nadeau-Fredette

Dr. Annie-Claire Nadeau-Fredette

Dr. Annie-Claire Nadeau-Fredette is a Clinical scientist and  Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Université de Montréal. She is the Director of Home Dialysis and a staff nephrologist at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont. Dr. Nadeau-Fredette received her MD (2007), completed a Masters in Clinical Research (2016) at the Université de Montréal and home dialysis research fellowships at the University of Toronto (2013) and University of Queensland (2015). Dr. Nadeau-Fredette is a FRQS Junior 1 research scholar, has >60 publications and is involved in national and international studies in chronic kidney disease and dialysis. Her research program focuses primarily on improving outcomes of transitional periods for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and on home dialysis.

Dr. Nadeau-Fredette's Bio
POINEN_Kris

Dr. Kris
Poinen

Dr. Kris Poinen

Dr. Krishna Poinen is a clinical nephrologist in Victoria, BC. He completed medical school at the UBC, Internal Medicine Residency Training at the University of Calgary, and then returned to UBC for his Nephrology Fellowship.

He went on to complete the UBC Home Therapies Training program alongside a master’s degree in Health Administration and The Excellence in Quality Improvement Certificate Program (EQUIP) at the University of Toronto. His interest includes home dialysis therapies, quality improvement and spending time with his young family.

Dr. Poinen's Bio
SHAH_Sachin

Dr. Sachin
Shah

Dr. Sachin Shah

Sachin Shah was born and raised in Saskatoon. He completed his M.D. and core internal medicine training at the University of Saskatchewan. He completed his nephrology fellowship followed by a one-year home dialysis fellowship, at the University of Western Ontario. He returned home to Saskatoon and the University of Saskatchewan in 2014. He is currently an Assistant Professor (Nephrology).

In addition to full-time clinical practice, he is involved with teaching at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and holds several administrative roles within the division of Nephrology.

Dr. Shah's Bio
SHOME-VASANTHAN_Epsita

Dr. Epsita
Shome-Vasanthan

Dr. Epsita Shome-Vasanthan

Epsita Shome is a Nephrology fellow at the University of Calgary. She completed her medical school and Internal Medicine core residency at the University of Alberta.

Her clinical and academic interests are in home dialysis therapies and medical education.

Dr. Shome-Vasanthan's Bio
TENNANKORE_Karthik

Dr. Karthik
Tennankore

Dr. Karthik Tennankore

Dr. Karthik Tennankore received his MD at the University of Western Ontario, and completed Internal Medicine and Nephrology at Dalhousie University. He went on to complete a two year clinical fellowship in home dialysis at the Toronto General Hospital (University of Toronto), and concurrently obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology through Harvard University.

He joined the Dalhousie Division of Nephrology in 2013 and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and the QEII Foundation Endowed Chair in Transplantation Research. His research interests are aimed at improving the health of patients with chronic kidney disease, dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients. In addition, he is heavily involved in both investigator-led and industry clinical trials, he is the current executive committee co-chair and scientific operations committee co-lead for the Canadian Nephrology Trials Network.

Dr. Tennankore's Bio
THOMAS_Alison

Ms. Alison
Thomas

Ms. Alison Thomas

Alison Thomas, MN, CNeph(C), CDE is a Nurse Practitioner at Unity Health Network (St Michael’s Hospital site) with over 30 years of experience in nephrology nursing. Her clinical work is focused in the outpatient hemodialysis setting.

A graduate of the C-QuIPS Certificate Course in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at University of Toronto, Alison has been involved in research projects including hemodialysis safety checklists (HemoPause) and the impact of reduced bloodwork frequency intervals in chronic stable hemodialysis patients.

Current QI work includes examining the importance of nursing interruptions in care and their importance to hemodialysis patient outcomes.

Ms. Thomas' Bio
TRINH_Emilie_PIC_2023

Dr. Emilie
Trinh

Dr. Emilie Trinh

Dr. Emilie Trinh is a nephrologist and Assistant Professor at the McGill University Health Center.  Dr. Trinh’s area of clinical expertise is in hemodialysis and home dialysis therapies. She completed a MSc degree in clinical epidemiology and her research focuses on strategies to improve clinical outcomes for dialysis patients. Since 2019, she has been appointed as divisional lead in quality improvement and is currently the chair of the MUHC Dialysis Quality Assurance Committee where she has helped lead many QI initiatives within her division.

Dr. emilie trinh's Bio
Woods_Cathy

Ms. Cathy
Woods

Ms. Cathy Woods

Cathy Woods is a member of Naicatchewewin First Nation in Ontario & now resides on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg Manitoba, the Homeland of the Métis Nation.

Cathy recently retired from the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union as the Indigenous Liaison Specialist.

Cathy is involved in Can-solve Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) network that looks at look at defining and optimizing treatments with patient focused care to improve the outcomes and quality of life for patients and their families. Cathy is a founding member of the Indigenous People’s Engagement Resource Council for CanSolve & participates on many research studies and committees.

Cathy’s journey is her chance to give back to her community and to those who assisted her in dealing with her disease. The Can-SOLVE network projects is changing the face of CKD for all by involving the patients and caregivers. By working together we can improve the kidney health of all Canadians.

Ms. Woods' Bio
SEYCHELLE_Yohanna

Dr. Seychelle
Yohanna

Dr. Seychelle Yohanna

• Transplant nephrologist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare

• Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster

• Internal Medicine and Nephrology residencies at Western. Transplant fellowship at McMaster.

• Masters of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the University of Toronto.

• Clinical and research interest in improving the efficiency of the living kidney donor evaluation

Dr. Yohanna's Bio
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