James Anderson

James A. Anderson, MA, MHA, PhD, is a Bioethicist in the Department of Bioethics at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), an Assistant Professor (status only) in the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto (U of T) and a member of the University’s Joint Centre for Bioethics. In his role, James provides bioethics consultation, policy analysis, bioethics education and conducts research.

Since 2013, James has directed a course in ethical theory in the M.HSc. in Bioethics at U of T. His research explores the intersection of ethics and epistemology in clinical research and practice. Recent work has focused on ML applications in healthcare, whole genome sequencing, and clinical decision-making in paediatrics.

Research

Dr. Anderson’s research explores the intersection of ethics and epistemology in clinical research and practice. Recent work has focused on ML applications in healthcare, whole genome sequencing, and clinical decision making in paediatrics. Previous work explored the ethical foundations of research ethics. His research has been published in Nature Medicine, JAMA Paediatrics, Nature Methods, Clinical Genetics, PLoS ONE, the Journal of Medical Ethics, and the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal.

Education

• 1998: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (Honours), McGill University, Montreal, QC
• 2001: Master in Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• 2002: Master of Arts in Philosophy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• 2007: PhD in Philosophy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• 2013: Fellowship in Clinical and Organizational Ethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Experience

• 2004–2006: Part Time Instructor, Department of Philosophy, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS
• 2007–2008: Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Trent University, Peterborough, ON
• 2008–2011: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Biomedical Ethics Unit, McGill University, Montreal, QC
• 2011–2012: Senior Research Associate, National Core for Neuroethics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
• 2012–2013: Fellow in Clinical and Organizational Ethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2013–2016: Clinical and Research Bioethicist, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON
• 2013–2016: Research Bioethicist, SickKids, Toronto, ON
• 2016–2017: Ethicist, Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, ON
• 2017–Present: Bioethicist, SickKids, Toronto, ON

Achievements

• 2003–2006: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Ethics of Health Research and Policy Training Program Doctoral Fellowship
• 2003–2006: Izaak Walton Killam Pre-doctoral scholarship, Dalhousie University
• 2003–2007: Doctoral Fellowship, Social Science and Humanities Research Council
• 2007: Nomination for the Dalhousie University Doctoral Thesis Award
• 2008–2009: Post-Doctoral Fellowship,  Clinical Trials Research Group, Biomedical Ethics Unit, McGill University.
• 2009–2011: Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Montreal Children’s Hospital Research Institute
• 2014–2018: Board Member, Board of the Canadian Bioethics Society
• 2015: Nomination for the Christine Harrison Award for Excellence in Teaching, Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto
• 2018: Recipient, Ross Upshur Course Director Award. Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto

1. Streuli JC, Anderson JA, Alef-Defoe S, Bergsträsser E, Jovana J, Meyer S, Zlotnik Shaul R, Vayena E. Reconciling the best interest standard with shared decision-making – introducing the shared optimum approach. European Journal of Pediatrics. Forthcoming.
2. McCradden M, Stephenson E. Anderson JA. Clinical research underlies ethical integration of healthcare artificial intelligence. Nature Medicine. Forthcoming.
3. McCradden M, Mazwi, M, Joshi S, Anderson JA.  Ethical limitations of algorithmic fairness solutions in healthcare machine learning. Lancet Digital Health, 2020. Lancet Digital. 
4. Anderson JA. The ethics of silence: does conflict of interest explain employee silence? Health Management Forum. 2018 Mar 31(2): 66-68. 
5. Anderson JA, Hayeems RZ, Shuman C, Szego MJ, Monfared N, Bowdin S, Zlotnik Shaul R, Meyn MS. Predictive Genetic Testing for Adult-Onset Disorders in Minors: A Critical Analysis of the Arguments For and Against the 2013 ACMG guidelines. Clinical Genetics. 2015; Apr 87(4): 301-10.