Samantha Anthony

Dr. Samantha J. Anthony is a Health Clinician Scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences (CHES) Program at SickKids Research Institute. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the SickKids Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Centre (TRMC) as a Social Worker, and is an Assistant Professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Dr. Anthony is also an Investigator with the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program.

Dr. Anthony has been recognized for her dedication to clinical practice and the application of research for improved patient outcomes. Her program of research centres on establishing an evidence-based foundation for successful psychosocial adaptation and enhanced quality of life for individuals with chronic disease, with a specific focus on pediatric solid-organ transplantation. She has received national academic scholarships and has obtained highly competitive grants and research awards, including funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Health Canada, Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program, Canadian Society of Transplantation, Enduring Hearts and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.

Research

Dr. Anthony’s program of research examines the biopsychosocial impact of pediatric transplantation on patients and their families and aims to improve their health outcomes by transforming clinical practice through research.

• Capturing the patients’ voice - Exploring the transplantation experience from the perspective of those who live it and create meaning from it.
• Engaging patients meaningfully - Focusing on patient-identified priorities and integrating their experiential knowledge through patient-centred partnerships.
• Advancing implementation science - Promoting the development, evaluation and systematic uptake of innovative evidence-informed interventions into clinical practice.

Education and experience

• 2004–2010: Doctor of Philosophy, Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 2001–2003: Diploma in Social Work Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• 1999–2000: Master of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, QC

Post-graduate and Research Training

• 2014–2015: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Law & Bioethics, Canadian National Transplant Research Program/University of Alberta/University Health Network, Toronto, ON
• 2013–2014: Postdoctoral Fellowship, International Centre for Health Innovation, Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, London, ON
• 2010–2013: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON

Achievements

• 2018: Career Development Award, Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program
• 2017: New Investigator Grant in Maternal, Reproductive, Child & Youth Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• 2015: Career Enhancement Program Award, Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program
• 2011: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Institute of Health Development, Child and Youth Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research2010: Research Fellowship Award, McMaster Child Health Research Institute, McMaster University
• 2005: Doctoral Research Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Funding

Principal Investigator

• 2019–2022: Implementation and Evaluation of an Electronic Patient Reported Outcome Measure Platform in Pediatric Transplantation. Health Canada – Health Care Policy Contribution Program
• 2019–2021: Implementation and Effectiveness Evaluation of the iPeer2Peer Support Mentorship Program within Pediatric Heart Transplantation. Enduring Hearts – Direct Grant Competition
• 2019–2021: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Retreat for Mothers of Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients. SickKids Labatt Family Heart Centre – Innovation Fund
• 2019–2020: InSight: Creation of an Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Platform in Pediatric Transplantation. Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program and Astellas Pharma Canada – Research Innovation Grant

Co-Investigator/Collaborator

• 2019–2023: Electronic Patient Reported Outcome Measures to Improve Patient Centered Solid Organ Transplant Care. Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Project Grant
• 2018–2022: Adolescent Type 1 Diabetes Treatment with EMPaglifozin for Hyperglycemia & HyperfilTration Trial “ATTEMPT” Trial. Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Operating Grant
• 2018–2021: Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program (CDTRP): Maximizing Benefits through National Infrastructure and Sustainability Planning. Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Network Grant in Transplantation Research

1. Pol S, Snyder J & Anthony SJ. “Tremendous financial burden”: Crowdfunding for organ transplantation costs in Canada. Public Library of Science. 14(12):e 0226686.
2. Ghent E, Robertson T, Young K*, DeAngelis M, Fecteau A, Grant D, Ng V & Anthony SJ. The experiences of parents and caregiver(s) whose child received an organ from an anonymous living donor. Clinical Transplantation. 2019. 33(10):e13667.
3. Anthony SJ, Stinson H, Lazor T, Young K, Hundert A, Santana MJ, Stinson JN & West LJ. Patient-reported outcome measures within pediatric solid organ transplantation: A systematic review. Pediatric Transplantation. 2019. 23(6):e13518. 
4. Anthony SJ, Nicholas DB, Regehr C & West LJ. The heart as a transplanted organ: Unspoken struggles of personal identity among adolescent recipients. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2019. 35(1):96-99.
5. Anthony SJ, Robertson T, Selkirk E, Dix D, Klaassen RJ, Sung L & Klassen AF. The social impact of early psychological maturity in adolescents with cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 2019. 28(3):586-592.