Melanie Barwick

Scientific Director, Knowledge Translation Program, SickKids Learning Institute

Dr. Barwick is an internationally recognized expert in implementation science and knowledge translation and has a health services research program that spans health, mental health, education, and global health sectors. Her research aims to improve the implementation of evidence into practice and to broaden the reach of evidence more generally to support decision-making, policy, knowledge and awareness. She has extensive practical experience in implementation. She developed several dissemination and implementation tools, and provides professional development in knowledge translation (dissemination and implementation) internationally through the Specialist Knowledge Translation Training™ (for researchers),  the Knowledge Translation Professional Certificate™ (for KT practitioners), and Planning for Implementation Practice (PIP) for foundational training in implementation planning. The KTPC has been recognized as a Leading Practice by Accreditation Canada and has over 480 graduates worldwide from Canada, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States). Since 2004, SKTT has trained over 3000 individuals internationally and is the go-to KT training resource for many Canadian health funders and organizations.

Research

Dr. Barwick focuses on implementation science, studying innovative dissemination and implementation methods to facilitate the efficacy and effectiveness of research evidence applied in practice across various contexts, including health, mental health, and global health. Her research program explores empirically supported approaches, measures, and tools to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based practices across these multiple contexts.

Education and experience

• 1994–1996 Postdoctorate, Infant Mental Health, Research (Psychiatry), Hincks Institute (U Toronto), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  Supervisor: Dr. Nancy Cohen
• 1992–1994 Post Doctorate, Developmental Psychopathology, Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  Supervisor: Dr. Nancy Cohen
• 1989–1993 PhD, Educational Psychology, Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  Supervisor: Dr. Tom Eisemon
• 1987–1989 MA, Special Education, OISE/UT, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  Supervisor: Dr. Linda Siegel
• 1983-1986 BA, Psychology, Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• 2018–Present Professor (Primary appointment), Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
• 2018–Present Professor, Status-Only, Social and Behavioural Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
• 2018–Present Professor, Status-Only, Institute of Health Policy, Measurement and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
• 2018–Present Visiting Professor, None in Three Research Centre, University of Huddersfield, UK
• 2015–Present Senior Scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Canada (Primary)
• 2013–Present Full Member, Graduate Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto 2013 - present Executive Member and Senior Scientist, SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children
• 2007–Present Member, Education Council, Learning Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children

Achievements

• 2022: Awarded, The John Westbrook Award for Knowledge Translation, The Campbell Collaboration
• 2021: Nominated, Child Healthcare Canada, Individual Leadership Award
• 2020: Visiting Scholar, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia. The Black Dog Institute is affiliated with the University of New South Wales.
• 2020: Visiting Scholar - Trevor Waring Memorial Lecture, Everymind, Newcastle, Australia. Everymind is affiliated with the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle
• 2019:  Winner, Emerald Publisher Impact Award – Driving the Impact Agenda Category. Knowledge Translation Team at Melbourne Children’s Centre for Community Child Health, based within the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Royal Children’s Hospital 
• 2019: Shortlisted, Emerald Publisher Impact Award – Driving the Impact Agenda Category. SickKids Knowledge Translation Program
• 2018: Visiting Scholar, University of Western Australia – Western Australia Health Translation Network
• 2018: Visiting Scholar, Murdoch Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

1. Barwick M (SRA), Brown J, Petricca K, Stevens B, Powell B, Jaouich A, Shakespeare J, Seto E. (2023). The Implementation Playbook: study protocol for the development and feasibility evaluation of a digital tool for effective implementation of evidence-based innovations. Published Mar 7, 2023, Implementation Science Communications. 4, 21 (2023). Senior Responsible Author.
2. Templaar W, Kozloff N, Crawford A, Voineskos A, Addington D, Alexandar T, Baluyut C, Bromley S, Brooks S, de Freitas L, Jindani S, Kirvan A, Morizio A, Polillo A, Roby R, Sosnowski A, Villanueva V, Durbin J, Barwick M. (2023). The Quick Pivot: Capturing real-world modifications for the re-implementation of an early psychosis program transitioning to virtual delivery. Frontiers in Health Services, 2. Senior Responsible Author.
3. Sharratt K, Nanfuka E, Ochen E, Turyomurugyendo F, Barwick M (CA), Pearson J, Royston H, Wager N. (2022). Evaluation of a serious gaming intervention to prevent child marriage in Uganda. Computers in Human Behavior. Available online 20 December 2022, 107627. Co-author.
4. Barwick M. (2022). KT: Why it should be ‘hotter’ than it is. Invited Editorial. Evidence-Based Nursing, 25(4). Senior Responsible Author.
5. Bollegala N (co-SRA); Barwick M (co-SRA); Fu N; Griffiths AM; Keefer L; Kohut SA; Kroeker KI; Lawrence S; Lee K; Mack DR; Walters TD; de Guzman J; Tersigni C; BenchimolEI (co-SRA). Multimodal intervention to improve the transition of patients with inflammatory bowel disease from pediatric to adult care: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Gastroenterol 22, 251 (2022). Co-Senior Responsible Author.

See a full list of Melanie Barwick’s publications.

Relevant pages