Melanie Barwick

Title: Senior Scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences

Designations: PhD, CPsych

Pronouns: She/Her

Alternate Contact Name: Andrea Chiaramida

Alternate Email: achiara@sickkids.ca

U of T Positions: Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child Psychiatry Adjunct Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Chair Positions: Chair, Creative Professional Activity Committee

Learning Positions

Scientific Director, Knowledge Translation Program, SickKids Learning Institute

Biography

Dr. Barwick is an internationally recognized expert in implementation science and knowledge translation, and has a program of health services research 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 field experience in implementation, as lead technical assistance supporting outcome measurement for Ontario child and youth mental health provider organizations (2000-2015). She developed and provides professional development in knowledge translation internationally through the Specialist Knowledge Translation Training™ (for researchers) and the Knowledge Translation Professional Certificate™ (for KT practitioners). The KTPC has been recognized as a Leading Practice by Accreditation Canada and has over 300 graduates worldwide from Canada, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, 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’s focus is in implementation science, studying innovative knowledge translation and implementation strategies to facilitate the efficacy and effectiveness of how research evidence is used in practice across various contexts, including health, mental health, global health, and education. Her program of research 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

2018: Visiting Scholar, Murdoch Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Melbourne Australia
2017–2022: Visiting Professor, Visiting Professor, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK
2016: Visiting Scholar, Murdoch Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Melbourne Australia
2016: Visiting Scholar, Western Australia Health Translation Network (WAHTN) and University of Western Australia
2014: Professional Profile, J Hunsley and CM Lee (2014). Introduction to clinical psychology: An evidence-based approach

Publications

Barwick M, Kimber M, Akrong L, Johnson S, Cunningham CE, Bennett K, Ashbourne G, Godden T. (2019). Advancing Implementation Frameworks with a Mixed Methods Multi-Case Study in Child Behavioral Health. Translational Behavioral Medicine, ibz005,https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz005. Senior Responsible Author.
Barac R, Stein S, Bruce B, Barwick M. Scoping review of toolkits as a knowledge translation strategy in health. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. 2014. Co-Author.
Barwick MA, Bennett LM, Johnson SN, McGowan J, & Moore JE. Training health and mental health professionals in motivational interviewing: A systematic review. Children and Youth Services Review. 2012;34(2012):1786-1795. DOI information: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.05.01. Senior Responsible Author.
Barwick M, Kimber M, & Fearing G. Shifting Sands: A Case Study of Process Change in Scaling Up for Evidence-Based Practice. International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management. 2011;10(8):97-114. This paper was nominated and is a finalist for paper of the year for the International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management. Senior Responsible Author.

See a full list of Melanie Barwick’s publications.

Funding

2021: Principal Applicant. The Implementation Playbook: e-health technology for effective implementation of evidence-based interventions. NPA: Barwick M. Co-PA: Emily Seto Co-PA/KU Shakespeare J (CAMH). CAs: Brown J, Jaouich A, Powell B, Stevens B. Collaborators: Ashbourne G, Augimeri L, Ball L, Chalmers I, Saundar P, Sparling M, Stinson J. CIHR Program Grant Spring 2021. $673,200 CAD, 4 years.
2021–2024: Co-Principal Applicant. Implementing a standardized intervention to improve the transition of patients with crohn’s disease from pediatric to adult care. NPI: E Benchimol. PIs: M Barwick, N Bollegalla, N Fu. Co-Applicants: T Walters, D Mack, S Lawrence, K Kroeker, L Keefer, A Griffiths. Helmsley Charitable Trust – Crohn’s Disease Program. March 2021. Three years. $1,667,601.
2021–2024: Co-Applicant. Use of an automated prospective clinical surveillance tool to drive screening for unmet palliative needs among patients in the final year of life. NPI: J Downar. Principal Investigators: Graves E, Kutty S, Wegier, P. Co-Investigators: Ailon J, Barwick M, Bhimji K, Buchman S, Caraiscos V, Cargill D, Chasen M, Gratton V, Gupta M, Halligan R, Herx L, Isenberg SR, Jamieson T, Kennette W, Kobewka DM, Lapenskie J, Lawlor P, Mersmann S, Munene P, Murphy R, Rowan D, Tanuseputro P, Webber C. Collaborators: Blocki B, Hett S, Iyengar A, Schrierer G, Van Manen L, Varga P. $719,101 CAD. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Project Grant Fall 2020. 3 years, 6 months.
2020–2023: Co-Applicant. Implementation of a youth suicide prevention intervention: Learning how to export nationally. Canadian Children’s Hospital Foundation, Sobey’s Inc. and Sobey’s Foundation. Korczak D (PI), Finkelstein Y (Co-PI), Arnold P, Dimitropoulos D, Freedman S (co-site leads), Boylan K, Eltorki M, Lipman E (co-site leads), Barwick M, Cleverley K, Henderson J, Monga S, Moretti, M, Szatmari P, Willan A. $1,173,875 CAD.
2020–2025: Co-Applicant. Intervening in the Acute Management for Suicidal Adolescents and Families in the Emergency department (I AM SAFE): A Multi-Centre Randomized Controlled Trial. NPI: Korczak DJ Co-Principal Investigator: Finkelstein, Y. Co-Investigators: Barwick, M; Cleverley K; Henderson, J; Monga, S; Moretti, M; Peltz, L; Szatmari P; Willan, A. Collaborators: Beard J, Dawe I. CIHR Project Grant RCT Spring 2020 2021-2024. $1,629,450 CAD.
2020–2024: Co-Principal Applicant. Effectiveness of an integrated care pathway for adolescent depression: a pilot multi-site cluster randomized controlled trial. NPI: Courtney, D; PIs Barwick M; Szatmari, P; CIs: Aitken M, Andrade, B; Bennet, K; Cleverley, K; Darnay, K; De Oliveria, C; Hawke, L; Henderson, J; Wang, W; Watson, P. Collaborators: Jaouich, A; Pignatiello, A; Relihan, J. CIHR RCT Project Grant Spring 2020, 4 years, $745,875.
2020–2021: Co-Principal Applicant. e-NAVIGATE: Adapting evidence-based early psychosis intervention services for virtual care. NPA: N Kozloff. PAs: W Tempelaar, A Voinsekes, A Crawford, M Barwick. CAs: S Bromley, C. Baluyut, S Jindani, G Foussias, J Addington, A Jouich, J Durbin, D Addington, S. Sockalingam, E. Serhal, P Kurdyak, D Wang. CIHR Operating Grant: COVID-19 Mental Health & Substance Use Service Needs and Delivery. $193,379. One year.
2020–2021: Co-Applicant. NPA. J Couturier. CAs: C Miller, P Agar, K Anderson, M Barwick, G Dimitropoulos, S. Findlay, M Kimber, J Lock, G McVey, C Webb. Adapting and adopting highly specialized pediatric eating disorder treatment to virtual care: Implementation research for the COVID-19 context and beyond CIHR Operating Grant: COVID-19 Mental Health & Substance Use Service Needs and Delivery. $199,930, 1 year.
2020–2021: Co-Applicant. Pragmatic trial of two novel pathways for implementation of the Better Nights, Better Days (BNBD) online program to promote and protect the sleep, mental health, psychosocial wellbeing, and family resiliency of children and families during and after COVID-19 pandemic. NPA: Penny Corkum. CA: Bastien C, Barwick M, Godbout R, R Gruber, Keys E, MacKenzie N, Ralph P, Reid G, Smith I, Stremler R, Venkat R, Weiss, S. CIHR Operating Grant: COVID-19 Mental Health & Substance Use Service Needs and Delivery. $179,700. One year.
2020–2021: Co-Applicant. I-APPROACH: Implementing A roadmaP for PRiOritizing, evAluating, and implementing precision Child Health. NPAs R Hayeems, A Denburg. CAs: M Barwick, C Birken, P Pechlivanoglou, W Ungar. SickKids Precision Child Health Catalyst Grant, $40,000.
2020–2021: Co-Applicant. Canadian COVID-19 Prospective Cohort Study (CanCOV). Applicants: Dr. Angela Man-Wei Cheung, Dr. Sofia Bano Ahmed, Dr. Jane Andrea Elizabeth Batt, Dr. Alexandra Binnie, Dr. Claudia Chimisso Dos Santos et al. CIHR Operating Grant: COVID-19 May 2020 Rapid Research Funding Opportunity, May 12 2020. $2, 112, 500 CAD. One year.
2020–2021: Co-Applicant. Disseminating an evidence-based peer support intervention to promote positive airway pressure use: COVID-19 Enhancement. PI Suzanne M. Bertisch. CIs: Redline, S; Barwick, M., Parthasarathy, S; Bakker J, Hanes S., Page K. Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), $109556 USD.

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