Robert Baird
Student spotlight details
After finishing a fellowship in paediatric surgery, Robert was inspired to pursue the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care in order to incorporate new information in to his practice as well as participate in the improvement of evidence available to aid surgical decision-making.
'I had just finished a two year fellowship in paediatric surgery at McGill University, after six years of surgical residency at McGill and the University of British Columbia. I held an MSc in experimental surgery, but was greatly removed from the principles of clinical research and desired an opportunity to distinguish myself from my peers. After 8 years straight of intensive surgical training, I wanted a chance to use my brain again!
'I was inspired to pursue the course as despite the extensive clinical training, I felt ill-prepared to assess, appraise and incorporate new information into my practice. Furthermore, my hope was (and still is) to participate in improving the level of evidence available to aid in surgical decision-making for my field.
'The course was akin to working out a set of muscles that had been lying dormant for many years. And like that first run after a long lay-off, it wasn’t easy. Some of the principles and concepts were familiar from long-ago medical school, but had never been understood properly and needed to be re-learned. Also, I never did enjoy mathematics; biostatistics was a truly painful experience!
'The chance to demystify the process of evidence based medicine (and surgery) with world-class instructors was wonderful – as was the chance to simply witness expert teaching and try to incorporate tips and tricks into my own armamentarium for future use. Rubbing elbows with individuals with such diverse backgrounds and interests also broadened my perspective of different research contexts. My creative juices were flowing like never before. During the same tea-break, I could be discussing the challenge of knowledge translation in Ugandan villages, how to disseminate evidence based veterinary practice or when to randomize individuals with dental caries. These and other examples have shed light on challenges and opportunities within my own limited sphere of research and have helped me shape my career as a clinician-scientist.
'I am now associate professor of paediatric general and thoracic surgery at the McGill University Health Center. I lecture at the school on EBM principles, am vice-chair of the American Paediatric Surgery Association (APSA) Outcomes and Evidence Based committee, run an online journal club and continue to have an active clinical research career (>50 peer-reviewed publications), including nearly every type of methodology imaginable (qualitative, systematic reviews, even an ongoing randomized clinical trial). Not bad for a busy surgeon.
'The Oxford EBHC program has provided me with the tools to springboard my early career as a clinician investigator. No matter one’s area of focus, the program will provide the principles needed to rationally understand available evidence and contribute meaningfully to future knowledge creation. It remains an absolute privilege to be an Oxford alumnus; I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.'
