She’s been described as “the godmother of patient decision-making science,” and for her groundbreaking international work, Dr. Annette O’Connor was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 2021.
Dr. O’Connor established the Patient Decision Aids Research Group in 1995 to help patients and their healthcare practitioners make those “tough” healthcare decisions, to weigh options, and learn about the risks and benefits of the various treatments they may choose.
The Ottawa Hospital leads the world in this area of research, and, since its inception 30 years ago, the group has helped develop decision aids for dozens of conditions including arthritis, diabetes, various cancers, and heart disease.
Dr. O’Connor, who began her career as a registered nurse, said her father’s heart attack and his treatment afterwards sparked a lifelong interest in patient-centred decision-making.
Her research has had a major influence on the field internationally, including with the Affordable Care Act in the United States, which includes guidelines on use of decision aids throughout their healthcare system.
Photo Credit: GUY MARTIN /G.R. Martin Photography
