After a decade in American academia, Dr. Sean Clarke returns to Canada as the inaugural RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research and the newest recruit to the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and University Health Network. Clarke, a leading international expert in nursing outcomes research, has a clinical background in cardiovascular nursing, and a PhD in psychological and social aspects of cardiac disease. The RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research is supported with $1.5 million from the RBC Foundation, and matched by the University of Toronto.
“I look forward to taking my research back to the level of frontline nursing and study what’s going on at the forefront of cardiovascular care,” says Clarke. “One of the things that attracted me to the position, with its resources and built-in links between education, service and research, was the opportunity to build a program of studies examining innovative ways to prepare and manage staff and organize cardiac care for delivering the highest quality, safest hospital services possible.”
After an extensive international search, Dr. Sioban Nelson, dean and professor of nursing, says this appointment is a research coup and will pioneer new directions in cardiac care. “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Clarke to this important position. The RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research offers an unparalleled opportunity for groundbreaking research in a collaborative cross-disciplinary setting. Dr. Clarke is the perfect candidate for this creative opportunity. He brings a high profile, a wealth of experience and an international network to the Chair—as well as enormous energy. This is a great outcome for the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, for nursing research and for patient care.”
“Dr. Clarke is continually breaking new ground in nursing research,” says Dr. Mary Ferguson-Pare, vice-president, professional affairs and chief nurse executive, University Health Network. “His work on the quality and safety issues in hospital care will push the envelope in delivering improved patient outcomes.”
“RBC pledged its support to this unique nursing research chair to foster a spirit of inquiry and help create a learning environment for professional nurses, because we know this will ultimately lead to enhanced patient care,” said Shari Austin, vice-president and head of corporate citizenship. “We congratulate Dr. Clarke and are pleased to welcome him back to Canada.”
Clarke aims to be a catalyst for collaborative research projects, and push the opportunities of the RBC Chair to their maximum, encouraging research projects among nurses and advanced practice nurses in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at University Health Network, and also doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows at the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing. Clarke is an associate professor at the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
The Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto is an outstanding professional faculty that ranks among the premier nursing programs in the world. First in nursing research and education, the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing offers the best possible educational experience: first in student-award funding; first dedicated centre in nursing-education research [CIENE]; first in hospital and community partnerships; first in donation funding; first in named professorships; first accelerated bachelor's program and much more.
