mibjh spring/summer 2015 newsletter

McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health Spring/Summer 2015

Advances in Motion Remembering an MSK Legend

Cy Frank, surgeon, researcher, innovator, visionary, passed away suddenly on March 5, 2015. His was a life of continuous journey in pursuit of medical knowledge, health care innovation, and visionary public health policy. Cy’s unabashed passion and confident resoluteness inspired others to join him

on his journey.

At the time of his death, Cy was President and Chief Executive Officer of Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions, a practicing orthopaedic surgeon, and the McCaig Professor of Joint Injury and Arthritis Research, University of Calgary.

Cy saw these positions not as career posts but as the means to instigate and lead improvement in health care. He did this in many ways. He was a distinguished researcher committed resolutely to the principle that all medical care should be based on evidence. He was a creative innovator whose ideas and vision and whose passion and fervor for sharing them inspired others to greater endeavor. Importantly, Cy was a tireless patient advocate who believed wholeheartedly that medicine and medical research must above all be in the interest of improving patient outcomes. A gifted tactician and noted strategist, Cy succeeded in breaking down resistance to change and advancing continuous improvement in health care.

He was also an enthusiastic teacher to medical students, orthopaedic

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Save these dates!

ENCORE, Music in Motion is scheduled for October 6, 2015 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. For more information go to www.mccaiginstitute.com

The Wood Forum on Knee Sport Injuries is taking place in Calgary on Wednesday, October 21 and in Edmonton on Saturday, October 24, 2015. For more details go to www.mccaiginstitute.com

CMBBE 2015-Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering is taking place in Montreal from September 1 to 5, 2015. For more information go to www.cmbbe2015.com

Dr. Cy Frank

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residents, and MSc and PhD candidates at the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health (MIBJH). His abiding belief was that medical knowledge must be shared unreservedly for the benefit of patients, and as a surgeon he was noted for bringing the latest evidence based technology from the research bench to the bedside.

In the ongoing debate over private practice in Canada, Cy was an unabashed defender of Canada’s public health care system, intent on bringing innovative approaches to the challenges of sustaining universal access to high-quality medical care.

Among Cy’s many achievements was founding two bone and joint institutes with support from business leader and philanthropist J.R. “Bud” McCaig: the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, part of the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary is mandated to carry out high quality bone and joint research, and the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) is dedicated to testing and implementation of bone and joint research. The Institutes grew out of the vision Cy and a group of physicians and researchers had of an organization that would serve as a catalyst for improved patient care by influencing clinical practice, public policy, research and the exchange of knowledge.

Over a career spanning 35 years, Cy published 275 papers, authored numerous books and chapters, and served on approximately 60 national and international committees. Most recently, he was appointed by Canada’s Health Minister to a panel tasked with finding innovative ideas for improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of patient care. In 2013, the Alberta government appointed Cy as its representative on the Health Council of Canada to monitor and report on progress in health care renewal.

Cy received many well deserved honours and accolades throughout his career, including the Order of Canada in 2014. He appreciated the recognition but valued most the relationships he had with his colleagues and the love and support of his family and friends.

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Left to right: Drs. Nigel Shrive, Jaymi Taiani, Cy Frank, and Mrs. Ann McCaig

Left to right: Dr. Cy Frank and Mr. Bud McCaig


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Director’s Corner

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The essence of spring is a time of reflection, preparation, anticipation and clean-up.

All of us at the MIBJH mourned the sudden loss of our friend and colleague, Dr. Cy Frank. He was a founding member of the MIBJH and an unwavering champion for bone and joint research. He envisioned bone and joint research in Alberta reaching a world class level and steadfastly moved us a long way up that hill. He was also a visionary and a community leader, designing and implementing inroads in health care, provincially and nationally. To MIBJH researchers he was a collaborator par excellence and a partner in innovation. To many of our trainees he was an inspirational mentor, enabler and a fount of knowledge.

Cy’s passing has brought together the larger community to honour his memory. The Cumming School of Medicine will be leading the way in determining how best to commemorate Cy’s accomplishments and global influence.

As the MIBJH entered into some significant planning stages last month we felt Cy’s absence, but we were also motivated by his enduring vision. On April 21 the MIBJH held a Town Hall meeting to envision and discuss key issues around the Institute’s distinctive, research priorities, and initiatives around education, knowledge translation, and communications. After an opening address by Ann McCaig, the membership was thoroughly engaged and productive discussions resulted in feedback that will be taken to the Executive Council for further action.

Under the watchful eye of Steve Boyd, construction of the new Centre for Mobility and Joint Health started on the 3rd floor of the HRIC building. We are thrilled to see this project come together and expect that once completed (targeted for the fall of 2015) it will be a busy hub that bridges basic and clinical research.

In June a complete review of MIBJH space will be completed. After review by the Executive Council and meetings with those most affected by proposed changes, this will undoubtedly result in inconveniences and moves to accommodate new initiatives and recruitments.

Terri May and I have engaged the leadership of the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) to draft a Memorandum of Understanding whose main purpose is to clarify the roles and mandates of both parties and also how we can work more closely together. This document is currently under review by the executive branches of MIBJH and ABJHI.

continued on page 5…

Front row left to right: Mr. Bud McCaig, Mrs. Ann McCaig, Dr. Cy Frank, and Dr. Marv Fritzler. Back row left to right: Mr. Rick Melchin, Dr. Bob Bray, Dr. Ron Zernicke, Dr. Liam Martin, Dr. David Hart, and Mr. Richard Tingle


Wood Forum in Edmonton

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TELUS World of Science Edmonton and the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta partnered to present the Wood Forum on Juvenile Arthritis (JIA) in Edmonton on Saturday, March 7, 2015. Young patients and their families listened to experts on the latest research developments in JIA and best ways to manage the disease.

The highlight of the event was presenter Kristine Erickson who shared her first-hand experience growing up with JIA. Kristine is now training to become an occupational therapist and is a vocal advocate for those that suffer from JIA. The Wood forums are designed to promote public awareness of the causes, consequences and preventative measures of joint diseases. Stay tuned for the Wood Forum on Knee Sport Injuries scheduled for October 21 in Calgary and October 24, 2015 in Edmonton.

Lastly, I’d like to mention ENCORE, a follow up of Music in Motion. This musical event is scheduled for October 6, 2015 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. This exciting event will raise funds that will directly benefit the MIBJH. More about ENCORE is detailed in page 3.

I wish all the trainees that have defended their theses and will be graduating all the best! Your impact on the MIBJH has been remarkable and I hope you will remain connected to the MIBJH so we can celebrate your career milestones together!

Have a safe summer everyone!

Marv Fritzler, Interim Director

Left to right: Ms. Terri May, Dr. Donna Wood, Dr. Linda Woodhouse

Panel of experts speakers during Q & A


The 2nd Annual McCaig Meeting on MSK

Dr. Stok specializes in imaging and mechanical testing protocols related to cell and gene treatment of biological tissues. Her research includes imaging methods for bone and cartilage changes with arthritis.

About 100 trainees and faculty members attended this year’s event which involved 21 talks from trainees and 30 poster presentations. This was an opportunity for trainees to practice

their presentation skills in a safe environment. For faculty, this was an opportunity to see what

groups with distinct or diverse research programs are working on. continued on page 7…

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The 2nd Annual McCaig Meeting in Musculoskeletal (MSK) Diseases took place on May 8, 2015 in the Health Sciences Centre. The event is organized annually by Roman Krawetz, PhD to bring together the multidisciplinary labs in the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health (MIBJH) to present their research developments. The event allows each group to be updated on what other groups are working on and try to find areas of potential collaboration.

The McCaig Meeting in MSK Diseases hosts internationally renowned researchers as keynote speakers. This year’s keynote speakers were Susmita Bose, PhD from Washington State University and Kathryn Sophia Stok, PhD from Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule in Zurich. Dr. Bose specializes in in vitro bone cell material interactions, nanoscale surface modification of medical devices and nanoparticles in protein/drug delivery, and resorbable ceramics and composited in bone tissue engineering using 3-D printing.

Drs. Sophia Stok, Roman Krawetz (organizer), and Susmita Bose


The event is supported by the Grace Glaum Professorship, the Calgary Foundation and the MIBJH. Special thanks to Julia Johnston, Amanda Sellar-Bouchard, and the rest of the MIBJH administrative office for their part in organizing the event.

The Trainee Leadership Committee has been Founded!

The MIBJH is pleased to announce the appointment of its first Trainee Leadership Committee (TLC). Consisting of seven trainee members and one administrative staff, the mission of the TLC is to bridge the gap between trainees and faculty members, in addition to acting as an information hub for the current trainee body.

The members (in alphabetical order) are Saleem Abubacker (soon to be PD Fellow), Jane Desrochers (PD Fellow), Christina Jablonski (PhD student), Andres Kroker (PhD student), Terri May (Business and Operations Manager), Andrew Michalski (MSc), Alyssa Morin (MSc), and John Sevick (MSc).

As the MIBJH consists of multi-disciplinary research spanning over the four pillars of heath research, laboratories are located at several locations on the University of Calgary campus. One of the key aims of this year’s TLC is to enhance communication and awareness between MIBJH trainees among these different locations. This will include updating the current trainee email list and organizing/promoting social events open to all trainees. continued on page …8

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Events that are planned for this year will include an orientation for incoming trainees and an associated ‘Buddy Program’. In parallel the TLC envisions to connect trainees that are eager to be involved in the Institute with different events and thus catalyze volunteering. The TLC encourages trainees to forward any ideas they wish the TLC to pursue. If you are a trainee and wish to be involved with the TLC you are encouraged to email [email protected].

Orthopaedic Resident Research Day

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Left to right: Dr. Jane Desrochers, Andres Kroker, Dr. Saleem Abubacker, Andrew Michalski, John Sevick and Christina Jablonski

The 3rd Annual Calgary Orthopaedic Research Day was held on May 4, 2015 at the University of Calgary’s Health Sciences Centre. The event’s keynote speaker was well published orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Backstein from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Nine residents presented their work following an interactive poster session by residents whose work were still in progress. Prizes went to Drs. Devin Lemmex, Jessica Page, and Natalie Rollick.


From left to right: Drs. Kevin Hildebrand, Jacques Bouchard, David Backstein, and Shannon Puloski.


Research UpdatesShould astronauts be concerned about their bones?

Astronauts are known to lose bone density and strength when they are out in space. Steve Boyd, PhD is collaborating with the Canadian Space Agency to study how their bones are affected by weightlessness. The project is called “TBone” for the “three-dimensional bone” approach it uses.

The study will measure how bone microarchitecture is affected in zero gravity and how it recovers when back on earth. Astronauts will be scanned for bone density and architecture before take off and after they return by expert University of Calgary technicians who will be at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Texas for the procedures.


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Dr. Devin Lemmex presented that “Aging affects mechanical properties and lubricin/PRG4 expression in normal ligaments”. Dr. Jessica Page presented on a “Simple Multidisciplinary Arthroplasty Wound Assessment (SMArt) Tool: Assessment of Validity, Reliability and Responsiveness”.

Finally, Dr. Natalie Rollick presented on a “Randomized Controlled Trial on the Use of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound in the Healing of Scaphoid Non-Unions Treated with Surgical Fixation”.

Congratulations also to Dr. Marlis Sabo and Allison Adair for organizing a dynamic meeting!

From left to right: Drs Marlis Sabo, David Backstein, Devin Lemmex, Natalie Rollick, and Jessica Page.


This study could impact not only those travelling out of space but also those that are for some reason or other immobilized and in bed for long stretches of time.

The need for a rheumatoid arthritis patient registry is highlighted

Deborah Marshall, PhD and her team have collaborated with the Institute of Health Economics to shed light on the need for a rheumatoid arthritis patient registry. The registry would track and monitor patients and their treatments and serve as an important tool to determine effectiveness of drugs or biologic therapies.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects joints resulting in painful inflammation. This condition can lead to deformity and irreversible joint damage if not caught early. Those diagnosed and treated early can receive treatment and see possible disease remission and symptom management. A central rheumatoid arthritis registry would improve treatment of patients and facilitate research.

Expressions of Arthritis receives a research grant! Congratulations to Dr. Paivi Miettunen and her team of researchers for securing a grant to carry out a research study in conjunction to Expressions of Arthritis, an art therapy workshop for children living with arthritis. The study called “Understanding the Effects of Creating and Viewing Art and Digital Stories with Pediatric Rheumatology Patients, Healthcare Teams and in Educating the Community” was awarded $53,000 from the Canadian Rheumatology Association as part of their CIORA grant. Dr. Mieuttenen is partnering with members of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute to carry out this study.

Using tablets to improve patient care

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The adult and pediatric sections of Rheumatology are dedicated to improving the lives of people of all ages with arthritis and rheumatic diseases through education, research, and timely care. A major initiative of the Division of Rheumatology is to develop the capacity to allow patients to complete digital forms as opposed to paper forms during clinic visits. This will help the clinicians measure quality of care, patient outcomes, and provide timely ‘treat to target’ care.

The goal is to develop and implement a tablet computer data collection process that improves clinical flow and provides quality data, which will be stored in a database (See Figure 1 on page 11) and enhance education services offered by the Division of Rheumatology. continued on page 11…


Data from this repository will be used to follow patients longitudinally, measure quality of care, measure patient and system outcomes, and foster research that will directly benefit clinical care as well as enhance education services offered by the Division of Rheumatology. Using the repository, they will be able to produce confidential quality performance reports containing details about wait times, patient satisfaction, and patient reported outcome measures. The repository will align with national and international disease specific databases. Lastly, they will use validated instruments of measurements, which will enable them to integrate and compare outcomes nationally.

Figure 1: A 3-step process for data collection.

Congratulations!Governor General David Johnston honours Ann McCaig

Ann McCaig was honoured in Rideau Hall, Ottawa by Governor General David Johnston for her 22 years of service to the community as trustee. Canada’s Killam Trust has named the McCaig-Killam Teaching Award in her honour.

Ann has been instrumental in leading some major campaigns for the University of Calgary, including Delivering Results Campaign and Building on the Vision Campaign.


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From left: His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, Ann McCaig, President Elizabeth Cannon, and George T. Cooper, Managing Trustee of the Killam Trusts. Photo credit: MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall ©Her Majesty The Queen in Right of Canada represented by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, 2015.

For her contributions she was inaugurated with the University of Calgary Education Partnership Award and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree in 2004.

The Killam Trust is a national treasure promoted by the Governor General. This McCaig-Killam award will recognize annually a faculty member that demonstrates excellence in teaching.

The McCaig Institute’s newsletter was written by Elisa Park Kim with contributions from the ABJHI and Andres Kroker.

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mibjh spring/summer 2015 newsletter

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