The IWK ED Research Team is a dedicated group focusing on improving pediatric healthcare through various research initiatives. The team comprises researchers and health professionals with a wealth of experience and focus on diverse areas of pediatric health research and safety.
L to R: Taryn Forrestall, Kelly Trask, Charlotte Court, Nick McCaughey, Melanie Doyle, Colleen Sameoto, Sophie Marsh
Kelly Trask joined in 2023 as the IWK ED Research Program Coordinator. She has over 20 years of research experience, previously working with Nova Scotia Health (NSH). Kelly serves as the co-director of the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) at the IWK and is also a member of the IWK Health Research Ethics Board
Taryn Forrestall joined the IWK in 2023 as a Research Coordinator. She brings 10 years of clinical research experience from her work at Dalhousie University and NSH, focusing on Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Perioperative Medicine. Currently, she is coordinating a national public health surveillance project called SPRINT-KIDS, which monitors the rates of respiratory infections at IWK and collects data on the efficacy of vaccines for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV.
Charlotte Court has been a research assistant since 2021. Over the past few years, she has worked on various research studies with the IWK ED. Currently, she is involved in the ED-PATCH study, which aims to enhance communication between the care team and patients or caregivers during their visits to the emergency department. She is also working on the Caregiver Home Safety Survey study, which seeks to understand the home safety knowledge of caregivers with children aged 5 years or younger. Additionally, she assists with case entry for CHIRPP and performs various tasks for the MAPP Mental Health Care study.
Nick McCaughey joined the team as a research coordinator in mid-2022 and manages two significant studies. The MAPP study is at the forefront of enhancing acute mental health care in Canadian pediatric emergency departments, while the PRoMPT BOLUS study, determining whether normal saline or balanced fluids is the more safe and effective treatment for pediatric sepsis. With prior experience in dermatological clinical research, Nick brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. He is currently pursuing an MSc in Epidemiology and Applied Health at Dalhousie University.
Melanie Doyle is a Registered Nurse who has been working in various roles within the IWK Emergency Department since 2007. Currently, she serves as the Trauma Coordinator for the IWK Trauma Program, where she provides specialized care to children and families affected by traumatic injuries. In 2019, Melanie joined the research team as an injury prevention research facilitator. In this role, she develops injury prevention displays for the ED waiting room and assists in facilitating various studies.
Colleen Sameoto joined the IWK ED in 2016 after completing a Master of Science in Kinesiology at Dalhousie University. She is currently the coordinator for the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) at the IWK.
Sophie Marsh is a research assistant collaborating with a national team of 15 pediatric hospitals on the SPRINT-KIDS study, which aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of vaccines and adverse events following immunization in children across Canada.