Ellie Adler has been the Research Program Manager at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children since its launch in 2020. Below she answers some questions about her role at the Centre.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your role at the Centre.
Since joining SickKids in 2012, I have worked supporting the administration of clinical, educational and research programs across the institution. I joined the Leong Centre as the Research Program Manager in 2020 to support establishing the new centre, including the launch of new funding streams, building a team of Centre staff and Research Chairs, and fostering relationships across SickKids and the University of Toronto. Working closely with the Centre’s Co-Directors, Drs. Guttmann and Cohen, I oversee day-to-day operations and support the development and implementation of the Centre’s strategic plan.
I have a Master of Science in Community Health and Epidemiology and am a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®).
Q: How do you support the work of the membership?
One of my first deliverables in this role was developing a model that would define what membership would mean at the Centre, and more importantly, what value we could offer to those who joined. Since then, I have enjoyed watching as our community has grown to over 500 clinicians, scientists, allied health professionals, trainees and more!I support our members with their funding applications and coordinate education events that relate to child health equity research, in partnership with other Centres and departments. My role also involves integrating the feedback of members to further streamline our efforts and improve our offerings at the Centre. Through establishing reporting mechanisms with Centre-funded researchers and trainees, I translate the scientific and knowledge outputs into impact reports to support donor stewardship.
Q: What do you see as the most important work at the Centre and why?
Addressing the root causes for health disparities among children is crucial for creating a healthier and more equitable society. Our Centre plays an integral role in creating a hub for multi-disciplinary researchers to increase their knowledge and capacity in child health equity research and practices. We have an important a role in building a community of like-minded researchers working to achieve meaningful change and ensure every child has the opportunity to flourish.
Q: What future initiative(s) are you most excited about at the Centre?
We are currently in the process of finalizing our Centre’s Strategic Framework which will inform research and future priority setting. This will allow us to make meaningful investments in core areas of research, while still being able to respond to emerging challenges in the field of child health equity. Additionally, I am really excited to continue exploring new partnerships and collaborations to broaden our interdisciplinarity and gain deeper insights into the complex factors influencing child health equity.
