Innovation in personalized medicine rewarded

Dr. Richard Kim, Department of Medicine, was recently recognized for his program entitled "Personalized Medicine at London Health Sciences Centre: Implementation of a dedicated ambulatory clinic and impatient consult service."

The honour was received during the Innovation Fund Showcase at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. One of 80 projects presented, he was awarded for most innovative, transformative and adoptable program, in the category Best Innovation in Evidence Based Care.

Hosted by Innovation Fund Provincial Oversight Committee (IFPOC), the Showcase provides an opportunity for project leaders from across the province to discuss their innovative projects with each other, hospital administrators and government representatives.

It also provides an opportunity for discussion about which concepts might be applied across other areas of care, tested in different areas of the province or adopted across the system.

Highlighted were breakthrough technologies, systems and approaches which have potential for impact on health care delivery, were realistic in project scope and goals, had clear measureable metrics for success and were transferrable to other institutions or regions. Many projects represented collaborations between multiple teaching hospitals.

The focus of this year's projects was on eight themes that encompass a spectrum of health system priorities:

• Innovative Cancer Care Delivery
• Innovations in Mental Health Care Delivery
• New Approaches to Cardiovascular and Stroke Care
• Innovations in Emergency and Critical Care
• Evidence-Based Care for Enhanced Outcomes
• Technological Innovations for Care Delivery
• Creative Alternatives for Patient Centred Care
• System Coordination for Improved Outcomes

Dr. Kim's project was one of 20 London participants, including 13 poster presentations and panelists representing the Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario (AMOSO).

AMOSO is an Academic Physician Association of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western, LHSC, St Joseph's Healthcare London and the CTA-Western. (www.amosoweb.ca)