Brief Biography

Dr. James G. Wright, as Chief of Perioperative Services, is responsible operationally for six surgical divisions (Cardiovascular, General, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic, Plastic and Urology) and five departments (Anaesthesia, Critical Care, Dentistry, Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology). The Perioperative Services staff are engaged in highly complex clinical care, basic and clinical research, undergraduate and postgraduate education and numerous administrative responsibilities. Dr. Wright is also the Surgeon-in-Chief, Department of Surgery.

Dr. Wright is a Senior Scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences Program. Research in this program focuses on the systematic study of characteristics of health and disease and outcomes of treatment modalities in children. Dr. Wright’s research has focused on the development of measures to evaluate surgical therapy, randomized clinical trials, and evaluating unmet need and disparity in the use of orthopaedic procedures. Dr. Wright is holder of the Robert B. Salter Chair of Paediatric Surgical Research. He has more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, including publications in Lancet, Science, New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and the British Medical Journal. In addition to his hospital and administrative activities, he is the Associate Editor for the Evidence Based Orthopaedic Section of the American Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and Chair of the Research Council for the Pediatric Society of North America.

Dr. Wright is active in resident education, having won the Robert B. Salter Excellence in Orthopaedic Education Award in May of 1997 and, since 1994, he has served or is currently serving as primary or secondary supervisor for more than 30 MSc or PhD students.

Areas of Specialty

• Spina bifida
• Neuromuscular conditions
• Primary and recurrent clubfeet
• Scoliosis
• Other foot disorders

Research Interests

• Measurement of physical function in children
• Evaluation of orthopaedic treatments
• Patient-specific outcome measures
• Unmet need and disparity in health care

Research Activities 

The group has two ongoing randomized trials; evaluating botulism toxin for clubfoot and the use of braces for scoliosis. Research is also ongoing evaluating disparity in access to orthopaedic procedures. Finally, we are developing an e-health intervention for patients undergoing scoliosis surgery.

Achievements

• CORE-ACORE Research Award. Canadian Orthopaedic Association, 1992.
  
• Rockefeller Residency. Bellagio Study and Conference Centre. Bellagio, Italy. April 26-May 25, 1996.
  
• George Armstrong Peters Prize (for young investigators who have shown outstanding productivity during his/her initial period as an independent investigator as evidenced by research publications in peer-reviewed journals, grants held, and students trained). University of Toronto. May 10, 1996.
  
• ABC Travelling Fellowship. Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery. April 5-May 22, 1997.
  
• Robert B. Salter Excellence in Orthopaedic Education Award. May 7, 1997.
  
• J. Edouard Samson Award - Canadian Orthopaedic Association Premier Annual Research Award in recognition of the best orthopaedic research realized during the year at a Canadian centre. "Outcomes research in orthopaedics". February 12, 1998.
  
• The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada 1998 Annual Medal Award in Surgery. (This award provides national recognition for original work by trained clinical investigators). April 21, 1998.
  
• Robert B. Salter Endowed Chair in Paediatric Surgical Research. April 1, 1999.
  
• Arthur H. Huene Memorial Award - Paediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. (The highest research award of POSNA.) May 2001.
  
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Orthopaedic Research Society Kappa Delta Award (The highest award of the Orthopaedic Research Society). February 2002.
  
• Lister Prize for 2001/2002 Department of Surgery, University of Toronto. (Awarded to an investigator who has shown outstanding and continuing productivity of international stature as evidenced by research.) May 10, 2002.
  
• The Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis Quality of Life Research Award. February 3, 2005.

Publications

Khoshbin A, Lingard L, Wright JG.  Evaluation of preoperative and perioperative operating room briefings at the Hospital for Sick Children.  Can J Surg.  08/2009;52(4):309-315.

Janicki JA, Narayanan UG, Harvey B, Roy A, Ramseier LE, Wright JG. Treatment of neuromuscular and syndrome-associated (nonidiopathic) clubfeet using the Ponseti method.  J Pediatr Orthops.  06/2009;29(4):393-7.

Ahn H, Kreder H, Mahomed N, Beaton D, Wright JG. Empirically derived maximal acceptable wait time for surgery to treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. CMAJ. 2011 Jun 14;183(9):E565-70. Epub 2011 May 2.

Wright JG, Menaker RJ. Waiting for children's surgery in Canada: the Canadian Paediatric Surgical Wait Times project. Canadian Paediatric Surgical Wait Times Study Group. CMAJ. 2011 Jun 14;183(9):E559-64. Epub 2011 May 2.

Borkhoff CM, Hawker GA, Wright JG. Patient gender affects the referral and recommendation for total joint arthroplasty. CMAJ. 2011 Jun 14;183(9):E565-70. Epub 2011 May 2.

Wright JG, Wang EEL, Owen JL, Stephens D, Graham HK, Hanlon M, Nattrass GR, Reynolds RAK, Coyte PC. Treatments for paediatric femoral fractures: a randomized trial. Lancet. 04/2005;365:1153-1158.

Temple LKF, McLeod RS, Gallinger S, Wright JG. Defining disease in the genomic era. Science. 08/2001; 293:807-808.

Hawker GA, Wright JG, Coyte PC, Williams JI, Harvey B, Glazier R, Badley EM. Differences between men and women in the use of total joint arthroplasty. N Engl J Med. 04/2000;342(14):1012-1022.

A detailed list of Dr. Wright's publications can be found at PubMed