Dr. Michelle Nelson, MA, PhD

Dr. Michelle Nelson is a Scientist at the Science of Care Institute and holds a position at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health. Additionally, she is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Dr. Nelson leads a comprehensive applied research program aimed at enhancing the experiences and health outcomes of individuals with complex care needs through the design and implementation of community-oriented, person-centered interventions. A key aspect of her work involves examining how partnerships and collaborative practices can further the goal of integrated care. This focus is exemplified by her co-leadership of the ALIGN Program, which promotes collaborative leadership and governance within integrated care systems.

Recently, Dr. Nelson received a Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) SPOR Innovative Clinical Trials grant for a four-year project titled "Volunteer Facilitated Discharge Assistance and Supports at Home (DASH) for People with Stroke: An Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Trial" (the DASH Stroke Trial). This $1.8 million study will evaluate whether a newly designed transitional care intervention, delivered by community-based volunteers, can enhance coping after discharge. In Spring 2024, she secured catalyst funding from CIHR to collaborate with the Canadian Red Cross in developing evidence-informed guidelines for Volunteer Engagement in Emergency Response.

Dr. Nelson serves as Vice President of the World Stroke Organization (WSO), is a mentor for the WSO Future Leaders Program, and is a section lead for the Canadian Stroke Rehabilitation Best Practice Guidelines. She is also a Senior Associate of the International Foundation for Integrated Care, where she leads special interest groups and faculty for the Integrated Care Academy. Additionally, she is a member of the editorial board for the International Journal of Integrated Care and has served as a guest editor for special issues focused on the Community and Voluntary Sector in Integrated Care and Person and Community-Centered Approaches to Transitions of Care. In recognition of her expertise and contributions to community-oriented research and practice, Dr. Nelson is a sought after speaker and participated in a 2023 CIHR Best Brains Exchange on this topic.