Dr. Karel O'Brien
Department of Paediatrics (Neonatology), Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health
Our team at Mount Sinai Hospital, in partnership with our NICU graduate families, co-developed Family Integrated Care (FICare), an innovative model of neonatal family-centered care that empowers parents and caregivers to become active members of their infant’s care team in the NICU. Recognizing that families play a vital role in their baby’s health and development, FICare supports and equips parents to participate in their infant’s daily care, decision-making and caregiving alongside healthcare providers.
FICare was tested in an international cluster randomized controlled trial and has been shown to be improve outcomes for both infants and families. Research demonstrates benefits improved infant growth and behavioural development as well as reduced parental stress and anxiety during and after the NICU stay.
Since its development at Mount Sinai Hospital, FICare has been adopted by NICUs around the world. Our team continues to promote and support the implementation of the model nationally and internationally through workshops, conferences and as collaborative research projects. Currently our team is leading a project, studying the implementation of FICare in level 2 NICU’s in Ontario, with the goal of extending it’s benefits to more infants and families.
Email: [email protected]
Room 19-231A, 600 University Avenue
Toronto, M5G 1X5
Website: Family Integrated Care
Publications: PubMed
Google Scholar: Karel O'Brien
ORCID: 0000-0002-0900-7749
Sinai Health Physician Profile: Karel O'Brien
LinkedIn: Karel O'Brien
- 2021–present; Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto
- 2009–present; Associate Scientist, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto
- 2009–present; Project Investigator, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto
- 1994–present; Active Staff, Neonatologist, Department of Paediatrics Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
- 1992–present; Active Staff, Neonatologist, Department of Paediatric Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto
Former appointments
- 2014–2021; Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto
- 2007–2009; Interim Paediatrician-in-Chief, Department of Paediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto
- 2007–2009; President, Medical Staff Association, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto
- 1998–2009; Director, Integrated Neonatal Neurodevelopment Follow up Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
- 1994–2014; Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto
- Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor in the Art of Obstetrics, National University of Ireland, Faculty of Medicine, Galway, Ireland; 1977–1983
- MSc, Clinical Epidemiology, University of Toronto, Toronto; 1994–2010
- Chief Fellow, Department of Paediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto; 1990–1991
- Fellow, Integrated Neonatal Fellowship Program, University of Toronto, Toronto; 1989–1992
- Certificate, Fellowship in Neonatology, University of Toronto, Toronto; 1989–1992
- Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Canada, Paediatrics, Ottawa, Ontario; 1989
- Associate Chief Paediatric Resident, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto; 1988–1989
- Resident of Paediatrics, Core 1-3, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto; 1985–1988
- Paediatric House, Officer, Our Lady Children’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; 1985–1985
- Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada; 1986
- Paediatric House Officer, Castlebar General Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland; 1984–1984
- Internship, General Surgery and Neonatology, Castlebar General Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland in affiliation with the University College Galway Medical School, Galway, Ireland; 1984–1984
- Diploma of Child Health, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; 1984–1985
- Internship, Cardiology, Respiratory and General Medicine, Regional Hospital, in affiliation with University College, Galway, Ireland; 1983–1983
We are always looking for motivated researchers to join our team.
Summer students
Summer students are exclusively selected from successful applicants to the Research Training Center (RTC) at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. Applications are available online and need to be filled by February 28th of each year.
Notable publications
Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 2022
The Journal of Pediatrics, 2022
Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 2021
Early Human Development, 2020
The Lancet - Child & Adolescent Health, 2018