CAPRE Faculty

CAPRE arose from a long-standing interest of Dr. Walter Rosser's in critically appraising literature for the benefit of family physicians. This interest led to the development of a course at the University of Toronto at the graduate studies level in critical appraisal in 1991. This was followed by the writing of a textbook for the course that was published in 1998 with a subsequent update in 2004. The course was turned into on-line program modules in 1997. The programs provided at this web site have been provided by Queen's University to complement the other accredited courses being offered here.

Dr. Richard Birtwhistle has also helped in the development of CAPRE programs. Dr. Birtwhistle is the Director of the Centre for Studies in Primary Care, a family physician, and a Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Community Health and Epidemiology at Queen's University.

Bios

Walter W. Rosser, MD, CCFP, FCFP, MRCGP (UK)

bio-picrosserDr. Rosser is the Chair of the Pharmaceutical Advisory Advertising Board. Prior to this appointment he was the Professor and Head of the Department of Family Medicine at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Dr. Rosser has also been Professor and Chair of the Departments of Family Medicine at the Universities of Ottawa and McMaster.

Throughout his career, Dr. Rosser has devoted his energy to family medicine research. The five areas in which Dr. Rosser has been most influential in contributing to primary care research are: 

  • Studies in methods of improving delivery of preventative services in family medicine;
  • Research in practice-based research; 
  • Evidence-based medicine; networks (PBRN’s);
  • Primary care reform;
  • Research capacity building in family medicine.
Dr. Rosser has received many awards.In June 2010 he was named a Member of the Order of Canada for his leadership in the discipline of family medicine and primary care research, and for his contributions to the establishment of practice-based research networks in Canada. In January 2007, he was the recipient of the Wonca Global Family Doctor of the Month Award. Wonca is the World Organization of Family Doctors. The purpose of the award is to encourage philanthropy among primary care practitioners, as well as honour doctors who give their time and expertise to their global colleagues and their patients. In 2003, Dr. Rosser was awarded the Maurice Wood award from the North American Primary Research Group (NAPCRAG), a multidisciplinary organization for primary care researchers.

Richard Birtwhistle, MD, MSc, FCFP 

bio-pic-birtwhistleDr. Richard Birtwhistle is the Director of the Centre for Studies in Primary Care, a Family Physician, and a Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Community Health and Epidemiology at Queen's University. His research interests are in primary acre, hypertension and chronic disease management. Most recently, Dr. Birtwhistle led the national initiative to form a national primary care research network that will initially investigate current models of care and interdisciplinary teams in the delivery of primary care.

The initiative to establish the national primary care research network was provided through a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. In 2005, Dr. Birtwhistle was awarded the research paper of the year award by the College of Family Physicians of Canada in the British Medical Journal (BMJ 2004; 328:204.)