BMJ Group honours Dr. Evan Wood with a Doctor of the Year award for Insite evaluation

published on March 17, 2010

The BC-CfE's Dr. Evan Wood was honoured with the BMJ Group's Junior Doctor of the Year Award One of the world’s leading providers of trusted medical information and services, BMJ Group, today recognized Dr. Evan Wood, lead researcher at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CFE), for his groundbreaking research in HIV, public health, illicit drug policy and addiction.

BMJ Group, publisher of the BMJ (British Medical Journal), named Dr. Wood as the recipient of its firstannual Junior Doctor of the Year honour, which is provided to a physician who is early in their career andhas done the most to improve the world we live in or to inspire others.

“I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of the people I work with at the BC‐CfE, St. Paul’sHospital and UBC,” said Dr. Wood. “BMJ Group recognizes the important role that research and sciencecan play in shaping society’s response to the illicit drug problem and related concerns. I am humbled bythis recognition and would like to thank the colleagues I am honored to work with, the fantastic team ofgraduate students I am fortunate to supervise, and the participants in our research, who give willingly oftheir time and experiences.”

Dr. Wood is co‐director of the BC‐CfE’s Urban Health Research Initiative (UHRI), and early in his careerestablished himself as a leading international authority on evidence‐based approaches to address HIVamong drug‐addicted populations. Dr. Wood obtained his PhD in epidemiology studying the HIVepidemic in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and authored more than 200 publications before the ageof 30, including groundbreaking articles in leading medical journals such as BMJ, the Lancet and the NewEngland Journal of Medicine.

After completing medical school, Dr. Wood helped establish the UHRI based on peer‐reviewed fundingobtained from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the US National Institutes ofHealth. In addition, he has received the Peter Lougheed Award as Canada’s top‐ranked new investigatorby the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

While Dr. Wood has made key contributions to HIV treatment guidelines, his research into HIVprevention strategies for injection drug users has received international recognition. Dr. Wood is one ofthe founding principal investigators of Vancouver’s Insite, North America’s only supervised injectingfacility. His scientific and peer‐reviewed evaluations of Insite have demonstrated that the programreduces overdose deaths, lowers HIV transmission rates, and increases uptake into addiction treatment.He now serves on the editorial boards of a host of infectious disease and addiction journals and is theAssociate Editor of the International Journal of Drug Policy.

“Dr. Wood’s passion for medicine and public health is evident in all the work that he does and thechallenges that he takes on,” said Dr. Julio Montaner, Director, BC‐CfE. “He has tackled controversialsubjects such as drug addiction with scientific rigour, and has often taken unpopular but scientificallysound positions on hot‐button issues.”

“It is ironic that he is being singled out for recognition by one of the world’s foremost medicalassociations for life‐saving work, but the results and recommendations stemming from his scientificevaluations work have been rejected by Stephen Harper’s federal government.”

The BMJ Group selected Dr. Wood for this inaugural award from among more than 100 nominationsfrom Britain and countries as far afield as Sudan, Iraq, Australia and Brazil.

“Dr. Wood has made an exceptional contribution to improving healthcare by using the scientific resultsof his peer‐reviewed research to elevate addiction, drug policy and diseases such as HIV to public healthissues rather than criminal justice issues,” said Dr. Fiona Godlee, Editor in Chief of the BMJ.

The University of British Columbia is dedicated to undertaking groundbreaking research of importanceto Canada and the global community.

“Dr. Wood’s work in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and on facilities such as Insite illustrates thebenefits of pursuing innovative and evidence‐based approaches to improving treatment for addictionand diseases such as HIV and AIDS,” said John Hepburn, UBC Vice‐President Research & International.

“UBC is proud to support dedicated and respected researchers such as Dr. Wood who advanceknowledge and challenge conventional thinking in these areas.”

The Junior Doctor of the Year award was sponsored by ID Medical, a leading supplier of doctors andnurses to the British National Health Service and the private sector.

About the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDSThe BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC‐CfE) is Canada’s largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility. The BC‐CfE is based at St Paul’s Hospital, Providence Health Care, and a teaching hospital of the University of British Columbia. Located in Vancouver, Canada, the BC‐CfE is dedicated to improving the health of British Columbians with HIV through the development, monitoring and dissemination of comprehensive research and treatment programs for HIV and related diseases.

About The Urban Health Research InitiativeThe Urban Health Research Initiative (UHRI), established in 2007, is a program of the BC‐CfE. UHRI’s mission is to improve the health of individuals and communities through research to inform policy. UHRIresearch programs are based on a network of studies that have been developed to help identify and understand the many factors that affect the health of urban populations, with a focus on substance use, infectious diseases, the urban environment and homelessness.

About UBCThe University of British Columbia is one of Canada's largest and most prestigious public research andteaching institutions. UBC is consistently ranked among the world’s 40 best universities, one of only twoCanadian universities in this category. UBC consistently attracts more than $450 million per year inresearch funding from government, non‐profit organizations and industry through 7,000 grants.It is ranked within the top 10 North American universities in terms of the number of U.S. life sciencespatents and the quality of activity generated from those patents, including spin‐off company creation.

About BMJ GroupBMJ Group is one of the world's leading providers of trusted medical information for healthcareprofessionals and patients. BMJ Group publishes BMJ (British Medical Journal) and over 30 specialistjournals. It also publishes several specialist titles under its Affinity brand, which offer publishing servicesto professional medical organisations.

The BMJ Evidence Centre publishes Clinical Evidence, Best Health (formerly Best Treatments), EvidenceUpdates and commissioned evidence reviews. It also provides point of care and reference tools tohealth care professionals.

Through BMJ Learning, the Group delivers continuing professional development online modules andexam revision materials, as well as events and workshops for the healthcare profession.

BMJ Group is owned by The British Medical Association. It is editorially independent and the articles andcontent it publishes do not necessarily reflect BMA policy.

For additional information contactIan NobleKaryo Edelman (on behalf of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS)T 604.623.3007 ext. 300M 604.809.9650ian.noble@karyo‐edelman.com

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

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BMJ Group honours Dr. Evan Wood with a Doctor of the Year award for Insite evaluation

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