Posted on Sept. 10: McMaster and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario announce first chair in cardiovascular nursing

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/HeatherArthur_JackHirsh_2_o.jpg” caption=”Jack Hirsh and Heather Arthur”]McMaster University and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario today announced the appointment of Heather Arthur as the first Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing.

In her new position, Arthur will work closely with McMaster's health partners to encourage new research and postgraduate studies in cardiovascular nursing. She will also continue her own program of research related to health behaviour and its relationship to both risk for, and recovery from, heart disease.

“Dr. Arthur has established a reputation as an exceptional cardiovascular nurse researcher and educator,” said John Kelton, dean and vice-president of health sciences at McMaster. “We're very pleased and excited to be able to recognize her invaluable work with this appointment.”

Arthur is the director of the FUTURE Program for Cardiovascular Nurse Scientists, a national program to train PhD-prepared cardiovascular nurses as career researchers. She is a professor in McMaster University's School of Nursing, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation, and associate editor of the Evidence Based Nursing Journal. She was recently elected a fellow of the European Society of Cardiology.

Arthur holds research grants from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Health Canada and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. Her research has been published in prestigious peer-reviewed medical and cardiology journals.

“It is an honor to receive the first Chair in cardiovascular nursing research in Canada”, says Arthur. “This award results from a visionary commitment by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario in combination with unprecedented support from the McMaster and Hamilton Health Sciences communities. It is my goal to improve the contribution of nurse scientists to knowledge and to the care of patients with heart disease and their families.”

“Dr. Arthur has demonstrated over the years that nurse scientists are uniquely well-qualified to develop important insights into new treatment protocols,” says Andrew Scipio del Campo, president and CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. “Dr. Arthur was among the first to identify issues such as gender differences in cardiac rehab programs and the importance of strength training in the post-heart attack recovery period. Her pioneering work has won her international recognition and made her a natural choice for her appointment to this Chair.”

The Heart and Stroke Foundation leads the way towards greater understanding of the root causes of heart disease and stroke. Almost 40 per cent of Canadians will develop some form of heart disease and stroke over their lifetime. With an aging population, it's critical to understand the underlying causes of these diseases. The knowledge gained from this type of research could allow for earlier diagnoses and better treatments, while providing Canadians with critical information on how to protect their health.

Other supporters of the chair in cardiovascular nursing who are making an investment into the cardiovascular health of Canadians include: Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, the Henderson Research Centre, the Population Health Research Institute and McMaster's School of Nursing.

Photo caption: Heather Arthur is congratulated by her mentor Jack Hirsh, professor emeritus of medicine, and consultant intellectual property. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay