Beverley Catharine Craven, BA, MSc, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Craven is the University of Toronto/University Health Network Cope Family Chair in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation Health Systems Innovation, Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program and Senior Scientist at KITE Research Institute within University Health Network. She is Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, with cross appointments in the Institutes of Health Policy Management and Evaluation and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. She is also a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the American Spinal Injury Association. She has clinical and research expertise in health services and medical rehabilitation to avoid fractures, pressure injury, diabetes and heart disease. She also leads the Pride in Patient Engagement in Research (PiPER) initiative at UHN.

She has published over 250 articles on related topics and obtained 25M CAD in research funding as a primary investigator.

External to University Health Network, Cathy is Chair of the Canadian SCI - Rehabilitation Association (www.cscira.org), Evaluation Lead for the Ontario SCI Implementation and Evaluation Quality Care Consortium (www.sciconsortium.ca) and a member of the OSSU Board of Directors (www.ossu.ca/about-us).

Cathy has interacted with the health system as a patient, spouse, parent, daughter, sibling and health advocate of a loved one routinely interacting with the health system. She is a voracious reader and enjoys kayaking with her husband, son and labrador retriever. She is supported by a network of friends and former synchronized swimmers who keep her grounded.

My research activities are focused around four themes:

1. Promoting the diagnosis of sublesional osteoporosis and optimal medical rehabilitation among individuals living with spinal cord injury/disease, low bone mass and high fractures risk; and ensuring the delivery of evidence-informed therapies including supplements, weight bearing exercise, novel therapies and anti-resorptive medications to reduce fracture incidence. www.scifragments.com

2. Enabling the collection of indicators of quality rehabilitation care across Canada to enable analysis, reflection and transformation of health care, services and systems for individuals living with spinal cord injury or disease. These indicators are designed to ensure the functional recovery, health and wellbeing of individuals living with spinal cord injury or disease. www.sciconsortium.ca

3. Describing the health risks associated with fractures, diabetes, pressure sores and heart disease. I work to help individuals living with chronic spinal cord injury/disease reduce early and unnecessary death due to these health conditions. www.cravenlab.ca

4. Empowering staff and scientists at University Health Network to engage persons with lived experience in their research to inform the growth and development of a learning health system and extend the reach and impact of research at UHN. www.kite-uhn.com/piper

Related Links

Bone Quality in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

Study Status: Completed
Study Purpose: A study was conducted to better understand bone quality among people with spinal cord injury. The study recorded  changes in participants’ bone health over time and risks for fractures.
Background: Individuals with spinal cord injury experience dramatic changes in bone and muscle following the injury. This results in an increased risk of lower leg fractures. For these patients, fragility fractures often occur during regular daily activities, such as during a transfer from bed to wheelchair, or being turned in bed. Fractures often result in additional health problems that need hospitalization. For patients with a spinal cord injury, bones often take a long time to heal. Casting/splinting are often needed for a prolonged period of time. This can lead to skin injuries and infections.
Study Methods: The study included 90 individuals who had a traumatic spinal cord injury. 70 participants were from Toronto and 20 were from Quebec City. The study was two years in length and involved yearly hospital appointments for bone density testing as well as telephone follow‐up every 6 months to complete study questionnaires.
Key Findings: The study provided important information for identifying fracture risk factors. The results helped develop bone health clinical practice guidelines for SCI health care providers.

 

For a list of Dr. Craven's publications, please visit PubMed, ORCID or Scopus.


Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Associate Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
Faculty member, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto