Dr. Grace's research interests lie in the areas of cardiac psychology and health services utilization, specifically referral and participation in secondary preventive services for women and men with heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the developed world. Substantial health risks continue following coronary events and procedures, and cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves subsequent prognosis. CR is a multidisciplinary program addressing cardiovascular risk reduction including health behaviour changes such as exercise, diet, and smoking cessation, and aiming to improve quality of life. However, most research demonstrates low enrollment and inequality in access to CR, specifically lower referral among marginalized groups such as women and ethnocultural minorities. This occurs despite evidence demonstrating that these under-referred patients are at increased need due to greater morbidity and mortality following a coronary event, and that they do indeed benefit from CR.

There are a combination of factors relating to patients, physicians, and the health care system itself that lead to low CR referral overall, and to disparities in referral and participation. The objective of Dr. Grace's programmatic research is to: (1) assess patient, provider and system factors relevant to referral and participation in cardiovascular secondary prevention, and (2) to develop and evaluate theory-driven interventions that improve access and equity (and ultimately affect policy). For instance, she is currently examining an automatic referral model to CR which is systematic and non-manual, to determine whether such a model can increase utilization and reduce disparities in access to CR.

Additional Appointments

• Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University
• Adjunct Scientist, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Sleep and Cardiopulmonary Function
• Member, Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University
• Adjunct Member, Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
• Member, Heart & Stroke / Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence, University of Toronto
• Faculty, Ontario Training Centre in Health Services and Policy Research, York University
• Assistant Professor, Deptartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto


• York Central Hospital Research Liaison, York University

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