Kelly Metcalfe
{{Short description|Canadian cancer researcher and professor}}
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| name =Kelly Metcalfe
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| education =BScN, University of Western Ontario
PhD, 2002, University of Toronto
| thesis_title =Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy in Ontario
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| thesis_year =2002
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| workplaces = University of Toronto
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Kelly A. Metcalfe is a Canadian scientist and a professor at the University of Toronto and at Women's College Hospital. Her work's focus is on understanding the clinical and psychosocial implications of genetic testing for BRCA gene mutations in women, men and their families.
Early life and education
Growing up in Ontario, Metcalfe graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic High School in 1990 and went on to earn her nursing (BscN) degree at the University of Western Ontario.{{cite web |title=Dr. Kelly Metcalfe |url=https://www.outstandinggrads.ca/recipients/2015-recipients/dr-kelly-metcalfe |publisher=Outstanding Graduates |access-date=February 15, 2022}} While completing her undergraduate degree, Metcalfe became interested in cancer research after the discovery of the BRCA1 (BReast CAncer one) and BRCA2 genes in 1994 and 1995 respectively.{{cite web |title=How Dr. Kelly Metcalfe has been breaking new ground in breast cancer research for twenty years |url=https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/2017/10/02/how-dr-kelly-metcalfe-has-been-breaking-new-ground-in-breast-cancer-research-for-twenty-years/ |publisher=Women of Influence |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=October 2, 2017}} As such, she accepted a research nurse position at Women's College Hospital (WCH) where she became one of the first nurses to study the impact of genetic predispositions to cancer. While researching at WCH, she also completed her PhD in medical science in 2002 at the University of Toronto (U of T).
Career
Upon earning her PhD, Metcalfe returned to WCH and accepted a faculty position at U of T. In 2004, she led a research team in surveying half of 120 women in Ontario who had preventive double mastectomies between 1991 and 2000.{{cite web |title=Preventing the Worst |url=https://magazine.utoronto.ca/research-ideas/health/double-mastectomy-psychological-effects-kelly-metcalfe/ |publisher=University of Toronto Magazine |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=June 8, 2004}} Between 2007 and 2011, Metcalfe received funding to help researchers understand the differences in uptake of cancer prevention options in Canadian women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.{{cite web |title=CIHR New Investigator Awards |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/research/research-awards/cihr-new-investigator-awards/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=July 17, 2012}} Through this, Metcalfe became the first to investigate the predictors of contralateral breast cancer in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.{{cite web |title=Second diagnosis of breast cancer increased by mutation |url=https://media.utoronto.ca/media-releases/second-diagnosis-of-breast-cancer-increased-by-mutation/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=April 20, 2011}} As such, she received another grant in 2012 while working as U of T's Bloomberg Nursing interim director of research to develop and test a decision support tool for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.{{cite web |title=Kelly Metcalfe receives CIHR grant to develop decision tool to aid in breast cancer management |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/kelly-metcalfe-receives-cihr-grant-to-develop-decision-tool-to-aid-in-breast-cancer-management/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=February 28, 2012}}
At the same time, Metcalfe was appointed the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Limited-Term Professor in Cancer Genetics and became an Adjunct Scientist at the Familial Breast Cancer Research Institute at the Women’s College Research Institute.{{cite web |title=Bloomberg Professorships |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/bloomberg-professorships/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211230740/https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/bloomberg-professorships/ |archive-date=February 11, 2022}} In these roles, she continued to focus on the prevention and treatment of breast and ovarian cancers in high-risk women by collaborating with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Through these partnerships, she aimed to interview 1200 women with young-onset breast cancer to evaluate the contributions of 25 known breast cancer-causing genes in that population.{{cite web |title=Kelly Metcalfe selected as part of pan-Canadian cancer research project |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/kelly-metcalfe-selected-part-pan-canadian-cancer-research-project/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=June 24, 2014}} Metcalfe was subsequently elected an International Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2016.{{cite web |title=Freida Chavez, Linda McGillis Hall & Kelly Metcalfe honoured at U of T Salutes! Event |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/linda-mcgillis-hall-kelly-metcalfe-honoured-u-t-salutes-event/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=2016}} Following her election, Metcalfe was recognized locally with an election to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists{{cite web |title=Dr. Kelly Metcalfe elected to the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/media/in-the-news/dr-kelly-metcalfe-elected-royal-society-canadas-college-new-scholars-artists-scientists/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=2017}} and was named a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.{{cite web |title=Dr. Kelly Metcalfe named Fellow of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/dr-kelly-metcalfe-named-fellow-canadian-academy-health-sciences/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=September 12, 2017}} She also received U of T's Rising Star Alumni Award.{{cite web |title=Dr. Kelly Metcalfe awarded Rising Star Alumni Award |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/dr-kelly-metcalfe-awarded-rising-star-alumni-award/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=November 23, 2017}} That same year, Metcalfe received another grant to fund her study, Breast cancer treatment in women with PALB2 mutations.{{cite web |title=Kelly Metcalfe awarded grant through CCSRI for breast cancer gene research |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/kelly-metcalfe-awarded-grant-ccsri-breast-cancer-gene-research/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=April 18, 2017}}
In 2018, Metcalfe was appointed Acting Associate Dean, Research & External Affairs for a one year term while Linda McGillis Hall was on administrative leave.{{cite web |title=Professor Kelly Metcalfe appointed Acting Associate Dean, Research & External Affairs |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/professor-kelly-metcalfe-appointed-acting-associate-dean-research-external-affairs/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=January 12, 2018}} Following her one year term, Metcalfe became the co-Principal investigator on a project entitled "Outcomes Associated with Direct Rapid Genetic Testing at Time of Breast Cancer Diagnosis."{{cite web |title=Four Bloomberg Nursing researchers receive CIHR project grants |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/four-bloomberg-nursing-researchers-receive-cihr-project-grants/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=March 8, 2021}} Her integral role in "investigating the clinical and psychosocial implications of genetic testing for BRCA mutations in women and men" subsequently earned her the Wendy Lack Women of Action Scientific Award.{{cite web |title=Bloomberg Nursing's Kelly Metcalfe is a 2021 Women of Action honoree |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/bloomberg-nursings-kelly-metcalfe-is-a-2021-women-of-action-honoree/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=April 23, 2021}} She was also listed among the top 25 nurse researchers in Canada.{{cite web |title=Bloomberg Nursing Faculty Members Ranked Top Nursing Researchers in Canada |url=https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/bloomberg-nursing-faculty-among-most-cited-nursing-researchers-in-canada/ |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=February 15, 2022 |date=March 25, 2019}}
Awards
- Fellow, Canadian Academic of Health Sciences (2017)
- Rising Star Award, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine (2017)
- Member, College of the Royal Society of Canada (2017)
- Scholarship into Practice Award, Council of Ontario University Programs in Nursing (2016)
- Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (2016)
- Outstanding Paper Award, Women’s College Research Institute (2015)
- Award for Excellence in Nursing Research, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (2014)
- Excellence in Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Award, the Oncology Nursing Society (2008)
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Academic staff of the University of Toronto
Category:Canadian cancer researchers
Category:Scientists from Ontario
Category:University of Western Ontario alumni
Category:University of Toronto alumni
Category:Canadian women scientists
Category:Canadian women nurses