Filling the Gap: Aiding in Transitions from Pediatric to Adult Care

This month, we are proud to spotlight the incredible Dr. Andrew Mackie, a pediatric cardiologist, Professor, and long-time department member. A Queen’s University alumnus, Dr. Mackie further honed his expertise with a fellowship in cardiology at Boston Children’s Hospital and a Master of Science in Epidemiology from Harvard. His journey took him from faculty positions at McGill University to joining us in Edmonton in 2007. Dr. Mackie is not only a dedicated clinician but also an adventurous trail runner, having competed in the Sinister 7 and the Canadian Death Race alongside family, friends, and colleagues. His main research focus is the transition from pediatric to adult care, aiming to equip young adults with the necessary tools to manage their health as they move into adulthood. Dr. Mackie’s recent work has focused on improving outcomes for children with single ventricle congenital heart defects and collaborating on multicentre research through the Fontan Outcomes Network.

Since 2020, Dr. Mackie has worked with a Community Advisory Committee composed of very committed Elders and Knowledge Keepers from Maskwacis, Alberta. With support from Maskwacis Health Services, they conducted interviews and Talking Circles with Indigenous youth, caregivers, and health care providers. Through this work, they have learned about the challenges Indigenous youth face as they enter the adult healthcare system. They have also learned how Indigenous cultural practices (prayer, smudging, guidance from Elders, access to ceremony, etc.) contribute to overall well-being and are viewed as beneficial for supporting youth in transition. They have been following the OCAP principles, which stands for Ownership, Control, Access and Possession. Dr. Mackie believes he still has much to learn about research with Indigenous populations, but it’s been very rewarding.

Looking ahead, Dr. Mackie is excited about new projects, including accessing funding from the Maternal Newborn Child and Youth Strategic Clinical Network and One Child Every Child program, this funding is going to allow them to hire an Indigenous patient navigator who will work with transition-age youth as they navigate the divide between pediatric and adult health care. They are working with the Stollery Awasisak program, and their Community Advisory Committee, to fill this position. They will be evaluating the impact of this navigator program with patient and family reported outcomes. Dr. Mackie is also involved in a 5-year study funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation focusing on care transitions for individuals with congenital heart disease. The study has already recruited fourteen individuals with lived experience who are interested in participating in the Lived Experience Council!

Dr. Mackie’s work exemplifies our department’s commitment to research and community engagement, supported by invaluable resources from partners like WCHRI. We are excited to see the continued impact of his work on our community and beyond!