Mac’s kids hospital loses top autism researcher to T.O.
Szatmari to lead youth mental health project
One of Hamilton’s most prominent researchers has been poached by Toronto, leaving the renowned Offord Centre for Child Studies looking for a new leader.
Dr. Peter Szatmari, known worldwide for shedding light on the genetics of autism and the trajectories of children who live with the disorder, trained at McMaster University and spent his entire 33year career here.
He was lured away by the chance to lead an integrated child and youth mental health program at the University of Toronto, the Hospital for Sick Children and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
“He’s been a great asset to the hospital and the university for decades,” said Dr. Peter Fitzgerald, president of McMaster Children’s Hospital. “We’re sad to see him go.”
Softening the blow is that Szatmari will continue to do his research at the Offord Centre and his team will remain here. That’s significant considering his work brings multi-million-dollar research grants to Hamilton.
“He’s made it clear he’s going to stay well connected with the Offord Centre,” said Dr. Harriet MacMillan, who is interim leader until June 30. “He will have an active role.”
An international search is under way for a new director of the centre that is affiliated with McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences. It’s named after founder Dr. David (Dan) Offord, who revolutionized child psychiatry and proved one in five Ontario kids has evidence of an emotional disorder.
He was a key mentor to Szatmari, who took over the centre when Offord died in 2004.
“It was a major loss to the centre when Dan died and (Szatmari) really stepped in,” said MacMillan. “He broadened the research scope and emphasized collaboration.”
He also recruited and trained top psychiatrists and researchers.
“Like the people who mentored him, (Szatmari) mentored very significant individuals in both the hospital and university side to carry on that work,” said Fitzgerald. “Frankly, I don’t think he would have left had he not felt there were good supports in place.”
Fitzgerald hopes there may be opportunities for Hamilton to take part in the new collaborative program headed by Szatmari that will focus on better integrating care, training new mental health practitioners and developing a specialized research program.
“Sick Kids, CAMH and U of T form a remarkable health science powerhouse with a shared commitment to improving child and youth mental health — a field that is struggling to meet the growing needs of our young people and their families,” Szatmari said in a statement. “I am honoured to have been selected to fill this exciting new position.”