ON Chiropractic
Researcher of the Year
A chiropractor and epidemiologist,
Dr. Pierre Côté (CMCC, 1989) has devoted
his career to researching the causes and
best approaches to treat musculoskeletal
pain and disability. From musculoskeletal
disorders and disability prevention to
rehabilitation and the interactions between
individual and societal determinants
of health, Dr. Côté’s contribution to
chiropractic research is significant.
It was a keen interest in chronicity
that initially fuelled his interest in research.
While completing the CMCC Clinical
Sciences Residency Program, Dr. Côté
noticed that “although back and neck pain
tends to come and go for most patients,
some people become disabled by it. I
became puzzled by this and wanted to
understand why.” This curiosity led him to
complete a PhD in epidemiology.
Dr. Côté’s research is uncovering
the importance of other factors in a
patient’s prognosis. “What we’re learning
now is that the treatment we provide is
helpful, but what happens outside of the
clinical environment — within society,
within families, within the workplace
— is contributing to the development
of chronic pain and disability,” he said.
“Our psychosocial environment and the
way our healthcare systems are designed
have an important influence on pain and
disability.” As chiropractors become more
able to recognize the impact of these factors
and educate and reassure their patients,
treatment outcomes will improve.
As the Canada Research Chair in
Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation
at the University of Ontario Institute of
Technology (UOIT) and Chair of the
Minor Injury Guideline Project funded
by the Ontario Ministry of Finance, Dr.
Côté is encouraged to see government
bodies and academic institutions placing a
higher priority on musculoskeletal research.
He is also the Director of the UOITCMCC Centre for the Study of Disability
Prevention and Rehabilitation and holds
appointments at the Dalla Lana School of
Public Health at the University of Toronto.
CHA of the Year
(Posthumous)
Flora Eves was a chiropractic health
assistant (CHA) for over 20 years until
her death in 2014. In that time, Flora
made a lasting impression on colleagues
and patients alike. Lisa Belliveau, a CHA
trained by Flora, is one such person. She
“
encouraged everyone to have patience and
compassion towards patients, remembering
that they are all in some kind of pain.
She made sure that all patients received
treatment with a smile.
Flora’s legacy
lives on in the
many CHAs
she trained in
Windsor and
the standard of
excellence she set
for patient experience.
When Flora was diagnosed with cancer,
the patients whose lives she touched seized
the opportunity to return the favour. Her
patients supported her throughout her
battle with cancer with an immediate
outpouring of concern and best wishes,
What we’re learning now is that the treatment
we provide is helpful, but what happens
outside of the clinical environment — within
society, within families, within the workplace
— is contributing to the development of
chronic pain and disability.”
Dr. Pierre Côté
remembers that Flora’s ever-present smile
and hospitality made patients and staff
feel good to be around her and that “just
knowing Flora was going to be there
when they came in made their day.” Flora
recalling all of the times she had supported
them over the years. Her colleagues
continue to strive to live up to her
commitment to patient-centred care and
positivity.
www.chiropractic.on.ca
25