Brief Biography

Dr. Joel Fish is the Medical Director of the Burn Program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).  Dr. Fish came to SickKids in 2009 from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where he held the position of Medical Director of the Burn Centre for 16 years.  He is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and holds the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto.  He is also the Research Director for the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Toronto. Dr. Fish has been the medical director for more than ten years of the Workers Compensation Board Burn Specialty Program at the St. John’s Rehab Hospital in Toronto where he treats adult burn patients. Dr Fish developed the first and only Electrical Injury Clinic in Canada which opened in 2003 which operates at the St. John's Rehabilitation hospital .

Dr. Fish’s clinical practice focuses on the treatment of paediatric burn injuries, and includes the full continuum from the acute injury , rehabilitation and secondary reconstruction when needed. Dr. Fish also specializes in treating severe complex wound conditions from a variety of other causes.      

Research Interests

Current clinical research in burn care focuses on quality care issues, new dressing techniques and wound care products.

Dr. Fish has been working collaboratively with the National Research Council of Canada on using near infrared light to detect and classify burn depth since 2001. This work is being pursued in the paediatric population which has many burn injuries that require accurate burn depth determination.

Clinical research in Electrical Injury as it relates to muscle fatigue, psychological changes post injury, as well as pain control are current areas of interest funded in collaboration with The Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation and the St. John’s Rehabilitation hospital with support from the electrical industry.

Achievements

Summer Student Award, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1982;

Ontario Graduate Student Award, 1983;

Conn Smyth Foundation Fellowship for Surgery, 1984;

Studentship for Emergency Medicine Elective, Physicians and Surgeons Incorporated Foundation, 1984;

Irving Heward Cameron Fellowship for Surgery, 1987;

Surgical Resident Teaching Award, The Wellesley Hospital, 1989;

Third Prize, Basic Science Award, Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation Secondary Author, 1989;

First Prize, Residents' Reseach Best Clinical Paper, Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, 1994;

Tau Omicron Visiting Professor Plastic Surgery Resident Research Award, 1994;

American Burn Association Travelling Fellowship Award, 1995;

Dr. A. Ross Tilley Scholarship for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, 1995;

Faculty of Medicine, U of T, Certificate to recognize participation of the Ross Tilley Burn Centre in the education of medical students Health 1998;

Arnis Frieberg Resident Teaching Award, Division of Plastic Surgery, 1998;

Nominated for Peters-Boyd Academy teaching Award., 1999;

Pairo Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award , University of Toronto, 1999;

Arnis Freiberg Resident Teaching Award for the Division of Plastic Surgery, 2001;

Nominated for 2001 PAIRO Resident Advocate Award, 2001;

Pairo Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award, University of Toronto, 2001;

Bruce Tovee Teaching Award, University of Toronto Department of Surgery  Award for sustained excellence in Post Graduate Teaching, 2003;

Best Lecturer , Principles of Surgery Lecture Series, University of Toronto., 2004;

WK Lindsay Research Teaching Award, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Toronto., 2005;

Third Place Award Poster Session - Dermatology Nurses' Perception on Patients Compliance with Medications, 2006;

Inagural Canadian Burn Care Physician Award , Shriners Gala 2006,

Dr Charles Tator Surgeon Scientist Mentoring Award, University of Toronto, Department of Surgery, 2008.

Publications

Coauthor. Marcucci PA, Smith S, Gomez M, Fish JS. An Effective Prevention Program to Reduce electrical Burn Injuries Caused by the Use of Multimeters. Journal of Burn Care.

Co-Principal Author. Li AL, Gomez M, Fish JS. Effectiveness of Pain Management Following Electrical Injury. Journal of Burn Care Rehabilitation.

Senior Responsible Author. Cross, K, Leonardi, L, Gomez, M, Friesen, J, Levasseur, M, Schattka, B, Sowa, M, Fish, J. Non Invasive Measurement of Edema in Partial Thickness Burn Wounds. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2009: 30(5): pp 807-817.

Co-Principal Author. Davidge, K, Fish, J. Older Adults and Burns. Geriatrics and Aging 2008: 11: pp 270-275.

Senior Responsible Author. Manuel Gomez, Robert Cartotto, Judy Knighton, Karen Smith, Joel S Fish. Improved Survival Following Thermal Injury in Adult Patients Treated at a Regional Burn Center. Journal of Burn Care and Research 2008: 29(1): pp 130-137.

Senior Responsible Author. Allan A. Eckhaus, Joel S Fish, Gary Skarja, John Semple, Michael V Sefton. A Preliminary Study of the Effect of Poly(Methacrylic Acid-Co-Methyl Methacrylate) Beads on Angiogenesis in Rodent Skin Grafts and the Quality of the Panniculus Carnosus. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery 2008: 11(5): pp 1361-1370.

Senior Responsible Author. Jennifer Singerman, Manuel Gomez, Joel S Fish. Long-Term Sequelae of Low Voltage Electrical Injury. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2008: 29(5): pp 773.

Senior Responsible Author. Manuel Gomez, David T Wong, Thomas E Stewart, Donald A Redelmeier, Joel S Fish. The FLAMES Score Accurately Predicts Mortality Risk in Burn Patients. Journal of Trauma 2008: 65(3): pp 636-645.

Senior Responsible Author. Theman K, Singerman J, Gomez M, Fish JS. Return to work after low voltage electrical injury. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2008: 29(6): pp 959-964.

Collaborator. VAC Expert PAnel. VAC Consensus Guidelines. ACP Journal Club/Annals of Internal Medicine 2008: 23: pp 1-12

Senior Responsible Author. Karen M. Cross, Larry Leonardi, Jery R Payette, Manuel Gomez, M. A. Levasseur, Bernie J, Shattka, Michael G. Sowa, Joel S. Fish. Clinical Utilization of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Devices for Burn Depth Assessment.  Wound Repair and Regeneration 2007: 15(3): pp 332-340.

Collaborator. Manuela G Shear, Izabella M. Malkiewicz, Masud Taeri, Lori E. Shapiro, Norberto Krivoy, Julia Haber, Manuel Gomez, Joel Fish, Robert Cartotto, Lawrence Cohen. Immunopathogenesis of Hypersensitivity Syndrome Reactions to Sulfonamides. Translational Research Journal 2007: 149(5): pp 243-253.

Collaborator. Sowa M, Leonardi L, Payette J, Cross KM, Gomez M, Fish J. Classification of burn injuries using near-infrared spectroscopy. Journal of Biomedical Optics 2006: 11(5): pp 1-6.

Collaborator. Levasseur M, Leonardi L, Payette J, Kohlenberg E, Sowa M, Fish JS, Cross K and Gomez M. Near Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging: The Road Traveled to a Clinical Burn Application. SPIE 2006: 12: pp 13.

Co-Principal Author. Manuel Gomez, Sarvesh Logsetty, Joel S Fish. Reduced Blood Loss During Burn Surgery. Selected Readings in General Surgery 2006: 32: pp 7.

Co-Principal Author. Murji, A, Gomez, M, Knighton, J, Fish, JS. Emotional Implications of Working in a Burn Unit. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2006: 1(1): pp 8-13.

Senior Responsible Author. Noble, J, Gomez, M, Fish, J. Quality of Life and return to work after electrical burns. Burns 2006: 32: pp 159-164.

Collaborator. Palmieri TL, Caruso DM, Foster KN, Cairns BA, Gameli RL, Mozingo DW, Kagan RJ, Wahl WI, Kemalyan NA, Fish JS, Gomez M, Sheridan RL, Faucher LD, Latenser BA, Gibran NS, Klein RL, Solem LD, Saffle JR, Morris SE, Jeng JC, Voigt DW, Howard PA, Greenhalgh DG. Blood Transfusion Practices in Major Burn Injury: A Multicenter Study. Critical Care Medicine 2006: 34(6): pp 1-6.

Collaborator. Palmieri TL, Caruso DM, Foster KN, Cairns BA, Peck MD, Gameli RL, Mozingo DW, Kagan RJ, Wahl W, Kemalyan NA, Fish JS, Gomez M, Sheridan RL, Faucher LD, Latenser BA, Gibran NS, Klein RL, Solem LD, Saffle JR, Morris SE, Jeng JC, Voigt DW, Howard PA, Molitor F, Greenhalgh DG. Effect of Blood Transfusion on Outcomes After Major Burn Injury: A Multicenter Study. Critical Care Medicine 2006: 34(6): pp 1602-1607.

Co-Principal Author. Armour AD, Fish JS, Woodhouse KA, Semple JL. A comparison of human and porcine acellularized dermis: interactions with human fibroblasts in vitro. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2006: 117(3): pp 845-56.

Senior Responsible Author. Choo, B, Umraw, N, Gomez, M,Cartotto, R, Fish, J. The Utility of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) in Discharge Planning for Burn Patients. Burns 2006: 32(1): pp 20-23.

Collaborator. Cross KM, Hastings MA, Payette JR, Gomez M, Schattka BJ, Sowa MG, Leonardi L, Fish JS. Near Infrared Point and Imaging Spectroscopy for Burn Depth Assessment. Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery: International Congress Series 2005: 1281C: pp 137-142.

Collaborator. Cheon S, Poon R, Yu, C, Fish, J, Alman, B. Prolonged Beta Catenin stabalization and tcf-dependent transcriptional activation in hyperplastic cutaneous wounds. Laboratory Investigation 2005: 85: pp 416-25.

Collaborator. Tan J, BAnez C, Cheung Y, Fish JS, Gomez. M, Banfiel J. Effectiveness of a burn prevention campaign for older adults.  Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2004: 25: pp 445-51.

Principal Author. Bezhuly, M, Gomez, M, Fish, JS. Emergency department management of minor burn injuries in Ontario , Canada. Burns 2004: 30: pp 160-164.

Collaborator. Mittmann N, Knowles SR, Gomez M, Fish J, Cartotto R, Shear NH. Evaluation of the Extent of Under Reporting Serious Adverse Drug Reactions : The Case of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. Drug Safety 2004: 27(7): pp 477-487.

Senior Responsible Author. Umraw N, Chan, Y, Gomez, M, Cartotto, RC, Fish, JS. Effective Hand Function Assessment After Burn Injuries. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2004: 25: pp 134-139.

Co-Principal Author. Wanzel, K, Fish JS. Residency training in plastic surgery: a survey of educational goals. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2003: 112(3): pp 723-9.

Co-Principal Author. Bohacek, L, Gomez, M, Fish, JS. An Evaluation of Internet Sites for Burn Scar Management. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2003: 24(4): pp 246-51.

Collaborator. Cornish P, Mittmann N,Gomez, M, Cartotto, RC, Fish, JS. Cost of medications in patients admitted to a burn center. Am J Clin Dermatology 2003: 4(12): pp 861-7.

Principal Author. Fish, JS. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis : The Role of Burn Units in Treating these massive cutaneous wounds. Problems in General Surgery 2003: 20 (1): pp 120-128.

Co-Principal Author. Adhikari, Neill, Fish, Joe. Burnsurgery. org : A starting Point for Intensivists.  Critical Care 2003: 8: pp 143-144.

Senior Responsible Author. Redlick, F, Gomez, M, Fish J  A Survey of Risk Factors for Burns in the Elderly and Prevention Strategies.  Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2002: 23(5): pp 351.

Collaborator. Musgrave M, Umraw N, Fish JS, Gomez M, Cartotto RC. The effect of Silicone Gel Sheets on Perfusion of Hypertrophic Burn Scars. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2002: 23(3): pp 208-214.

Senior Responsible Author. Cory Goldberg BSc MD, Joel Fish BSc MSc MD FRCSC. Helpful surgical technique in massive abdominal panniculectomy. The Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery 2002: 9: pp 205-207.

Senior Responsible Author. F Redlick, B Roston, M Gomez, JS Fish. An Initial Experience with Telemedicine in Follow-up Burn Care. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2002: 23 (2): pp 110-115.

Principal Author. Fish JS, Gomez M, Logsetty S.  Reduced Blood Loss in Burn Surgery. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2001: 22: pp 111-118.

Collaborator. M Innes, RC Cartotto, N Umraw, JS Fish, M Gomez. The use of silver coated dressings on donor site wounds; a prospective, controlled matched pair study. Burns 2001: 27: pp 621-627.

Collaborator. Sowa MG, Leonardi L, Payette JR, Fish JS, Mantsch HH. Near infrared spectroscopic assessment of hemodynamic changes in the early post-burn period. Burns 2001: 27: pp 241-249.

Collaborator. Cartotto R,Cooper AB, Esmond JR, Gomez M, Fish JS, Smith T. Early Clinical Experience with High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation for ARDS in adult burn patients. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2001: 22: pp 325-333.

Collaborator. Neligan PC, Al Azzawi M, Addison, PD,Fish, JS, GUllane, PJ. The Suprafascial Radial Forearm Flap: An Anatomical and Clinical Study. American Academy of Otolaryngology 2000.

Senior Responsible Author. M Musgrave, R Fingland, J Fish, R Cartotto. The use of Nitric Oxide as Adjuvant Therapy in Burn Patients with Respiratory Failure. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2000: 21: pp 551-557.

Senior Responsible Author. R Cartotto, M Musgrave, M Beveridge, J Fish, M Gomez. Minimizing Blood Loss in Burn Surgery. Journal of Trauma 2000: 49(6): pp 1034-39.

Collaborator. J Choi, Cooper, A, M Gomez, J Fish, RC Cartotto. The Relevance of Base Deficits following Burn Injury. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2000: 21: pp 499-505.

Principal Author. Fish JS, Hartshorn N, Reay D, Heimbach D. The Role of Autopsies in Burn Patients. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation 2000.

Co-Principal Author. Eisen ER, Fish JS, Shear NH. Management of Drug Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 2000: 4: pp 96-102.