Kristen Davidge

Associate Scientist
Child Health & Evaluative Sciences

U of T Positions

Research Director
Division of Plastic Surgery 

Assistant Professor
Department of Surgery

Dr. Davidge graduated from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine in 2005, and subsequently completed her residency training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto in 2012.  During her residency, she completed a two-year Master’s degree in clinical epidemiology that was supported through local and national funding agencies.  Dr. Davidge then pursued fellowship training in hand, peripheral nerve, and microsurgery at the Washington University of St. Louis, under the direction of Dr. Susan Mackinnon.  

She also completed a second fellowship in Paediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at SickKids.  Dr. Davidge joined SickKids and the University of Toronto in 2015, where her clinical focus is in paediatric hand, peripheral nerve, and microsurgery.  Dr. Davidge has been the recipient of numerous awards for her clinical, academic, and research work, and is the author of several peer-reviewed publications.

Research

Her research program currently focuses on patient-reported outcomes and knowledge translation in congenital hand surgery, outcomes of nerve surgery in acute flaccid myelitis, and improving understanding of pain in brachial plexus birth injury.  

Education and experience

• 2015–Present: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, SickKids
• 2013–2014: Pediatric Plastic Surgery Fellowship, SickKids
• 2012–2013: Hand & Peripheral Nerve Fellowship, Washington University of St Louis 
• 2007–2009: Masters of Science (Clinical Epidemiology), University of Toronto; Department of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation 
• 2007–2009: Clinician Investigator Program, University of Toronto; Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada 
• 2005–2012: Plastic Surgery Residency Program, University of Toronto 
• 2001–2005: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto 

Achievements

• 2020–2021: Program Chair, American Society for Peripheral Nerve
• 2018–2019: Program Co-Chair, American Society for Peripheral Nerve
• 2019: Chair, Young Plastic Surgeons Committee, Canadian Society of Plastic Surgery
• 2019: Research Director, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, University of Toronto
• 2019: Langer Surgeon Scientist Award, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
• 2013: Early Career Award, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, University of Toronto 
• 2012: Dr. A Ross Tilley Foundation Scholarship, Canadian Society for Plastic Surgery
• 2012: Shafie S. Fazel Outstanding Resident Surgeon and Investigator Award, University of Toronto

1. Dengler J, Dolen U, Patterson JM, Davidge KM, Kahn L, Yee A, Mackinnon S. Supercharge end-to-side anterior interosseous-to-ulnar motor nerve transfer restores intrinsic function in cubital tunnel syndrome. Plast Reconstr Surg. Accepted Feb 2020
2. Roy M, Corkum JP, Shah PS, Borschel GH, Ho ES, Zuker RM, Davidge KM.  Effectiveness and safety of dynamic muscle smile restoration in facial paralysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Plastic Reconstr Aesthet Surg. epub 2019 May 24
3. Wang AMQ, Kim M, Ho ES, Davidge KM. Surgery and conservative management of camptodactyly in pediatric patients: a systematic review,  Hand.  epub 2019 Mar 22
4. Ho ES, Zuccaro J, Klar K, Anthony A, Davidge KM, Borschel GH, Hopyan S, Clarke HM, F. Wright V. Effectiveness of non-surgical and surgical interventions for elbow flexion contractures in brachial plexus birth injury: a systematic review.  J Pediatr Rehabil.Med 2019;12:87-100
5. Ho ES, Kim D, Klar K, Anthony A, Davidge KM, Borschel GH, Hopyan S, Clarke HM, F. Wright V.  Prevalence and etiology of elbow flexion contractures in brachial plexus birth injury: a scoping review.  J Pediatr Rehabil.Med 2019;12:75-86 

See a full list of Kristen Davidge's publications

Funding

• 2020–2023: Co-PI; Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America (POSNA) Registry Grant; Title: “Brachial Plexus, PROMIS Measures, and Global Health” 
• 2019–2020: PI, Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons Educational Foundation Grant; Title: Etiology of pain in children with brachial plexus birth injury
• 2018–2021: Collaborator, Physician Services Incorporated Grant (PI: Greg Borschel); Title:Electrical Stimulation to Improve Recovery after Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
• 2017–2019: PI, Early Career Award, Thrasher Research Fund; Title: Chronic Pain in Children with Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy