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SickKids

Randi Zlotnik Shaul

Title: Director, Bioethics
Designations: JD, LLM, PhD
Phone: 416-813-8844
Email: randi.zlotnik-shaul@sickkids.ca
Alternate Contact Name: Gurleen Kaur
Alternate Phone: 416-813-6891
Alternate Email: gurleen.kaur@sickkids.ca
U of T Positions: Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics

Research Positions

Senior Associate Scientist
Child Health Evaluative Sciences

Biography

Randi Zlotnik Shaul JD, LLM, PhD is the Director of the Bioethics Department and Senior Associate Scientist with Child Health Evaluative Sciences. In her role, Randi provides bioethics clinical and organizational consultation services and policy support, teaches health care professionals and bioethics students, and conducts bioethics research. Randi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto and is a member of the University’s Joint Centre for Bioethics. Randi’s current research focuses on paediatric healthcare challenges at the intersection of ethics and law – including precision child health, resource allocation, duties and accountabilities of paediatric health care professionals.

Education 

  • 1987: BA Political Science,  McGill University, Montreal, QC 
  • 1990: JD, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, ON 
  • 1992: Called to the Bar of Ontario
  • 1993: LLM,  Faculty of Law, Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • 1999: Teaching in Higher Education Certificate Program,  Woodsworth College , University of Toronto, Toronto, ON 
  • 1999:  Understanding the New World of Health Care Certificate, Harvard University Division of Health Policy Research and Education Rotman School of Management , University of Toronto, Toronto, ON 
  • 2000: PhD, Institute for Medical Science, Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • 2001: Post-doctoral Fellowship, Department of Bioethics, SickKids, Toronto, ON 
  • 2005–2006: Leadership Development Program, Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON   

Experience

Clinical 
  • 2000–2001: Post-Doctoral Fellowship in clinical and organizational paediatric bioethics, Department of Bioethics, SickKids, Toronto, ON
  • 2001–2012: Bioethicist, Department of Bioethics, SickKids, Toronto, ON 
  • 2012–Present: Director Department of Bioethics, SickKids, Toronto ON
Research 
  • 2005–2015: Associate Scientist, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON
  • 2015–Present: Senior Associate Scientist, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON
Academic 
  • 2001–2005; Lecturer, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • 2003–Present: Lecturer, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • 2005–2013: Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • 2012–Present: School of Graduate Studies Appointment, School of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • 2013–Present: Associate Professo, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • 2001–Present: Member Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Other 
  • 1990–1991: Articling Student, Legal Services Branch, Ontario Ministry of Health, Toronto, ON
  • 1992: Legal Counsel, Legal Services Branch, Ontario Ministry of Health, Toronto, ON

  • 2005–2007: Member, Research Integrity Committee, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • 2012–2014: Ethics Lead, Working Group, Toronto Academic Health Science Network Influenza, Toronto, ON.
  • 2015–Present: Member, Ethics Committee, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ottawa, ON.
  • 2017–2018: Member, Expert Panel on Medical Assistance in Dying, Council of Canadian of Academies
  • 2020–Present: Invited member COVID-19 Bioethics Table supporting the Ministry of Health
  • 2019–2022:  “A Brain-Based Definition of Death and Criteria for its Determination After Arrest of Circulation or Neurologic Function in Canada” Sponsor: Collaboration between the Canadian Critical Care Society, Canadian Blood Services, and the Canadian Medical Association. PI: Shemie S, Co-investigator, Baker A (Unity Hlth), Bensimon C (CMA), Dawson R (Can Blood Services), Hartwick M, Healy A (Trillium Gift of life), Hornby L (U of Ottawa), et al. Zlotnik Shaul R. 

Awards

  • 2006: Gianndrea S, Zlotnik Shaul R, Kolopack P, and Daar A. An Accountability Framework for Gene Transfer Research. Best Poster Award, Stem Cell Network Annual General Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario.
  • 2011: Peacemaker Tapestry Award New Immigrant Support Network, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario.
  • June 2013: Boydell K, Zlotnik Shaul R, d’Agincourt-Canning L, Da Silva M; Simpson C, Rashkovan N, Kim C, Levin A, and Schneider R. 
  • Best Poster Award Open Competition. Joint Centre for Bioethics Honours and Awards Day Celebration, Toronto, ON. “Paediatric physician-researchers: Coping with tensions in dual accountability.” 
  • June 2013: Amato K; Zlotnik Shaul R; McDonald M; and Courtright A.  
    Best poster student/trainee competition, Joint Centre for Bioethics Honours and Awards Day Celebration. “Ethical Issues in the compensation of pediatric research participants from theory to practice.” Toronto, ON.
  • June 2015: Christine Harrison Bioethics Education Award for the Integration of Theory and Practice, Joint Centre for Bioethics, Toronto, ON.
  • June 2016: Hayeems R, Anderson J, Szego M, Meyn S, Mantella L, Monfared N, Bowdin S and Zlotnik Shaul R.
    Innovation Poster Showcase. Open Competition Award. 5th Annual Joint Centre for Bioethics. Research and Awards Day Celebration. Toronto, ON. “Reporting secondary whole genome sequencing variants in paediatrics: Challenging relational best interests.” June 2016.
  • June 2017: Cadesky A, Zlotnik Shaul R, Hellmann J and Williams A. 
    Innovation Poster Showcase, Student Competition Award. 6th Annual Joint Centre for Bioethics Research and Awards Day Celebration, Toronto ON. “Developing an Education Plan for a Bioethics Advisory Committee at SickKids.”
  • June 2018: Notini L and Zlotnik Shaul R.
    Innovation Poster Showcase, Student Competition Award, 7th Annual Joint Centre for Bioethics Research and Awards Day Celebration, Toronto ON. “Ethical Issues Associated with Healthcare Professionals’ Attendance at Paediatric Patients’ Funerals.”

Publications

  1. McCradden M, Joshi S, Anderson J, Mazwi M, Goldenberg A, Zlotnik Shaul R, “ Patient safety and quality improvement: Ethical principles for a regulatory approach to bias in healthcare machine learning. J of Am Med Info Ass  2020, 1-4
  2. Szego MJ, Meyn MS, Shuman C, Zlotnik Shaul R, Anderson JA, Bowdin S, Monfared N, Hayeems RZ. Views from the clinic: Healthcare provider perspectives on whole genome sequencing in paediatrics. European Journal of Medical Genetics 62 (2019) 350-35 
  3. DeMichelis C, Zlotnik Shaul R, Rapoport A. “Medical Assistance in Dying at a paediatric hospital.” Journal of Medical Ethics. 2018; September 21 45:60-67.
  4. Long K, Zlotnik Shaul R. “Fair Innings: Equality and Children’s Health”. Bioethique Online. 2017, January; 6. 
  5. Greenberg RA, Kim C, Stolte H, Hellmann J, Zlotnik Shaul R, Valani R, Scolnik D. “Developing a bioethics curriculum for medical students from divergent geo-political regions.” BioMed Central Medical Education. 2016, July 27; 16:193.

2002–2004: Yudin M, Barbara A, Guenter D, Zlotnik Shaul R, Remis RS “Evaluation of Rapid HIV Testing in the Delivery Room”. 
Ontario HIV Treatment Network. 
Principal Investigator: King S. 
Awarded Amount: $94,000 CAD

2004–2005: Zlotnik Shaul R. “Ethics and SARS”. 
Canadian Institutes of Health Research.  
Principal Investigator: Singer P.  
Awarded Amount: $198,000 CAD

2004–2006: Bernstein MA, Lehoux PN, McKeanlly MF, Zlotnik Shaul R. “Innovative Surgical Technologies in Canada: Developing a Balanced Strategy for Integrating New Surgical Procedures Into Sustainable Health Care”. 
Canadian Institutes of Health Research.  
Principal Investigator: Martin DK, Urbach D. 
Awarded Amount: $126,731 CAD

2005–2008: Castle D, Caulfield TA, Dual GR, Einsiedel EF, Godard B, Gold RE, Knoppers, BM, Singer PA, Stewart DJ, Zlotnik Shaul R. “Regenerative Medicine: Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal and Social Issues Network”. 
Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Centre for Excellence. 
Principal Investigator: Daar A.S.
Awarded Amount: $300,000 CAD 

2007–2008: Bruce-Barrett C, Koller D, Lach L, Matlow A, Zlotnik Shaul R. “Pandemic Planning for Paediatric Care: Pandemic Preparedness Strategic Research Initiative”. 
Canadian Institutes of Health Research.  
Principal Investigator: Nicholas D. 
Awarded Amount: $158,618 CAD.  

2008–2010: Zlotnik Shaul R. “Physician-Researchers in Paediatrics: A Study on Dual Accountability”. 
Canadian Institutes of Health Research  
Co-Applicants: Boydell K, Simpson C, D’Agincourt Canning L. 
Awarded Amount: $78,398 CAD.

2008–2010: Faith K, Fisher R, Gibson B, Jadad A, Jay T, Nelson S, Ritvo P, Robertson A, Thompson A, Wilson K, Zlotnik Shaul R. “Canadian Program of Research on Ethics in a Pandemic: Whose Risks, Whose Duties and What Priorities?” 

Canadian Institutes of Health Research  
Principal Investigator: Upshur R.E. 
Awarded Amount: $1,500,000 CAD

2008–2010: Bartels U, Bouffet E, Lee Chong A, Hendershot E, Mills D, Jarvis K, Lo K, Lorenzo A, Nathan P, Spencer L, Stuart M, Urbach S, Zlotnik Shaul R. “Fertility Preservation in Adolescent Males with Cancer: Assessment of Current Practice and Knowledge Among Health Care Professionals and Adolescent Males.” 
Principal Investigator: Gupta A.A.  
Awarded Amount: $10,000 CAD 

2009–2012: Glass K,  Goldring L,  Hamilton H,  Hanley J, Jimenez-Sigouin V, Measham T, Montgomery C, Munoz  M, Nadeau L, Ouimet M, Ruiz-Casares M, Simich L, Vanthuyne K, Wazana A,  Zelkowitz P, Zlotnik Shaul R. “The Migratory Status of the Child and Limited Access to Health Care: Equity and Ethical Challenges.” 
Canadian Institutes of Health Research. 
Principal Investigators: Rousseau C and Rummens J.
Awarded Amount: $167,771 CAD. 

2011–2012: Ford-Jones L, Chapman LA, Ing S, Rapoport A, Zlotnik Shaul R, Vanderlaan R.“The Prevalence of Poverty Among Families of Children with Life-Limiting Illnesses: An Exploratory 5 Year Review of Children Receiving Care From the Palliative and Bereavement Care Service at The Hospital for Sick Children.” 
Innovation Fund in Children’s Palliative Care Research. 
Principal Investigator: Beaune L.  
Awarded Amount: $2,700 CAD. 

2013–2014: Zlotnik Shaul R. “Whole Genome Sequencing in Paediatric Care: An Informed Implementation”. 
McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto. 
Co-Investigators: Szego M, Shuman C,  Hayeems R, Bowdin S, Meyn S. 
Awarded Amount: $50,000 CAD. 

2013–2014: Greenberg RA, Hellmann J, Zlotnik Shaul R. “Developing and Evaluating Ethics Education in the ‘Health for Peace’”. 
Collaborative Learning Potential. 
Divisional Research Awards.
Principal Investigator: Scolnik D. 
Awarded Amount: $3,500 CAD. 

2013–2017: Zlotnik Shaul R. “OptiMOM Milk Bank”. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. 
Principal Investigators: O’Connor D, and Unger S.
Awarded Amount: $2,000,000 CAD. 

2014–2015: Greenberg RA, Hellmann J, Zlotnik Shaul R. “Developing and Evaluating Ethics Education in the ‘Health for Peace’”.Collaborative Learning Potential, Part 2. 
Divisional Research Awards. 
Principal Investigator: Scolnik D. 
Awarded Amount: $3,500 CAD. 

2015–2016: Zlotnik Shaul R. “Renewal: Whole Genome Sequencing in Paediatric Care: An Informed Implementation”. 
McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto. 
Co-Investigators: Szego M, Shuman C,  Hayeems R, Bowdin S, Meyn S. 
Awarded Amount: $50,000 CAD.

2016–2018: Zlotnik Shaul R. “Renewal: whole Genome Sequencing in paediatric Care: An Informed Implementation” McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto. 
Co-Investigators: Szego M, Shuman C,  Hayeems R, Bowdin S, Meyn S. 
Awarded Amount: $6,000 CAD.  

2019–2021: “Utilizing high resolution physiological data and artificial intelligence to develop a pediatric cardiac arrest prediction tool for integration into bedside clinical practice”, Sponsor: CIHR, Co-principal Investigators: Laussen P and Goldenberg A, Collaboration’s: Assadi A, Brudno M, Kirsch R, Mazi M, Moga M, Collaborator: Zlotnik Shaul R. approx. $594,429 CAD.

Relevant pages

Three people stand together in front of an academic poster presentation.

Department of Bioethics

Academically grounded, clinically and organizationally-focused ethics service.

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