Breanne Flood is a research coordinator in St. Joe’s Lower Extremity Research Group, working under the supervision of Dr. Kim Madden. Breanne has been at St. Joe’s for nearly 6 years, having joined in October 2019. Since then, she has been part of several studies that have improved care for people living with orthopedic complications.
“The research that we are doing in our group aims to improve pain and mobility for patients who have hip and knee arthritis,” said Dr. Madden. “We are using novel medications and technologies to help people get back to their everyday activities with less pain.”
Although Breanne’s career path has been rewarding, she didn’t always imagine she’d end up as a research coordinator—for a long time, she hadn’t even heard of the title.
“There’s a common idea that one day you just wake up and know exactly what you want to do, but that’s not how it happens for everyone,” she said. “As an undergraduate student, I didn’t even know what a research coordinator was! But I knew I was interested in research and wanted to pursue it; eventually, that led me to this role.”
Breanne’s Journey to Becoming a Research Coordinator
While she was completing her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Guelph, Breanne became interested in pursuing a career in research. After graduating, she earned a certificate in clinical research from Seneca College, in which she completed a work term in a diabetes research centre.
At the diabetes research centre, Breanne's work had a lot of flexibility—she would often alternate between working with patients and working alone while balancing multiple projects. This variety in Breanne’s day-to-day activities was one of the parts of her placement that she loved the most.
After completing her clinical research certificate, Breanne joined St. Joe’s as a research coordinator—a position that offered her the flexibility she had enjoyed so much during her previous work term. As a research coordinator, Breanne has found a deeper meaning and passion in her work through the impact she's made on patients’ wellbeing at St. Joe’s and beyond.
“It’s very rewarding to see how our work can publish useful information for other people all over to use in healthcare,” Breanne said (pictured left). “And each time we begin a new study, we discuss how we can improve it based on what we learned in our last one. Through this process, we aim to make our work better not only for our own department, but also for our patients who give us valuable feedback.”
As a research coordinator, Breanne is a valuable part of the Lower Extremity Research Group, helping to develop solutions for people living with orthopedic issues and improve their quality of life.
“Breanne is highly knowledgeable about research regulations and processes,” said Dr. Madden (pictured right). “We couldn’t do our research without her skills and expertise. Whenever I have a problem involving research logistics or processes, I always talk it through with Breanne, who comes up with great solutions. Her contributions to this work are invaluable.”
Risks of Orthopedic Issues
The high rates of orthopedic issues such as arthritis piqued Breanne’s interest in working in this field of research, as she knew she could make a significant difference for a large number of people.
Breanne recognizes that orthopedic issues aren’t just common, but they are also large factors in people’s livelihoods, contributing to overall health as well as longevity. They can also develop unexpectedly, so even people who don’t need orthopedic care at this moment may need it later on.
“You never know when issues like stiffness, pain, or fractures may come up,” said Breanne. “All of a sudden, you may be dealing with something that interferes with your everyday life. It could happen to any of us, which is why researching these conditions is so important.”
St. Joe’s Commitment to Mentorship and Skill Development
Breanne works in Dr. Kim Madden’s lab, where she has received valuable mentorship and guidance.
“Dr. Madden is a great mentor,” Breanne said. “She’s showed me from start to finish how health protocols are developed, how projects get funded, how grant applications work, and more. This knowledge has helped take my work to the next level.”
Working at St. Joe’s has given Breanne many opportunities for her to develop new skills and showcase her research. While working full-time in Dr. Madden’s lab, she also studied part-time and received a Master's degree in Health Research Methodology from McMaster University.
Breanne has also participated in a variety of poster presentations and conferences as a research coordinator, where she has presented findings from the Lower Extremity Research Group and learned more about research happening outside of this group. She recently attended the Canadian Orthopedic Association’s Annual Meeting in Vancouver, which was held in June.
“I’ve had a very positive experience working at St. Joe’s,” said Breanne. “There have been so many opportunities to learn new skills, present our research, and collaborate with researchers across Canada and even other countries.”
The Orthopedics Research Group at St. Joe's aims to conduct collaborative, interdisciplinary, high-quality clinical trials and research that positively impact patients with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. The group conducts research focusing on joint replacement and arthritis, pain management, upper extremity injuries, sports medicine, trauma, and biomechanics.