SPECIALTY AND TITLE

Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmologist-in Chief

HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS

Ivey Eye Institute, St. Joseph’s Health Center

UNIVERSITY AFFILIATIONS

University of Western Ontario

AREA OF RESEARCH

Dr. Hutnik’s research interest is focused on the pathophysiology and management of glaucoma which is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. She has a keen interest in the development of novel and/or optimization of existing treatments for patients with glaucoma. The translational and innovative aspect of her research has resulted in her work being presented and published both nationally and internationally, as well as being recognized with over 95 awards. Believing strongly in collaborative models of eye care she is proud to be the co-creator of the London and District Interprofessional Model of Care (LDIM) aimed at improving access to care for patients with glaucoma.

MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE AND/OR HEALTH CARE DELIVERY

One of the greatest obstacles to widespread adoption of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) has been early surgical failure rates due to excessive scarring. Whereas innovation has occurred in the space of MIGS, relatively no innovation has occurred in surgical wound modulation to maximize the efficacy and ensure the safety of the newer technologies. The Innovation Funded research led to a patent on an adjunctive therapeutic agent shown to have significant promise as a safe and effective modulator of inflammation-driven tissue fibrosis. Dr. Hutnik has brought an evidence-based approach to her provincial and national leadership roles as a strategy to advocate for patient access to innovative safer and effective technologies.