SPECIALTY AND TITLE

Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology and the Sir John and Lady Eaton Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto

HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS

Women’s College Hospital

UNIVERSITY AFFILIATIONS

University of Toronto

AREA OF RESEARCH

Dr. Hawker’s research focuses on access to and outcomes of care for people living with osteoarthritis (OA). This work has been important in documenting overall under-diagnosis and under-treatment of OA and the consequences of untreated painful hip/knee OA. She was among the first to link difficulty walking due to OA to higher risk for cardiovascular events and diabetes complications. Among people referred for joint replacement surgery, her research has advanced understanding of patient “appropriateness” for surgery, underscoring the importance of patients’ readiness, willingness and expectations for surgery in determining likelihood of achieving a good surgical outcome. Current work is seeking to document the impact of referral for physical therapy focused on improved physical activity to address OA symptoms and improve diabetes control and outcomes in people living with symptomatic knee OA and diabetes.