CURRICULUM VITAE – DAVID ALTER, MD, PH.D

CREDENTIALS

  • Senior Scientist, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences;
  • Research Director and Cardiologist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-UHN, Division of Cardiology;
  • Associate Professor with the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto.
  • Adjunct Scientist, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, MaHRC (Music and Health Research Collaboratory);
  • Senior Scientist in the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research Program at Sunnybrook
  • Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto.
  • Musician and prolific songwriter (over 1000 original compositions). Founder of Vigour Projects and co-inventor of the adapted Virtual Music Instrument for concert performance for rehabilitative medicine.

RESEARCH GRANTS

  • Ontario Centres of Excellence; Social Innovation Program. January 2012 – December 2013. Alter DA, Vanderbelt R, Bartel L, Fernie G. Physiologic-sensing music assistive devices for exercise self-management adherence and cardiovascular health. $49,990 (Principal Investigator)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Operating Grant. April 2012 – March 2014. Alter DA, Austin P, Bronskill S, Glazier RH, Ko DT, Lee DS, Stukel TA, Tu JV, Wodchis W. Socioeconomic status, quality of primary care, and survival following acute myocardial infarction: A ten-year follow-up of the Socio-economic status acute myocardial infarction study. $120,000 (Principal Investigator)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research, April 2010 – March 2013. Ko D, Alter DA, Austin P, Stukel T, Tu J, Wijeysundera H. Assessing the Appropriateness of Coronary Revascularization for Patients with Coronary Artery Disease. $455,118. (Co-investigator)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Dec 2008 – Nov 2013. Stukel TA, Alter DA, Bierman A, Glazier R, Guttmann A, Katz A, Laporte A, Lee D, Manuel D, Shah B, Smith M, Tu K. Health care system sustainability through longitudinal efficiency: Improved quality and lower costs. $1,496,035. (Co-investigator)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research, July 2006 – June 2009. Alter DA, Ko, DT, Laupacis A., Lee DS, Manuel DG, Stukel TA, Tu JV, Care gaps among high-risk cardiovascular patients: Evaluating the inappropriateness and clinical significance of the “treatment-risk paradox”. $264,645. (Principal Investigator)

PUBLICATIONS

  • Alter DA, Franklin B, Ko DT, Austin PC, Lee DS, Oh PI, Stukel TA, Tu JV. Socioeconomic status, referral to cardiac rehabilitation and long-term mortality among patients surviving acute myocardial infarction. PLoS One. June 2013 Vol 8,Issue 6. (Principal Author)
  • Alter DA, Stukel T, Chong A, Henry D. Lesson From Canada’s Universal Care: Socially Disadvantaged Patients Use More Health Services, Still Have Poorer Health. Health Aff (Millwood). 2011 Feb;30(2):274-83. (Principal Author)
  • Rasmussen JN, Chong A, Alter DA.  Relationship between adherence to evidence-based pharmacotherapy and long-term mortality after acute myocardial infarction. JAMA 2007 Jan 10;297(2):177-86. (Senior Responsible Author)
  • Alter DA, Chong A, Austin PC, Mustard C, Iron K, Williams J, Morgan C, Tu J, Irvine J, Naylor D. Socioeconomic status and mortality after acute myocardial infarction Annals of Internal Medicine 2006, Jan, 17; 144(2); 82-93. (Principal Author)
  • Ko T. Dennis, Mandami M., Alter DA. Lipid lowering therapy with statins in high risk elderly patients: The treatment-risk paradox. JAMA,2004;291(15):1864-1870. (Senior Responsible Author)