Jean-François Ethier

Co-founder and scientific co-director of the GRIIS
Associate professor of medicine at Université de Sherbrooke
Licensed Physician at the CHUS
Director of the Data Access Component of the Quebec Support Unit for the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research
A clinical researcher and associate professor in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Computer Science at the Université de Sherbrooke, Doctor Jean-François Ethier is scientific co-director of the GRIIS. He leads the Data Access component of Quebec’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) and the technological development of CIHR’s Canadian Data Platform.
Jean-François Ethier is associate researcher at Unit 1138 Cordeliers Research Center at INSERM and Paris Descartes University, and at the Research Center of the University Hospital of Sherbrooke. He is a specialist in general internal medicine.
Jean-François Ethier’s work focuses on learning health systems. In particular, it centres on methods of access to health data, research systems and clinical decision aid tools where citizens play active roles. He develops theoretical approaches and concrete tools so that information and research systems can communicate with each other.
His research influences how biomedical data warehouses are structured. It also allows to combine a variety of health data that is stored in computer systems that operate differently.
Jean-François Ethier develops ontologies and biomedical terminologies. These integrate diverse and heterogeneous databases within a unified data network. These solutions facilitate the flow of information between science and clinical practice. They propel health research while supporting health care professionals who make many clinical decisions every day.
Jean-François Ethier participated in the development of the TRANSFoRm project in Europe (project funded by the European Community under the FP7 program). TRANSFoRm has created a prototype of a learning health system to support primary health care and services.
Education
Ph.D., Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris 6), epidemiology and biomedical information sciences
Master’s, Université de Rennes 1, public health
Specialty in general internal medicine, McGill University
M.D.,C.M. (Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery), McGill University
Awards
1st Prize, Ontology Contest, Cardiovascular Disease Ontology, Formal Ontology in Information Systems, 2014
Dean’s honour roll, McGill University, 2006 and 2002
JW McConnell Scholarship, McGill University, 2004 and 2002
James McGill Scholarship, McGill University, 2001
Scholarly associations
Board Affiliations
Supervision


Houssein Madar
Postdoctoral researcher in public health
Jointly with the CHUM Research Centre

Ryeyan Taseen
Master’s student in computer science
Intern physician in respirology at the CIUSSS de l’Estrie—CHUS
Publications
Related content

The Israeli laboratory
Israel will serve as a live laboratory for large-scale testing of vaccine efficacy.

Des données en santé plus faciles d’accès
Health researchers often don’t know where to start when it comes to accessing data. Data is stored in a myriad of organizations distributed throughout the world.

Que pensez-vous de la vente possible de vos données médicales?
Our question: What do you think about the possible sale of your medical data?

La fin du télécopieur en santé
Dr. Ethier noted that Alberta and Nova Scotia have already implemented digital data transfer solutions.

Fini les fax pour comptabiliser les décès
Dr. Ethier provides an update on health system informatics gaps and informatics solutions that can improve care.

Premier virage réussi pour la téléconsultation médicale
Dr. Ethier discusses the kinds of health teleconsultation that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pour en finir avec le télécopieur à l’hôpital
Dr. Jean-François Ethier discusses health technology gaps and IT solutions to address them.

Taking into account the wishes of patients at the end of life with artificial intelligence
Dr. Ryeyan Taseen is developing an automated tool that will alert physicians when hospitalized patients have a high probability of dying within the next 12 months.

Are there alternatives to fax in Canada’s health care systems?
Dr. Jean-François Ethier answers questions from the media about the use of the fax machine to transmit health data.

Sharing health data for research
Research teams and citizens need to navigate the maze of consent in order for care and the health system to improve.

Access to health data from electronic medical records in Quebec
To support the implementation of priority projects, the ministère entrusts the Interdisciplinary Research Group in Health Informatics to tie the Learning Platform in Research and Social Services with certified electronic health records.