Jennifer Watt

MD, PhD

Scientist

Research Programs

Biography

Dr. Watt completed medical school at the University of Ottawa, residency in internal medicine at Western University, fellowship training in geriatric medicine at the University of Toronto, and a PhD in clinical epidemiology and health care research at the University of Toronto. She was a 2019 recipient of the CIHR Institute of Health Sciences and Policy Research Rising Star Award and the Thomas & Edna Naylor Memorial Award for the best paper based on a thesis in Health Services and Health Care Research at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. More recently, she was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Junior Research Manuscript by the American Geriatrics Society.

Her research focuses on using knowledge synthesis methods (e.g., pairwise and network meta-analysis) and health administrative data to better understand the comparative efficacy and safety of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions in older adults, specifically, those with geriatric syndromes such as frailty, falls and cognitive impairment. She is also supporting evidence-informed and equitable access to virtual care for older adults.

Recent Publications

  1. Atchison, K, Nazir, A, Wu, P, Seitz, D, Watt, JA, Goodarzi, Z et al.. Depression detection in dementia: A diagnostic accuracy systematic review and meta analysis update. Health Sci Rep. 2024;7 (11):e70058. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.70058. PubMed PMID:39530065 PubMed Central PMC11551879.
  2. Lee, J, Watt, J, Mayhew, AJ, Sinn, CJ, Schumacher, C, Costa, AP et al.. Inequalities in Transitions to Home Care: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2024;25 (12):105307. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105307. PubMed PMID:39419481 .
  3. Manis, DR, Kirkwood, D, Li, W, Webber, C, Fisher, S, Tanuseputro, P et al.. Clinical and Sociodemographic Characteristics of New Residents of Assisted Living: A Nested Case-Control Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2024;25 (11):105270. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105270. PubMed PMID:39313036 .
  4. Atchison, K, Wu, P, Watt, JA, Seitz, D, Ismail, Z, Goodarzi, Z et al.. Psychosis detection in dementia: a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy studies. Front Dement. 2024;3 :1377191. doi: 10.3389/frdem.2024.1377191. PubMed PMID:39081609 PubMed Central PMC11285683.
  5. Wong, B, Wu, P, Ismail, Z, Watt, J, Goodarzi, Z. Detecting agitation and aggression in persons living with dementia: a systematic review of diagnostic accuracy. BMC Geriatr. 2024;24 (1):559. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05143-6. PubMed PMID:38926638 PubMed Central PMC11210082.
  6. Watt, JA, Porter, J, Tavilsup, P, Chowdhury, M, Hatch, S, Ismail, Z et al.. Guideline Recommendations on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2024;25 (5):837-846.e21. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.03.007. PubMed PMID:38640961 .
  7. Wong, B, Ismail, Z, Watt, J, Holroyd-Leduc, J, Goodarzi, Z. Barriers and facilitators to care for agitation and/or aggression among persons living with dementia in long-term care. BMC Geriatr. 2024;24 (1):330. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-04919-0. PubMed PMID:38600482 PubMed Central PMC11008022.
  8. Tricco, AC, Parker, A, Khan, PA, Nincic, V, Robson, R, MacDonald, H et al.. Interventions on gender equity in the workplace: a scoping review. BMC Med. 2024;22 (1):149. doi: 10.1186/s12916-024-03346-7. PubMed PMID:38581003 PubMed Central PMC10998304.
  9. Hajj-Boutros, G, Faust, A, Muscedere, J, Kim, P, Abumrad, N, Chevalier, S et al.. Navigating the Landscape of Translational Geroscience in Canada: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Current Progress and Future Directions. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2024;79 (7):. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glae069. PubMed PMID:38486371 PubMed Central PMC11167488.
  10. Macdonald, M, Weeks, LE, Langman, E, Roach, S, MacNeil, MX, Caruso, J et al.. Recent innovations in long-term care coverage and financing: a rapid scoping review. BMJ Open. 2024;14 (2):e077309. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077309. PubMed PMID:38388500 PubMed Central PMC10884182.
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Geriatrician, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto