Nancy Baxter

MD, FRCSC, FACS, PhD

Affiliate Scientist

Biography

Dr. Nancy Baxter is a clinical epidemiologist, colorectal surgeon and health services researcher.  She holds the positions of scientist in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital and Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto. She is Head of the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne. She is also Full Professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHMPE). Dr. Baxter is a Full Member of both the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and School of Graduate Studies (SGS). She holds a Senior Scientist role in the Cancer Theme Group at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences.

Her main research interests are in the evaluation of patterns of cancer care, the evaluation of cancer screening, determining the long-term consequences of cancer care for survivors and improving the quality and safety of surgery. She has published over 250 peer reviewed articles and has extensive experience in the use of large administrative data and cancer registry data from both Canada and the United States.

Please note: Dr. Baxter is currently not accepting students.

Recent Publications

  1. Anderson, LE, Taglieri-Sclocchi, A, Collins, K, Perry, N, Zajdlewicz, L, Stiller, A et al.. Consumer perspectives on videos for promoting participation in population bowel cancer screening. Patient Educ Couns. 2025;139 :109227. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2025.109227. PubMed PMID:40543212 .
  2. Simunovic, M, Fahim, C, Grubac, V, Urbach, DR, Pond, G, Kennedy, E et al.. High- versus low-intensity knowledge translation interventions for surgeons and rates of local tumour recurrence after rectal cancer surgery: an Ontario study. Can J Surg. 2025;68 (3):E245-E252. doi: 10.1503/cjs.012424. PubMed PMID:40533251 PubMed Central PMC12180919.
  3. Seyedi, P, Aleman, D, Baxter, NN, Bell, CM, Bodur, M, Calzavara, A et al.. Effect of single-entry referral models and team-based care on wait times for hip and knee joint replacement in Ontario: a simulation study. CMAJ. 2025;197 (19):E524-E531. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.241755. PubMed PMID:40393716 PubMed Central PMC12109095.
  4. Kennedy, ED, Pooni, A, Schmocker, S, Brown, C, MacLean, A, Baxter, NN et al.. Knowledge Translation Interventions to Address Gaps in Rectal Cancer Care. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8 (2):e2461047. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61047. PubMed PMID:39960667 PubMed Central PMC11833516.
  5. Simpson, AN, Sutradhar, R, McArthur, E, Cusimano, MC, Baxter, NN. Processes of obstetrical care and outcomes among Ontario physicians versus non-physicians: a population-based study. BMJ Open. 2024;14 (12):e091312. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091312. PubMed PMID:39675822 PubMed Central PMC11647294.
  6. Clausen, M, Krishnapillai, S, Hirjikaka, D, Kodida, R, Shickh, S, Reble, E et al.. Genetics Adviser: The development and usability testing of a new patient digital health application to support clinical genomic testing. Genet Med Open. 2024;2 :101814. doi: 10.1016/j.gimo.2024.101814. PubMed PMID:39669596 PubMed Central PMC11613922.
  7. Shickh, S, Mighton, C, Clausen, M, Sam, J, Hirjikaka, D, Reble, E et al.. Clinical Utility of Genomic Sequencing for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: An Observational Cohort Study. JCO Precis Oncol. 2024;8 :e2400407. doi: 10.1200/PO-24-00407. PubMed PMID:39666930 .
  8. Mighton, C, Kodida, R, Shickh, S, Clausen, M, Reble, E, Sam, J et al.. Opportunistic genomic screening has clinical utility: An interventional cohort study. Genet Med. 2025;27 (2):101323. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2024.101323. PubMed PMID:39530317 .
  9. Ruco, A, Lofters, AK, Lu, H, Baxter, NN, Guilcher, S, Kopp, A et al.. Lung cancer survival by immigrant status: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada. BMC Cancer. 2024;24 (1):1114. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-12804-7. PubMed PMID:39243029 PubMed Central PMC11380402.
  10. Dason, ES, Kapsack, A, Baxter, NN, Gesink, D, Shapiro, H, Simpson, AN et al.. Resident and Fellow Perspectives on Family Planning and Building During Training. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7 (8):e2429345. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.29345. PubMed PMID:39196560 PubMed Central PMC11358854.
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Staff Surgeon, Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Professor, Department of Surgery, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
  • Senior Scientist, Cancer Theme Group, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
  • Full Member, Institute of Medical Science