Matthew Wiens

Matthew is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia and an investigator at the Institute for Global Health at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital. He is a global health epidemiologist and public health researcher dedicated to improving the transition between hospital-based care and community-based care among children with sepsis using data-driven decision-support systems.

His work in Uganda over the past 12 years led to the recognition that as many children die within the first few months after discharge as die during the initial hospitalization period. Working alongside the Uganda Ministry of Health, and his colleagues in Uganda, he developed the Smart Discharges program to improve the hospital-to-home transition following admissions for sepsis.

The prediction models developed by Matthew’s team have been wedded to innovative digital technology interventions, which have demonstrated improved discharge practices, post-discharge follow-up as well as better health outcomes among children after discharge, including improved survival. His partnership with the Uganda ministry of health has led to the implementation of Smart Discharges in 19 facilities in Uganda. He continues to extend this program throughout Uganda and has recently also initiated studied in Rwanda and Tanzania.

Matthew has built a robust team including partnerships with many institutions in Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, Matthew continues to expand the Smart Discharges model of care for other high-risk groups, such as mother-baby dyads discharged facility births, as well as school-aged children and adolescents admitted with suspected sepsis. Matthew’s research is funded by various organizations, including the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Grand Challenges Canada, the Thrasher Research Fund, and the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.