Mary E Wiktorowicz

Faculty & School/Dept.

Faculty of Health - School of Global Health - School of Health Policy & Management

Degrees

PhD Health Policy -
Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto

Master of Science -
Dalhousie University

Bachelor of Science -
University of Manitoba

Biography

Mary Wiktorowicz is Professor of Global Health Governance, Associate Director of the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, and a member of the WHO Collaborating Centre on the Global Governance of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). She adopts a global and comparative lens to study the governance of AMR with a focus on identifying strategies to improve governance of antimicrobial stewardship. As a member of the Global One Health Network (global1HN.ca) she further assesses the global governance of deep pandemic prevention through approaches that support the prevention of zoonotic spillover including regulation of wildlife trade. 

Professor Wiktorowicz's research addresses limitations inherent in accountability frameworks underlying global programs of financial aid, with a focus on assessing performance accountability within antenatal care to prevent TB in women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Professor Wiktorowicz develops frameworks to enhance our understanding of the transnational governance models that guide the development of harmonized global standards for pharmaceutical safety and efficacy. She traced parallels in the governance framework of the International Council on Harmonization (ICH) and its member jurisdictions to clarify the nature of their distinctive governance approaches and the resulting dissonance they foster in post-market regulatory policy.

In studying mental health governance, she assessed the evolution of mental health law and policy in Canada in the context of prevailing institutional logics; as well as the governance models ten local health networks used to coordinate mental healthcare across four provinces in Canada. 

She has advised governments on current policy including the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, Health Canada, the Ontario Local Health Integration Collaborative on Mental Health, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the Nova Scotia Department of Health. She was a CIHR Best Brain. 

As Associate Dean, Community and Global from 2014 - 2017 Professor Wiktorowicz supported the launch of the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research and served as its Interim Director (2016 - 2017). As Chair, School of Health Policy and Management from 2006 - 2014 she led the school through a period of growth including the development of the PhD Program in Health, Health Policy and Equity field, and guided the development of the BA, BSc and PhD Programs in Global Health. She is a member of the Graduate Programs in Global Health, Health (Health Policy and Equity) and Critical Disability Studies.

Selected Publications

Gallo-Cajiao, E., Lieberman, S., Dolšak, N., Prakash, A., Labonté, R., Biggs, D., Franklin, C., Morrison, T.H., Viens, A.M., Fuller, R.A., Aguiar, R., Fidelman, P., Watson, J.E.M., Aenishaenslin, C. and M. Wiktorowicz. 2023. Global governance for pandemic prevention and the wildlife trade. The Lancet Planetary Health. April 3, 2023. https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S2542-5196(23)00029-3

Clifford Asbury, C., Wiktorowicz, M., Penney, T. et al. 2022. Policies to prevent zoonotic spillover: protocol for a systematic scoping review of evaluative evidence. BMJ Open   https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/11/e058437

Labonte, R. Wiktorowicz, M., Wilson, K., Halabi, S. Ruckert, A., Packer, C. 2021. A Pandemic Treaty, Revised International Health Regulations, or Both? Globalization and Health. https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-021-00779-0

Weldon, Isaac, Van Katwyck, S., Hoffman S., Wiktorowicz, M. et al. 2022. Lessons for Antimicrobial Resistance from the Paris Climate Agreement submitted to Am J Public Health

Igihozo, G., Henley, P., Ruckert, A., Karangwa,C., Habimana, R., Manishimwe, R., Ishema, L., Carabin, H., Wiktorowicz, M., Labonté, R. 2021. An environmental scan of One Health Preparedness and Response: The case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda. One Health.

Wiktorowicz, Mary E., Di Pierdomenico, Kaitlin, Buckley, Neil, Lurie, Steve, Czukar, Gail. 2020. Governance of mental healthcare: Fragmented accountability. Social Science & Medicine, 256: 113007. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953620302264?CMX_ID=ECR-1302&SIS_ID=1302&dgcid=STMJ_75273_AUTH_SERV_PPUB&utm_acid=5156363&utm_campaign=STMJ_75273_AUTH_SERV_PPUB&utm_dgroup=Email1PublishingReminder&utm_in=DM698178&utm_medium=email&utm_source=AC_30&utm_term=Email%201%20Publishing%20Reminder

Wiktorowicz, M.E., Lee, Y., Tsasis, P. 2023. Global health networks: fostering convergence in women’s and children’s health policy in A Modern Guide to Networks editors Robyn Keast, Joris Voets and Jack Meek, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. in press.

Wiktorowicz, M.E.  and Michelle Wyndham-West 2020  “Evolution of Health Care Policy: Deconstructing Divergent Approaches” in Dennis Raphael, Toba Bryant, and Marcia Rioux editors Staying Alive: Critical Perspectives on Health, Illness, and Health Care, Canadian Scholars Press, Toronto, Ontario 3nd edition.

Wiktorowicz, M., Abdulle, A., Di Pierdomenico, K., Boamah, S. 2019. Models of concurrent disorder service: Policy, coordination and access to care. Frontiers in Psychiatry 10. February 2019. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00061

Wiktorowicz, Mary, Moscou, K. Lexchin, J. 2018. Transnational pharmacogovernance: emergent patterns in the jazz of pharmaceutical policy convergence. Globalization and Health https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-018-0402-5

Danhoundo, G., Nasiri, K., Wiktorowicz, M. 2018 Improving social accountability processes in the health sector in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 18(1): 497. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5407-8 

Danhoundo, G., Premji, S., Wiktorowicz, M. 2017 Determinants of bed net policy implementation: A case study of Southern Benin. Health Policy and Planning forthcoming. DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2465

Wyndham-West, M., Wiktorowicz, M., Tsasis P. 2017. Power and Culture in Emerging Medical Technology Policymaking: Lessons from the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine in Canada. Evidence and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1332/174426417X14845753387144

Selick, Avra and Mary Wiktorowicz. 2016. Co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders: The elusive path to integrated care. International Journal of Non-Communicable Diseases 1(3): 97-104.

Habibi, R., Guénette, L, Lexchin, J., Reynolds, E., Wiktorowicz, M., Mintzes, B. 2016. Regulating information or allowing deception? Pharmaceutical sales visits in Canada, France and the United States. Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics 44: 602-615.

Danhoundo, G., Wiktorowicz, M., & Yaya, S. 2016. Governance of malaria prevention: How decision makers’ and pregnant women’s sensemaking contribute to unintended consequences. Health Care for Women International 38:238-252. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07399332.2016.1234483

Walji, Rishma and Mary Wiktorowicz 2013. Governance of natural health products regulation: An iterative process.Health Policy 111: 86– 94.

Lexchin, J., Wiktorowicz, M, Moscou, K . Eggertson, L. 2013. Provincial Drug Plan Views of the Canadian Drug Safety System. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 38(3): 545-571. 

Wiktorowicz, Mary, Lexchin, J., Moscou, K. 2012. Pharmacovigilance in Europe and North America: Divergent Approaches. Social Science and Medicine 75: 165-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.11.046

Wiktorowicz, Mary, Fleury, Marie-Josée, Adair, Carol E., Lesage, Alain, Goldner, Elliot, Peters, Suzanne. 2010.  Mental health network governance: Comparative analysis across Canadian regions. Lead article International Journal of Integrated Health Volume 10: 1-14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/pmc/articles/PMC3031794/

Wiktorowicz, M.E. 2005. “Restructuring mental health policy in Ontario: Deconstructing the evolving welfare state,” Canadian Public Administration 48(3): 386-412. Honorable mention for best article in Canadian Public Administration.

Wiktorowicz, M.E. 2003. "Emergent Patterns in the Regulation of Pharmaceuticals: Institutions and Interests in the United States, Canada, Britain and France," Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law International Issue 28 (4): 615 - 658.

Hartford, K., Schrecker, T., Wiktorowicz, M., Hoch, J., Sharp, C. 2003. Four decades of mental health policy in Ontario, Canada. Administration and Policy in Mental Health 31 (1): 65 - 73.

Wiktorowicz, M.E., Lapp, M.D., Brodie, I., Abelson, D. 2003. “Nonprofit Groups and Health Policy in Ontario: Assessing Strategies and Influence in a Changing Environment,” in Kathy Brock editor Delicate Dances, Public Policy and the Nonprofit Sector, Volume 4, Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press.

Wiktorowicz, M. 2000. "Shifting Priorities at the Health Protection Branch: Challenges to the Regulatory Process," Canadian Public Administration, 43(1): 1-22. (lead article)

Wiktorowicz, M.E., Goeree, R., Papaioannou, A., Papadimitropoulos, M., Adachi, J.D. 2001. Economic Implications of Hip Fracture: Health Service Use, Institutional Care and Cost in Canada. Osteoporosis International 12(4): 271-278.

Wiktorowicz, M. and Deber, R. 1997. Regulating Biotechnology: A Rational-Political Model of Policy Development. Health Policy 40: 115-138.

Other Research Outputs

Advised the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Mental Health and Addictions Division Director, Marg Connor and the MOHLTC Mental Health and Addictions Leadership Advisory Council. January – June 2017

Advised the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. Regulation of pharmaceuticals. June 6, 2014.

Advised the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. “Addressing the Risks of Medicine: A New Governance Strategy for Pharmacovigilance” November 8, 2012. Link to Y-file story: http://www.yorku.ca/health/people/index.php?dept=&mid=162283

As a CIHR "Best Brain" for the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, Advised on Mental Health System Governance for the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, March 18, 2011

Keynote speaker: Ontario Local Health Integration Network Collaborative (LHIN-C), Improving Transitions in Mental Health and Addiction Services: Keynote address, January 31st 2011.

Advised the Health Canada Expert Advisory Committee – Vigilance of Health Products Meeting. Theme: Regional Collaboration and Opportunities in Pharmacovigilance.  October 19-20, 2011.  Toronto, Ontario.

Advised the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, Study on Post-Market Surveillance, April 10, 2008.  Expert Panel presentation: Comparative research on international pharmacosurveillance. 

Advised the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Network on Mental Health Primary Health Care and Mental Health Forum “Coordinating Primary Care and Mental Health Care” November 22, 2005, Toronto.

Wiktorowicz, Mary, Fleury, Marie-Josée, Adair, Carol E., Lesage, Alain, Goldner, Elliot, Peters, Suzanne, Goering, Paula. 2009 Mental health network governance and coordination: Comparative analysis across ten Canadian regions 2009. Report for the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement.

 

Affiliations

Partnerships

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care was a research partner for the CHSRF-funded research project: Mental Health Restructuring Among Canadian Provinces: Lessons in Policy Reform and Regional Coordination.

Service/Community Activities

Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Member of the College of Reviewers, Institute of Health Services and Policy

Canadian Patient Safety Institute
Wiktorowicz M, Lexchin J, Paterson M, Mintzes B, Light D, Morgan S, Holbrook A, Tamblyn R, Zaki E, Moscou K. Research networks involved in post-market pharmacosurveillance in the United States, United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, Australia, Norway and European Union: lessons for Canada. Canadian Patient Safety Institute, 2008.

Health Council of Canada
Commissioned Reports Wiktorowicz ME, Lexchin J, Moscou K, Silversides A, Eggertson L. 2010. Keeping an eye on prescription drugs...keeping patients safe. Active monitoring systems for drug safety and effectiveness in Canada and internationally. November 17, 2010 http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/ccs-hcc/H174-21-2010-eng.pdf Media Uptake for the Report: Total media stories: 87 Report downloads: 2,820

Awards

Premier's Award for Research Excellence - 2002

Honorable Mention, Hodgett's Award Best Article in - 2006

Canadian Public Administration in 2005

Faculty of Health Dean's Award for Service - 2011

York University Research Award 2021 - 2021

Supervision

Currently available to supervise graduate students: No

Currently taking on work-study students, Graduate Assistants or Volunteers: No

Available to supervise undergraduate thesis projects: No

Current Research

 

Research areas: global health governance, global governance of stewardship to address Antimicrobial Resistance, policy networks, global health regime analysis, transnational pharmaceutical governance, governance and accountability for antenatal care in SSA, mental health policy

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Joint Program Initiate on Antimcirocial Resistance fund her governance of AM stewardship research.

Research Projects

Are parasitic zoonoses in Canada influenced by climate change? Establishing a baseline for evaluation
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $450,000
Year Funded: 2023
Duration: 2
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: Public Health Agency of Canada

Convergence in evaluation frameworks for integrated surveillance of AMR, CoEval-AMR PHASE 2
PI: Cecile Aenishaenslin
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $EUR 148,175 ($CAN230,106)
Year Funded: 2020
Duration: 2
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: 10th Joint Transnational call for Networks with Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial resist

Designing One Health Governance for Antimicrobial Stewardship (JPIAMR 2021-177 DESIGN, Grant #3468277)
Global and six-country comparative governance, policy, systems and legal analysis of innovative One Health approaches to address AMR. Country leads: J. Paget, M. Bordier, A. Diallo, M. Balolong, R. Benko, Co-PIs: M. Duckers, C. Aenishaenslin, C. Clifford Astbury, S. Desai, S. Hindmarch, S. Kondreddy, D. MacFadden, A Morris, J. Orbinski, T. Penney, S. Rogers Van Katwyk, A. Ruckert, A.M. Viens, K. Wilson, A. Wong, C. M. Wyndham-West, Co-investigator: D. Wernli.
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $2,205,059
Year Funded: 2022
Duration: 3
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: CIHR and JPIAMR

Developing a health system-level balanced scorecard
PI: Peter Tsasis
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $67,197
Year Funded: 2009
Duration: 2
Funded by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Evaluating the Governance of Emergent Pandemic Zoonoses: A Systems and Legal Analysis
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $449,556
Year Funded: 2020
Duration: 1
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Governance of One Health challenges: Fostering collaboration
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $500,000
Year Funded: 2023
Duration: 2
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)

International Strategies for Post-Market Pharmacosurveillance: Lessons for Canada
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $144,000
Year Funded: 2006
Duration: 3
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Les soins partagés: Rôle et impact des psychiatres-répondants sur l’amélioration des soins de santé mentale
PI: Fleury, M.-J Ranked 2nd out of 84 applications
Role: CoInvestigator
Amount funded: $440,000
Year Funded: 2016
Duration: 3
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Mental Health Restructuring Among Canadian Provinces: Lessons in Policy Reform and Regional Coordination
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $144,000
Year Funded: 2002
Duration: 3
Funded by: Other...
Other funding: Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement

One Health Network for Global Governance of Infectious Diseases and AMR
The goal of our One Health Network for the Global Governance of IDs and AMR (Global-1HN) is to strengthen Canadian leadership in improving the global governance of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by building and sustaining a global transdisciplinary and inter-sectoral one health network originating in Canada and extending globally. Global-1HN will coordinate social science researchers and knowledge users with with researchers in the human, animal, and environmental health sciences to develop a transdisciplinary approach to ID and AMR governance at global, national, and local levels. In doing so, it will complement and be closely integrated with its European counterpart (SoNAR-Global), and other leading global OH research initiatives to maximise synergy.
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $2 million
Year Funded: 2019
Duration: 4
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Towards Better Governance of Zoonotic Disease Risk: One Health Principles in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
PI: Ron Labonte Co-Principal Investigator: Helene Carabin
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $CIHR $493,838
Year Funded: 2020
Duration: 2
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

What works best to protect public health. An international comparison of post-market regulatory risk communication on prescription drugs
PIs Colin Dormuth, Barbara Mintzes, Ingrid Sketris, Coinvestigators: Lisa Bero, Countrney Davis, M. De Bruin, A. Kessleheim, Thomas Moore, Lorri Puil, Elizabeth Roughhead, Mary Wiktorowicz, John Abraham et. al
Role: Collaborator
Amount funded: $1,158,976
Year Funded: 2017
Duration: 3 years
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

WHO and Accountability in West Africa
PI: Georges Danhoundo
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Amount funded: $6,000
Year Funded: 2015
Duration: 3
Funded by: York University