Sara Guilcher

Dr. Sara Guilcher is a physical therapist, Interim Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine.  Dr. Guilcher is a transformative leader and scholar in post-secondary education, and applied health services, with a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. As an Associate Professor and Academic Lead, Research Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy (tenure), University of Toronto, Dr. Guilcher also has cross-appointments at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, and the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute within the University of Toronto.

Dr. Guilcher serves as the Scientific Director of the Optimizing Health and Healthcare Experiences (OPTI-HEx) Laboratory. Dr. Guilcher previously held other senior leadership roles including Acting Associate Dean, Research and a Canadian Institutes for Health Research Embedded Clinician Scientist working with Health Quality Ontario (now Ontario Health) to inform learning health systems and health quality. Dr. Guilcher and team have received numerous local, national, and international awards and recognitions for their academic scholarship and leadership. Dr. Guilcher currently holds a salary award as a Pain Scientist at the University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain.

Dr. Guilcher has a BSc (Hons) from Mount Allison University, MSc in Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto, MSc in Psychology (Clinical) from Western University and PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research - Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation from the University of Toronto.  Dr. Guilcher completed two collaborative doctoral programs: (1) Ontario Training Collaborative Program in Health Services and Policy Research and (2) Collaborative Program in Women’s Health. Dr. Guilcher completed two post-doctoral fellowships: Canadian Institutes for Health Research Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research Training ‘Action for Health Equity Interventions (ACHIEVE) program’ at MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario; and with the Health System Performance Network, University of Toronto, Ontario.