Patrick Clifford is recently retired as the Director of Research and Innovation, at the Research Institute of Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket Ontario and CreateIT Now the Southlake owned and operated on campus health innovation centre. During his tenure in that role, Patrick’s responsibilities included (1) oversight of research operations and infrastructure (including the REB) and (2) advancing innovation and commercialization activities along with culture building, through strategic collaborations with industry, academia, funders, and other key partners. Patrick was also charged with leading the development and implementation of Southlake’s research agenda and advancing the innovation and commercialization strategy which included growing partnerships and collaborations with private sector ventures wishing to test and/or validate wide ranging health focused technologies with Southlake clinicians in an acute care, large community hospital environment. Patrick was also engaged in Southlake’s health sector leadership role in innovative, outcome based, procurement practices.

Patrick retired after 34 years of health care experience in acute care, including a concurrent 22 years as a practicing clinician in an emergency mental health at Markham Stouffville Hospital which he continues post retirement from Southlake. Patrick continues to practice as a clinician, performs occasional work for Southlake post retirement and Clinical Trials Ontario, and maintains his role of Treasurer for N2. He holds a BA, BSW, BEd, MSW and his RSW designation.