Dr. Vidhi Thakkar

Dr. Vidhi Thakkar

Associate ProfessorFaculty

Dr. Vidhi Thakkar has a PhD in Health Services and Policy Research from the University of Toronto, an MSc from McGill University and a BSHc (Honours) from McMaster University. She is a certified Project Management Professional (Agile) with over seven years of healthcare experience.

She is currently teaching Project Management at University Canada West.

Expertise and Experience

Dr. Thakkar has held leadership roles, including Managing Consultant at Fraser Health Authority and analyst positions with the BC and Ontario health ministries. An award-winning educator, Dr. Thakkar has taught at McMaster, University of Toronto and Pacific Coast University. Her engaging teaching methods include flipped classrooms, practical, hands-on activities, and connecting students to industry leaders. 

Publications and Scholarly Activity

Dr. Thakkar’s PhD research focused on primary care patients’ preferred roles in treatment decision-making. Her post-doctoral research focused on a program evaluation for the Victoria Hospice for an older adults’ health and wellness program as a part of the CIHR Health Systems Impact Post-Doctoral Fellowship. Dr. Thakkar has worked as a Senior Research Associate at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she led a research project called ‘Interventions to Mitigate COVID-19 Related Mental Health Risks for Those with Pre-existing Chronic Health Conditions and Facing Social and Economic Barriers: A Scoping and Rapid Realist Review’.

Dr. Thakkar’s research interests include health services and policy research, and health systems design research. She is also interested in project management teaching focused research. 

Research Articles (Published)

Refereed Conference Proceedings

Refereed Technical Reports

Non-Refereed Books, Monographs, Compilations, Manuals

  • Esmail, L., Longo, C. Thakkar, V., Wynne, W. Deber, R. Case Studies in Healthcare. Chapter 15- Prescription for Conflict: Drug Pricing and Coverage. University of Toronto Press.

Non-Refereed Books, Monographs, Compilations, Manuals

March 2022

  • Canadian Health Services and Policy Research Conference- CIHR Fellows Retreat - Program Evaluation of an Older Adults Health and Wellness Program 

June 2022

May 2022

  • Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research Conference - The Results of a Scoping Review and Program Evaluations for the Hospice Setting. 

October 2021

January 2021

  • Centre for Health Education and Scholarship - Chronic diseases, Mental and Physical Health Conditions – Findings of a Realist review.

June 2020

  • E-Health Conference - Expertise in the Development and Implementation of National Pharmacare.

January 2020

May 2019

  • Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research - What roles do primary care patients wish to play in treatment decisions in Primary Care?

February 2019

  • University of Victoria - What role do primary care patients wish to play in treatment decisions? Thematic Analysis of Semi-structured Interviews with Patients

February 2018

May 2017

  • Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research - Assessing the Reliability and Validity of a Patient Experience Survey for Ontario's Integrated Funding Models.

June 2015 

October 2015

  • University of British Columbia CHSPR conference: Contested Grounds - Scoping Review on Patient Engagement Measurement Frameworks: Tools for Understanding the Excellent Care for All Act.

May 2015

  • Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research - The Many Meanings of Patient Engagement: A Unified Framework.

May 2007

  • University Health Network Pediatrics Research Conference - Easing the Strain on a pediatric tertiary care centre: use of a redistribution system.

Awards

2022

  • McMaster Alumni Arch Award

2021

  • McMaster Innovator in Education Award 
  • Mitacs Truth & Reconciliation training Certificate
  • Mitacs Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Certificate 
  • CIHR Unconscious Bias Training

2018

  • University of Toronto Gordon Cressy Leadership Award 

2017

  • CIHR Sex and Gender Analysis Certificate
  • CITI Good Clinical Practice Certificate
  • Institute of Healthcare Improvement Certificate in Patient Safety

2016

  • IHI Certificate in Change Management
  • IHI Certificate in Leadership

2004-2008

  • McMaster University - Presidents Scholarship ($10,000 per year, renewable for 2 years and guaranteed on-campus first year residence)

2005

  • McMaster Award of Excellence- award to students in top 10% of students within the faculty

Connect with her in LinkedIn.