Satvinder  Ghotra, MD, MSc

Education

• MBBS (Government Medical College, Patiala, India)
• Post Graduate Medical Education (Residency Training in Pediatrics)- (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India)
• Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada)
• Fellowship in Developmental Follow-Up of High Risk Infants (Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada)
• MSc Pediatrics (University of Alberta, Canada)

Employment

• Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University
• Neonatologist, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, IWK Health Centre
• Medical Director, Nova Scotia Provincial Perinatal Follow-Up Program, IWK Health Centre

Biography

Dr. Satvinder Ghotra is a neonatologist at IWK Health and an Associate Professor with Dalhousie University.  She is also the Medical Director of the Perinatal Follow-Up Program of Nova Scotia. She holds a Masters’ degree in Health Related Quality of Life research. In her career, she has successfully led several projects to advance the care of high-risk infants in the Maritimes. She is a passionate clinician-researcher with primary research areas of iron deficiency in preterm infants and long-term health outcomes including quality of life of preterm infants. She has obtained several grants to date and mentored several research trainees in her program. She has also led quality improvement, advocacy, and community education work in Atlantic Canada.  Her research around iron deficiency in preterm infants has garnered a lot of media attention locally and internationally. Her students have also received multiple awards and presented their work at national and international conferences.

Published Media Reports/Interviews

1. Live Interview with Global News Halifax, Dec 2, 2022: https://globalnews.ca/video/9320722/iwk-releases-new
2. IWK researchers first to look at addressing iron deficiency in preterm infants, Nov 23, 2022: https://youriwk.com/2022/11/23/iwk-researchers-first-to-look-at-addressing-iron-deficiency-in-preterm-infants/
3. Press release at the American Society of Hematology Conference, Dec 12, 2022: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VHVH9nRutfs
4. Risk for Iron Deficiency Higher Among Preterm Infants Who Are Formula-Fed Versus Breastfed, Dec 21, 2022 in Oncology Practice update: https://www.practiceupdate.com/content/ash-2022-risk-for-iron-deficiency-higher-among-preterm-infants-who-are-formula-fed-versus-breastfed/146350/62\
5. Formula-fed extreme preemies need more iron, Dec 16, 2022 in Hematology News: https://www.mdedge.com/hematology-oncology/article/260193/transfusion-medicine/study-formula-fed-extreme-preemies-need-more
6. Formula Feeding Raises Odds for Anemia in Very 'Preemie' Babies, Dec 13, 2022: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-12-13/formula-feeding-raises-odds-for-anemia-in-very-preemie-babies

Selected Publications  

1. Furlong W, Rae C, Feeny D, Ghotra S, Breakey VR, Carter T, Pai N, Pullenayegum E, Xie F, Barr R. Generic Health-Related Quality of Life Utility Measure for Preschool Children (Health Utilities Preschool): Design, Development, and Properties. Value Health. 2023; 26(2):251–260.
2. Landry C, Dorling J, Kulkarni K, Campbell-Yeo M, Vincer M, Ledwidge J, Morrison L, Ghotra S. Post discharge Iron Status in Very Preterm Infants Receiving Prophylactic Iron Supplementation after Birth. J Pediatr. 2022;247:74-80.e2 (Trainee as first author)
3. Ghotra S, Feeny D, Barr R, Synnes A, Yang J, Saigal S, Vincer M, Afifi J, Shah PS, Lee S, Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network. Parent Reported Health Status of Preterm Survivors in a Canadian Cohort. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. Epub 2021 Jun 23.
4. Ghotra S, Vincer M, Allen V, Khan N. A Population-Based Study of Cystic White Matter Injury in Very Preterm Infants Born Over Two Decades in Nova Scotia, Canada. J Perinatol. 2019;39(2):269-277.
5. Ghotra SK, Johnson JA, Qiu W, Newton A, Rasmussen C, Yager JY. Health Related Quality of Life and its determinants in Pediatric Stroke survivors. Arch Dis Child. 2018;103(10):930-936.

Please refer to ResearchGate for full publication list  

Selected Awards and Honours

1. IWK Health Center Establishment Grant (2021- 2023)
2. IWK Health Center Mentored Grant (2020- 2021)
3. IWK Health Center Project Grant (2019- 2023)
4. IWK Health Center Category A Grant (2017- 2021)
5. Conference Presentation Award, IWK Health Center, 2016
6. Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Graduate Studentship (2013 – 2014)
7. Women Child Health Research Institute Graduate Studentship (2012 – 2014)
8. Best Oral presentation award, Women Child Health Research Institute Research Day (2012)
9. Alberta Innovates Health Solutions and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute Graduate Traineeship Grant (2011 – 2012)

Awards/Grants of Supervised Students  

1. RIM Knowledge Translation Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, April 2023
2. Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology, Dec 2022
3. RIM Knowledge Translation Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University travel award, Dec, 2022
4. Gladys Osman Estate Studentship, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, June 2022
5. Ross Stuart Smith Studentship, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, June 2021
6. Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology, Dec 2020
7. Mentored Grant, IWK Health Centre, December 2019
8. Gladys Osman RIM Award, Faculty of Medicine Dalhousie University travel award, June 2019
9. Gladys Osman Estate Studentship, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, June 2019
10. Ross Stuart Smith Studentship, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, June 2019
11. Richard Payzant Ward Travel Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Jan 2019

Registration and Memberships

• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
• Doctors Nova Scotia
• Canadian Neonatal Network

Service and Activity

• Chair, IWK Perinatal Follow-Up Program Advisory Group
• Member of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Division Mortality Committee
• Member of the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Neuroprotection Developmental Care Committee