51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Samara Zavalkoff

Academic title(s): 

Associate ProfessorÌý

MDCM, FRCPC

Samara Zavalkoff
Contact Information
Address: 

Montreal Children’s Hospital
1001 Decarie Boulevard
Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1

Ìý

Email address: 
samara.zavalkoff [at] mcgill.ca
Division: 
Critical Care
Area(s): 
Health services research
Quality improvement
Degree(s): 
  • Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (M.D., C.M.) 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Medical School, Montreal, 1999-2003
  • Post-graduate training, Pediatrics (PGY-1 to PGY-3) Montreal Children’s Hospital, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, 2003-2006
  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine (PGY-4 and PGY-5) Montreal Children’s Hospital, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, 2006-2008
Biography: 

Dr. Samara Zavalkoff completed medical school, general pediatric post-graduate training and pediatric critical care fellowship training including a year as Chief Pediatric Resident at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. After obtaining Royal College certification in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Zavalkoff went on to complete a year of further fellowship training in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care and Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. She is currently an attending physician in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and a member of the Extracorporeal Life Support physician team at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Dr. Zavalkoff is in her 9th year acting as the Program Director for McGill’s residency in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. She leads quality and safety reviews and initiatives for the PICU and the ECLS program as the Medical Officer for Quality and Patient Safety in the PICU. In 2021, she became the inaugural Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Director for the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Dr. ´Ü²¹±¹²¹±ô°ì´Ç´Ú´Ú’s quality improvement research focuses on ongoing improving handover and communication within the PICU, improving potential organ donor referral nationally and enhancing the ICU experience through ICU Liberation to improve short and longterm outcomes after critical illness.

Areas of expertise: 
  • Patient SafetyÌý
  • Quality ImprovementÌýÌý
  • Point of Care UltrasoundÌýÌý
  • Medical Education/ Medical simulationÌýÌý
  • Gender EquityÌý
Areas of interest: 
  • Patient Safety in the Pediatric ICUÌýÌý
  • Optimization of team communicationÌýÌý
  • Improving potential organ donor identification and referralÌý
  • Interventions to reduce morbidity and enhance outcomes for children after critical illnessÌýÌý
  • Gender equity in medicine including critical careÌý
Awards, honours, and fellowships: 

Prix Marthe-PellandÌýÌý

Fédération des médicins specialists du Québec
Awarded for leadership by a female medical specialist in her first 10 years of practice in Quebec

Faculty Honour List for Educational ExcellenceÌýÌý

Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÌý

Maude Abbott PrizeÌýÌý

Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Awarded based upon the criteria of administrative excellence, for a female faculty member who is between 2 and 10 years of appointment

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