Dr. Steven Hawken will assume the role of ICES uOttawa Site Director effective July 1, 2026. Steven is a Senior Scientist in the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s Methodological and Implementation Research Program, an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and an Affiliate Investigator at the CHEO Research Institute. He also serves as the Scientific Lead for Big Data Analytics within the Ottawa Methods Centre, where he provides methodological and statistical expertise to researchers across multiple disciplines.
Steven’s interdisciplinary research program focuses on the application of epidemiology, biostatistics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in maternal, newborn, and pediatric health. As a Senior Adjunct Scientist at ICES, he has contributed extensively to advancing health administration data research. His current work spans artificial intelligence applied to obstetrical imaging for fetal anomaly detection, newborn screening metabolomics, as well as maternal-newborn and pediatric epidemiology, and vaccine safety. Steven brings a strong track record of collaboration, innovation, and data-driven research excellence to this role. His expertise will be invaluable for the implementation of our Responsible AI framework.
Steven will be taking over from Dr. Carl van Walraven, who has served as ICES uOttawa Site Director for the past 16 years. Under Carl’s leadership, the uOttawa site has made significant contributions to patient safety, hospital health services research, and the development of the widely used data-driven tools and metrics. He was a generous mentor to many students, scientists, and staff. We are deeply grateful for his longstanding dedication and contributions.
Please join me in congratulating Steven on his new role and in expressing our sincere appreciation to Carl for his exemplary leadership.
— Astrid Guttmann
Interim CEO