Dr. Ian Stiell

Dr. Ian Stiell

Profile

Dr. Ian Stiell MD, MSc, FRCPC
Full Professor
TOH DEM Roles:
Director Clinical Research Fellowship
Director Journal Club
Senior Researcher Level 6, Department of Emergency Medicine
External Roles:
Distinguished Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine and School of Public Health, University of Ottawa
Senior Scientist, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, 1997 -
Senior Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa
Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine (CJEM) Nov 2017 -

Site: The Ottawa Hospital (TOH)



Biography

Medical school

  • University of Western Ontario

Residency

  • Chief Resident, Emergency Medicine, McGill University
  • Resident, Emergency Medicine, McGill University
  • Resident, Family Medicine, University of Calgary

Academic Focus

  • Clinical Research

Award Highlights

  • Lifetime Achievement Award, U Ottawa, Alumni Awards of Distinction (2024)
  • Outstanding Contribution in Research, American College of Emergency Physicians (2012) 
  • President’s Award, Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (2012)
  • Distinguished Professor, University of Ottawa (2007)
  • Faculty Mentoring Award, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa (2005)
  • Dr. J. David Grimes Research Career Achievement Award, Ottawa Health Research Institute (2002)

Selected Publications (Total >500 peer-reviewed publications lifetime)

  • Stiell IG, Taljaard M, Eagles D, Yadav K, Vadeboncoeur A, Hohl CM, Archambault PM, Birnie D, Brown E, Campbell SG, Chen Y, Clement CM, Cournoyer A, de Wit K, Emond M, Macle L, McRae AD, Mercier E, Morris J, Mohamad G, Nemnom MJ, Nicholls SG, Pare D, Parkash R, Sivilotti MLA, Thavorn K, Perry JJ. Vernakalant versus procainamide for rapid cardioversion of patients with acute atrial fibrillation (RAFF4): A Randomised Clinical Trial. BMJ. 2025 Nov 11;391:e085632. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2025-085632. 
  • Stiell IG, Sivilotti MLA, Taljaard M, Birnie D, Vadeboncoeur A, Hohl CM, McRae AD, Rowe BH, Brison RJ, Thiruganasambandamoorthy V, Macle L, Borgundvaag B, Morris J, Mercier E, Clement CM, Brinkhurst J, Sheehan C, Brown E, Nemnom MJ, Wells GA, Perry JJ. Electrical versus pharmacological cardioversion for emergency department patients with acute atrial fibrillation (RAFF2): a partial factorial randomised trial. Lancet. 2020 Feb 1;395(10221):339-349.
  • Stiell IG, Nichol G, Leroux B, Rea TD, Ornato JP, Powell J et al. Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium ROC PRIMED Trial of Early Rhythm Analysis versus Later Analysis in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med. 2011 Sep 1;365(9):787-97.
    Stiell IG, Clement CM, Grimshaw J, Brison R, Rowe BH, Schull MJ, Lee J, Brehaut J, McKnight D, Eisenhauer MA, Dreyer J, Letovsky E, Rutledge T, MacPhail I, Ross S, Perry JJ, Holroyd BR, Ip U, Lesiuk H, Wells GA. Implementation of the Canadian C-Spine Rule: A Prospective 12-Centre Cluster Randomized Trial. British Medical Journal 2009. BMJ. 2009 Oct 29;339:b4146 
  • Stiell IG, Spaite DW, Field B, Nesbitt LP, Munkley D, Maloney J, Dreyer J, Luinstra-Toohey L, Campeau T, Dagnone E, Lyver M, Wells GA, for the OPALS Study Group. Advanced Life Support for Out-of-Hospital Respiratory Distress. New Engl J Med 2007;356:2156-2164.
    Stiell IG, Clement CM, Rowe BH, Schull MJ, Brison R, Cass D, Eisenhauer MA, McKnight RD, Bandiera G, Holroyd B, Lee JS, Dreyer J, Worthington JR, Reardon M, Greenberg G, Lesiuk H, MacPhail I, Wells GA. Comparison of the Canadian CT Head Rule and the New Orleans Criteria in Patients with Minor Head Injury. JAMA 2005;294:1511-1518.
  • Stiell IG, Wells GA, Field B, Spaite DW, Nesbitt LP, De Maio VJ, Nichol G, Cousineau D, Blackburn J, Munkley D, Luinstra Toohey L, Campeau T, Dagnone E, Lyver M, for the OPALS Study Group. Advanced Cardiac Life Support in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. New Engl J Med 2004;351:647-656.
  • Stiell IG, Clement CM, McKnight RD, Brison R, Schull MJ, Rowe BH, Worthington JR, Eisenhauer MA, Cass, D, Greenberg G, MacPhail I, Dreyer J, Lee JS, Bandiera G, Reardon M, Holroyd B, Lesiuk H, Wells GA.  The Canadian C-Spine Rule versus the NEXUS low-risk criteria in patients with trauma. New Engl J Med 2003;349:2510-2518. 
  • Stiell IG, Wells GA, Vandemheen KL, Clement CM, Lesiuk H, De Maio VJ, Laupacis A, Schull M, McKnight RD, Verbeek R, Brison R, Cass D, Dreyer J, Eisenhauer MA, Greenberg GH, MacPhail I, Morrison L, Reardon M, Worthington J.  The Canadian Cervical Spine Radiography Rule for alert and stable trauma patients.  JAMA 2001;286:1841-1848.
  • Stiell IG, Hebert PC, Wells GA, Vandemheen K, Tang ASL, Higginson LAJ, Dreyer JF, Clement C, Battram E, Watpool I, Mason S, Klassen T, Weitzman B. Vasopressin versus epinephrine for in-hospital cardiac arrest: a randomized controlled trial. The Lancet 2001;358:105-109.
  • Stiell IG, Wells GA, Vandemheen K, Clement C, Lesiuk H, Laupacis A, McKnight RD, Verbeek R, Brison R, Cass D, Eisenhauer MA, Greenberg GH, Worthington J, for the CCC Study Group.  The Canadian CT Head Rule for patients with minor head injury.  The Lancet 2001;357:1391-1396. 
    Stiell IG, Wells GA, Field BJ, Spaite DW, De Maio VJ, Ward R, Munkley DP, Lyver MB, Luinstra LG, Campeau T, Maloney J, Dagnone E, for the OPALS Study Group.  Improved out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival through the inexpensive optimization of an existing defibrillation program (OPALS Study Phase II).  JAMA 1999;281:1175-1181.
  • Stiell IG, Wells GA, Hoag RH, Sivilotti MLA, Cacciotti TF, Verbeek PR, Greenway KT, McDowell I, Cwinn A, Greenberg GH, Nichol G, Michael JA.  Implementation of the Ottawa Knee Rule for the use of radiography in acute knee injuries.  JAMA 1997;278:2075-2079.
    Stiell IG, Hébert PC, Wells, GA, Laupacis A, Vandemheen K, Dreyer, JF, Eisenhauer MA, Gibson J, Higginson LAJ, Kirby AS, Mahon JL, Maloney JP, Weitzman BN.  The Ontario trial of active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation for in hospital and prehospital hospital cardiac arrest.  JAMA 996;275-18:1417-1423.
  • Stiell IG, Greenberg GH, Wells GA, McDowell I, Cwinn AA, Smith NA, Cacciotti TF, Sivilotti MLA.  Prospective validation of a decision rule for the use of radiography in acute knee injuries.  JAMA 1996;275-8:611-615.
  • Stiell IG, Wells GA, Laupacis A, Brison R, Verbeek R, Vandemheen K, Naylor CD.  A multicentre trial to introduce clinical decision rules for the use of radiography in acute ankle injuries.  Br Med J 1995;311:594-597.
    Stiell IG, McKnight RD, Greenberg GH, McDowell I, Nair RC, Wells GA, Johns C, Worthington JR.  Implementation of the Ottawa Ankle Rules.  JAMA 1994;271:827-832.
  • Stiell IG, Greenberg GH, McKnight RD, Nair RC, McDowell I, Reardon M, Stewart, JP, Maloney J.  Decision rules for the use of radiography in acute ankle injuries: refinement and prospective validation.   JAMA 1993;269:1127-32.
    Stiell IG, Hébert PC, Weitzman BN, Wells GA, Raman S, Stark RM, Higginson LAJ, Ahuja J, Dickinson GE.  High-dose epinephrine in adult cardiac arrest.  New Engl J Med 1992;327:1045-50.

Team members

Personal Philosophy

Family comes first.
At work, the patient comes first. 

Relevant Links

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Updated - July 2026