Welcome to the Montreal Children's Hospital

Claire MA LeBlanc

Rheumatology

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I love working with children and their families because I get the opportunity to promote wellness and help them reach their goals and dreams.

Hospital information

Academic appointments

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University

Other appointments

Past Director, Pediatric Rheumatology Examination Board Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and past Vice President Rheumatology Specialty Committee Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons;
Past chair Canadian Pediatric Society Healthy Active Living and Sport Medicine Committee;
Chair – Areas of Focused Competence (diploma) AFC Committee in Sport & Exercise Medicine, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada;
Co-chair Canadian Rheumatology Association Rheumatology Resident Pre-Course Committee.

Awards and distinctions

2020 Oslar Award, McGill University
Speaker of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada 2005;
American Academy of Pediatrics Leadership Award 2009;
Dr. Claire LeBlanc Teacher as Leader Protocol Recognition of Leadership, Royal Roads Masters in Leadership Course 2009;
Noni MacDonald award: Pediatric Resident: Ziad Solh 2011; CPS Member Recognition Award 2012.
2015 The Thomas E. Shaffer Award. The Shaffer Award recipient is selected by members of the AAP Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. This award recognizes significant contributions to the field of sports medicine.

Education

University

B.Sc., University of Kings College

Medical Degree

Dalhousie University

Residency

Pediatric Residency, Isaac Walton Killam Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Fellowship(s)

Pediatric Rheumatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON; Sport Medicine, University of Ottawa

Fun fact about me

I play hockey and guitar and I sing. I also like to hike nature trails and I appreciate Canada’s flora and fauna. My newest competitive sport is Dragon Boating!

Rheumatology

Research

Research interests

My research interests include the creation and implementation of population-based wellness strategies for children and youth. Implementation includes the community and school setting as well as health care settings through the teaching of doctors in training.

My research in rheumatology includes multicenter trials and outcome studies, with the aim of improving the health of children affected with arthritis. I am also studying the use of point-of-care musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. This technology helps rheumatologists to detect inflamed joints and tendons early and allows targeted injection of medication when indicated. Young children with arthritis can be pain-free for many months after such injections, with no limitation to their activities. This improves the quality of life for these children and their families.

Research foci

Population -based studies on obesity prevention and healthy living promotion;
Equality in access to treatment for children with arthritis (JIA);
Clinical drug trials for JIA;
Physical activity influence on JIA outcomes.

Keywords

Obesity, healthy active living, physical activity, juvenile arthritis, rheumatic diseases

Selected publications

Evidence-based, bilingual, age-specific teaching modules (x 4) on healthy active living for health professionals. Web-publication www.cps.ca (in press).

Carson V, LeBlanc CMA, Moreau E, Tremblay MS. Paediatricians’ awareness of, agreement with and use of the new Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for children and youth zero to 17 years of age. Paediatr ChildHealth 18(10):538-542, 2013.

LeBlanc CMA, Lang B, Bencivenga A, and Tucker LB. Access to Biologic Therapies in Canada for Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. J Rheumatology 39(9):1875-9, 2012.

Nieman P, LeBlanc CMA and Canadian Paediatric Society Healthy Active Living and Sports Medicine Committee. Psychosocial aspects of child and adolescent obesity. Paediatr Child Health 17(3):205, 2012.

Lipnowski S, LeBlanc CMA and Canadian Paediatric Society Healthy Active Living and Sport Medicine Committee. Healthy active living: Physical activity guidelines for children and adolescents. Paediatr Child Health 17(2):209, 2012.