Alf Nachemson Memorial Lecture

The Alf Nachemson Memorial Lecture was initiated in 2003 in honour of Dr. Alf Nachemson, a distinguished orthopedic surgeon, researcher and teacher. The lectureship recognizes Dr. Nachemson's significant contributions to the Institute for Work & Health, and to the integration of research knowledge into decision-making to improve health. Dr. Nachemson passed away in 2006.

The lectureship is awarded to a prominent national or international individual who has made a significant and unique contribution to:

  • causes or management of work-related musculoskeletal pain
  • evidence-based practice in the prevention of work-related injury, illness or disability
  • emerging challenges in the interface between work and health
  • the role of evidence in policy-making.

2009 Alf Nachemson Memorial Lecture

“No small matter: Unpacking the problem of health and safety in small workplaces” by Dr. Joan Eakin

Dr. Joan Eakin, a professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and director of the Centre for Critical Qualitative Health Research at the University of Toronto, delivered the 2009 Nachemson lecture in November. She gave an incisive and thought-provoking talk on "the problem" of small businesses when it comes to occupational health and safety (OHS). Based on her years of research in this field, she argued that little headway has been made, not so much because we don't understand the solutions, but because we don't understand the problem. This, she argued, is because OHS is defined from a managerial standpoint.

Download the presentation: No small matter: Unpacking the problem of health and safety in small workplaces (35 KB).

Past Nachemson presentations

2008: Dr. Thomas Wickizer talked about Quality improvement in health-care services for injured workers(257 KB).

2007: David Stuewe discussed Safety climate: the role of leadership in enhancing workplace safety(312 KB).

2006: Dr. Barbara Silverstein spoke on Preventing the burden of workplace musculoskeletal disorders: What do we know about what works?(470 KB).

2005: Dr. Glenn Pransky delivered his remarks on Reducing disability and improving return to work: Where do we go from here?(275 KB).

2004: Dr. Graham Lowe discussed Healthy work environments: Canada's next big idea.(537 KB).

2003: Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw, in the inaugural Nachemson lecture, delivered his talk on Future prospects for evidence-based practice: Getting closer to the destination.(194 KB)