Alf Nachemson Memorial Lecture

About the Alf Nachemson Memorial Lecture

The Alf Nachemson Memorial Lecture was established in 2002 to honour Dr. Nachemson's significant contribution to the use of research evidence in clinical decision-making. Dr. Nachemson passed away in 2006. He was a distinguished orthopaedic surgeon and researcher from Sweden, a founding member of the IWH Scientific Advisory Committee, and co-editor of the Institute-based Cochrane Back Review Group from 1995 to 2002.

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.

2011 Alf Nachemson Memorial Lecuture

"Research informing public policy: Workers' compensation in California" by Dr. Robert T. Reville

Dr. Robert T. Reville, a senior economist at the RAND Corporation, delivered the 2011 Alf Nachemson Memorial Lecture on October 27.

Dr. Reville explored how research informs public policy by narrowing the range of views in which a compromise is found. He showed how this works using four examples of research from the RAND Corporation. This research helped shape important policy reforms in California, including improving return-to-work outcomes for workers with disabilities, addressing the adequacy of benefits for workers with permanent impairments, and ensuring fairness in the adjudication of workers' compensation claims.

Download the presentation without sound:
Slides from Research informing public policy: Workers' compensation in California (353 KB, PDF)

Download the sound file (podcast) only:
Podcast from Research informing public policy: Workers' compensation in California (14.3 MB, MP3)

Past Nachemson presentations

2010: Dr. Terrence Sullivan talked about Improving quality and performance in health services: Reflections from Cancer Care Ontario (2.4 MB). Watch an interview with Dr. Sullivan prior to the 2010 lecture.

2009: Dr. Joan Eakin talked about No small matter: Unpacking the problem of health and safety in small workplaces (35 KB).

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)