Joy MacDermid

Dr. Joy MacDermid is a Part-Time Professor in Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University's Faculty of Health Sciences with an extensive scholarly record of over 550 publications in the last decade. Her academic career spans evidence-based rehabilitation practice, outcome measurement methodology, and addressing health disparities among vulnerable populations including public safety personnel.

Research Expertise

Dr. MacDermid's research program demonstrates exceptional breadth and depth across multiple rehabilitation domains:

• Upper Extremity Rehabilitation: Specializing in hand therapy, wrist biomechanics, distal radius fracture management, and outcomes following carpal tunnel surgery
• Measurement Science: Developing and validating patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) across diverse cultural contexts and clinical conditions
• Public Safety Health: Investigating occupational stress injuries, mental health challenges, and return-to-work processes among firefighters, police officers, and correctional workers
• Knowledge Translation: Bridging evidence-practice gaps through educational interventions and implementation strategies for therapists
• Gender and Health Equity: Examining sex differences in pain experiences, recovery trajectories, and healthcare access across multiple conditions

Research Evolution

Her recent work (2023-2025) reveals strategic expansion into digital health solutions, patient co-design methodologies, and intersectional approaches to rehabilitation. She has pioneered research on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on first responders, developed smartphone-based assessment tools for remote rehabilitation, and established frameworks for addressing gender bias in outcome measurement. Her leadership in international consensus efforts has standardized outcome measurement for hand and wrist conditions globally.

Professional Impact

Dr. MacDermid's scholarly influence extends through:

• Development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for distal radius fractures and lateral elbow tendinopathy
• Creation of the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement Hand and Wrist Working Group
• Advocacy for improved sex and gender reporting standards in rehabilitation research
• Editorial leadership in major rehabilitation journals
• Mentorship of emerging researchers through collaborative projects across North America