Dr. Diane Finegood
Professor, Centre for Dialogue
B.S.Ch.E. Chemical Engineering (University of Michigan) 1978
M.Sc. Biomedical Engineering (Northwestern University)1979
Ph.D. Physiology & Biophysics (University Southern California) 1984
Phone: (778) 782-9101
Email: finegood@sfu.ca
Professional Background:
Diane has been a BPK faculty member since 1996. Her career took many twists and turns over the years and she is currently heading towards retirement. Diane is also a Fellow of the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at SFU and will continue their fellowship beyond full retirement in September 2027.
Together with many trainees and colleagues, Diane became an internationally recognized scholar with papers and presentations across a wide range of disciplines including pathogenesis of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, application of mathematical modeling to physiological systems, cross sector partnership, knowledge mobilization, public health and systems thinking.
In 2012-2016, Diane took a five year leave of absence from SFU to serve as the President and CEO of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (renamed ). They have also held a variety of other leadership positions including as the inaugural Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, (2000-2008), Executive Director of the (2018-2023) and (2009-2011), and as Principal Investigator on many research grants since 1984.
Diane鈥檚 current passion is for the application of systems thinking and dialogue to address complex problems across a broad range of topics, with a particular focus on health systems and public health. Twenty years of thinking and learning about approaches that embrace complexity led to her building the Complex Systems Frameworks Collection. Her aim is to make the many interrelated ideas of multiple systems thinkers as accessible as possible by bringing them to life through the engaging illustrations of .
Selected Publications:
Diabetes Policy
- Finegood, DT and L Johnston. . Public Health Agency of Canda. Government of Canada, 2023.
- Finegood, DT and L Johnston. . Public Health Agency of Canda. Government of Canada, 2022.
Systems Thinking, Public Health & Healthcare
- Finegood, DT and Yakimov C. Why systems thinking is needed to center trust in health policy and systems: Comment on 鈥淧lacing trust at the heart of health policy and systems.鈥 Int J Health Policy Manag. 13: 8706, 2024.
- Taylor,E, R Schwartz, J Trowbridge, E Di Ruggiero, T Sullivan, G Marchildon, M Dobrow, D Finegood, A Price. Strategy design for New Public Governance and horizontal initiatives. Canadian Public Administration 64 (4): 657-681, 2021.
- Finegood DT. Can we build an evidence base on the impact of systems thinking for wicked problems? Comment on "What can policy-makers get out of systems thinking? Policy partners' experiences of a systems-focused research collaboration in preventive health. International Journal of Health Policy and Management. 10(6): 351-353., 2021.
- DT Finegood and Jebb, SA, A Diez Roux, H Rutter, J Clarkson, J Frank, N Roos, C Bonell, S Michie, P Hawe. UK Academy of Medical Sciences and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, 2021.
- Rutter H, Savona N, Bibby J, Cummins S, Finegood DT, Glonti K, Greaves F, Harper L, Hawe P, Moore L, Petticrew M, Rehfuess E, Shiell A, Thomas J, White M. The need for a complex systems model of evidence for public health. The Lancet 390(10112): 2602 - 2604, 2017.
Multi-sector Partnerships
- Johnston LM, Goldsmith LJ, Finegood DT. Developing co-funded multi-sectoral partnerships for chronic disease prevention: a qualitative inquiry into federal governmental public health staff experience. Health Research Policy and Systems. 18 (1):92, 2020.
- Johnston, L.M., Finegood, D.T. Cross-sector partnerships and public health: challenges and opportunities with the private sector. Annu Rev Public Health 36: 255-271, 2015; Front Public Health Serv Sys Res 4(6): 1鈥7, 2015.
Mathematical Modeling and the Pathogenesis of Diabetes
- Finegood, D.T., Scaglia, L., Bonner-Weir, S. Dynamics of beta-cell mass in the growing rat pancreas: estimation with a simple mathematical model. Diabetes 44:249-256, 1995.
Pathogenesis of Diabetes
- Topp, B.G., Atkinson, L.L., Finegood, D.T. Dynamics of Insulin Sensitivity, Beta-Cell Function, and Beta-Cell Mass During the Development of Diabetes in fa/fa Rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 293(6): E1730-5, 2007.
- O'Brien, B.A., Geng, X., Orteu, C.H., Huang, Y., Ghoreishi, M., Zhang, Y., Bush, J.A., Li, G., Finegood, D.T., Dutz, J.P. A deficiency in the in vivo clearance of apoptotic cells is a feature of the NOD mouse. J. Autoimmun. 26: 104-115, 2006.
- Mar茅e A.F., Kublik, R., Finegood, D.T., Edelstsein-Keshet, L. Modelling the onset of type 1 diabetes: can impaired macrophage phagocytosis make the difference between health and disease? Phil Trans R Soc A. 364: 1267-1282, 2006.
- Finegood, D.T., McArthur, M.D., Kojwang, D., Thomas, M.J., Topp, B.G., Leonard, T., Buckingham, R.E. Beta-cell mass dynamics in Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats: Rosiglitazone prevents the rise in net cell death. Diabetes 50: 1021-1029, 2001.
- Trudeau, J.D., Dutz, J.P., Arany, E., Hill, D.J., Fieldus, W.E., Finegood, D.T. Perspectives in Diabetes. Neonatal beta-cell apoptosis: a trigger for autoimmune diabetes? Diabtes 49: 1-7, 2000.
- Topp, B.G., Promislow, K., de Vries, G., Miura, R.M., Finegood, D.T.. A model of beta-cell mass, insulin and glucose kinetics: Pathways to diabetes. J Theor Biol 206: 605-619, 2000.
- Finegood, D.T., Bergman, R.N., Vranic, M. Modelling error and apparent isotope discrimination confound estimation of endogenous glucose production during euglycemic glucose clamps. Diabetes 37:1025-34, 1988.
- Bergman, R.N., Finegood, D.T., Ader, M. Assessment of insulin sensitivity in vivo. Endocrine Reviews 6: 45-86, 1985.
Select Honours & Awards
- SFU Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Community Engaged or Experiential Education Award (2022)
- Frederick G. Banting Award: Canadian Diabetes Association, 2008. For significant contributions through leadership in the diabetes community in Canada.
- Fellow of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS): Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, 2007. For recognition of national and international contributions to the promotion of health science. Fellows will have demonstrated leadership, creativity, distinctive competencies and a commitment to advance academic health science.
- Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award: Women's Executive Network, 2006. Trailblazers & Trendsetters Category.
- George Bray Founders Award: NAASO, The Obesity Society, 2005. For significant contributions that advance the scientific or clinical basis for understanding or treating.
- Woman of Distinction in Science, Research and Medicine: Vancouver YWCA, 2002. Contribution to the advancement of research, discovery or development in the fields of science or medicine.
- Young Scientist Award: Canadian Diabetes Association, 1995. In recognition of outstanding research conducted in Canada in the field of diabetes by young scientists.
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