Heather Godfrey

Heather joined the Integrated Concussion Research Program in 2017 as a Clinical Trials Nurse and helps develop and coordinate clinical trials for the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre. Heather's academic achievements include her Master of Nursing: Nurse Practitioner, a Bachelor of Nursing degree, and a Bachelor of Science in Biomechanics which has given her a unique perspective on sports-related injuries and the application of biomechanical principles in healthcare. Heather is a Royal Bank Academic All Canadian and an ARNET Scholar.

Heather has worn many hats as clinician, educator, regulatory specialist, patient advocate and clinical trial developer. Heather has spent over 15 years in the pediatric emergency department at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and has worked in pediatric concussion clinical trials, poison and drug information, endocrine testing, travel nursing, and corrections.

Heather currently coordinates the SMART Concussion Trial which is examining the most effective treatment program for adolescents with recent concussion. SMART is recruiting teens 13-19 years old who have recently sustained a concussion. SMART is approved by the University of Calgary Research Ethics Board (REB21-1045).

1. Godfrey, H., King R., Kirton, A., Yeates, K., MacMaster F., & Barlow, K. (2018). Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on Cortical Neurophysiology in Children with Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms. Poster presented at Littman Research Day, Calgary, AB.
2. Godfrey, H., Samuel, T., Barlow, K. (2017). Improving paediatric concussion care through knowledge translation and confidence building in paediatric emergency room nurses. Poster presented at the International Brain Injury Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.
3. Godfrey, H., Yeates, K., et al. RECOVER clinical pathway: The process of implementing a multi-site, pediatric, clinical concussion pathway. Manuscript currently undergoing edits for publication.
4. Tabor, J., Burma J., Godfrey, H., Galarneau, JM., Debert, C., Wellington, C., Emery, C., Smirl, J., Penner, L. Effects of interval exercise on commonly studied fluid biomarkers for sport-related concussion. Submitted for publication.
5. Yeates, K., Barlow, K., Wright, B., Tang, K., Barrett, O., Berdusco, E., Black, A., Clark, B., Conradi, A., Godfrey, H., Kolstad, A., Ly, A., Mikrogianakis, A., Purser, R., Schneider, K., Stang, A., Zemek, R., Zwicker, J., Johnson, D., (2023). Health care impact of implementing a clinical pathway for acute care of pediatric concussion: A stepped wedge, cluster randomised trial. Submitted for publication.
6. Zewdie, E., Ciechanski, P., Kuo, H. C., Giuffre, A., Kahl, C., King, R., Godfrey, H & Damji, O. (2020). Safety and tolerability of transcranial magnetic and direct current stimulation in children: Prospective single center evidence from 3.5 million stimulations. Brain Stimulation, 13(3), 565-575.