Dr. Sandra McKay is VHA’s Vice President, Research & Innovation. Sandra provides scientific, strategic and operational leadership of this portfolio, championing the development of home care scientists and delivering research and innovations to inform sustainable change within the organization and across the home care sector.

Sandra has honed this expertise through more than twenty years of academic experience, and has dedicated the past fifteen years to health care as an embedded research scientist. During this time, Sandra has established dozens of partnerships with multiple universities and their researchers to meet the strategic and operational priorities of VHA and provide evidence to advance the home care sector ($8+ million, 37+ competitive grants awarded, 55+ peer reviewed manuscripts published).

Sandra holds a PhD in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. She is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Health Policy Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto; is cross appointed as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto; is an Associate Professor at Ted Rogers School of Business, Toronto Metropolitan University; an Affiliate Scientist at The Institute for Education Research (TIER) & The Michener Institute through University Health Network; and an Adjunct Researcher at Michael Garron Hospital.

Sandra was recognized as an AGE-WELL Canadian Network Centre of Excellence Honourary Fellow for her long-standing and substantial contribution to research and innovation in Canada’s AgeTech sector. Sandra is also the Vice-Chair of the Canadian Standards Association’s Technical Standards Committee for Home and Community Care.