Sharon Freitag

Senior Director, Research Ethics, Unity Health Toronto

Sharon Freitag is the Senior Director, Research Ethics at Unity Health Toronto (a health network comprised of St. Michael’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre and Providence Healthcare).  She has been involved in the field of research ethics since joining St. Michael’s Hospital in 2003.  The majority of Sharon’s career has been in the health administration field including roles as the Health Statistician with the Government of the Northwest Territories and Research Coordinator at University Health Network.

In 2008, Sharon was elected to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards (CAREB) and served as President from 2010-2012.  Sharon has also been involved with PRIM&R (Public Responsibility in Medicine & Research) serving on a number of committees, and is currently co-Chair of the PRIM&R Membership Committee.

Sharon has represented CAREB at the Senate hearings on Canada’s Clinical Trial Infrastructure, and Canadian General Standards Board development of standards for REBs reviewing clinical trials. Sharon served as Chair of the CIHR External Advisory Committee for the Streamlining of Health Research Ethics Review in support of the Strategy for Patient Oriented Research. Sharon is also a member of the Clinical Trials Ontario Research Ethics Advisory Group and is a member of the CTO College of Reviewers.