Dafydd Williams

Dafydd Williams (b.May 16, 1954) is a Canadian astronaut. He has been on one space shuttle mission.

Related Topics:
May 16 - 1954 - Canadian - Astronaut - Space shuttle mission

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He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and is married to Cathy Fraser of Pointe-Claire, Quebec. They have a son and a daughter. Dr. Williams enjoys flying, scuba diving, hiking, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, downhill and cross-country skiing.

Related Topics:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Pointe-Claire, Quebec - Flying - Scuba diving - Hiking - Sailing - Kayaking - Canoeing - Skiing

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He attended high school in Beaconsfield, Quebec and earned a B.Sc. in biology from McGill University, Montreal, in 1976, a master of science degree in physiology, doctor of medicine, and master of surgery degrees from McGill University, Montreal, in 1983. He completed a residency in family practice in the faculty of medicine, University of Ottawa, in 1985 and obtained fellowship in emergency medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, following completion of a residency in emergency medicine at the University of Toronto, in 1988.

Related Topics:
Beaconsfield, Quebec - Biology - McGill University - Montreal - Master of science - Physiology - Medicine - Surgery - University of Ottawa - Emergency medicine - Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - University of Toronto

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Dr. Williams received postgraduate training in advanced invertebrate physiology at the Friday Harbour Laboratories, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Subsequently, his interests switched to vertebrate neurophysiology when, for his master's thesis, he became involved in basic science research on the role of adrenal steroid hormones in modifying the activity of regions within the central nervous system involved in the regulation of sleep-wake cycles. While working in the Neurophysiological Laboratories at the Allan Memorial Institute for Psychiatry, he assisted in clinical studies of slow wave potentials within the central nervous system.

Related Topics:
Invertebrate physiology - Friday Harbour Laboratories - University of Washington - Seattle, Washington - Vertebrate neurophysiology - Adrenal steroid hormones - Central nervous system

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His clinical research in emergency medicine has included studies evaluating the initial training and skill retention of cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, patient survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the early identification of trauma patients at high risk, and the efficacy of tetanus immunization in the elderly.

Related Topics:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation - Cardiac arrest - Trauma - Tetanus

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In 1988 he became an emergency physician with the department of emergency services at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre as well as a lecturer with the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. He served as a member of the Air Ambulance Utilization Committee with the Ontario Ministry of Health both as an academic emergency physician and later as a representative of community emergency physicians. In addition, he has trained ambulance attendants, paramedics, nurses, residents, and practicing physicians in cardiac and trauma resuscitation as a course director in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) with the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation and in Advanced Trauma Life Support with the American College of Surgeons.

Related Topics:
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre - Ontario Ministry of Health - Paramedic - Nurse - Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation - American College of Surgeons

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From 1989 to 1990, he served as an emergency physician with the Emergency Associates of Kitchener-Waterloo and as Medical Director of the Westmount Urgent Care Clinic. In 1990 he returned to Sunnybrook as Medical Director of the ACLS program and coordinator of postgraduate training in emergency medicine. Subsequently, he became the Acting Director of the Department of Emergency Services at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Toronto, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto.

Related Topics:
Kitchener - Waterloo

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Dr. Williams was selected by the Canadian Space Agency in June 1992. He completed basic training and in May 1993 was appointed manager of the missions and space medicine Group within the astronaut program. His collateral duty assignments have included supervising the implementation of operational space medicine activities within the astronaut program and the coordination of the Canadian Astronaut Program Space Unit Life Simulation (CAPSULS) Project. In February 1994 he participated in a 7-day space mission simulation. During this CAPSULS Project he was the Principal Investigator of a study to evaluate the initial training and retention of resuscitation skills by non-medical astronauts. He was also assigned as one of the crewmembers and acted as the crew medical officer.

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He remains active in life science and space medicine research, both as a Principal Investigator and as a Co-Investigator. He has recently been appointed as an Assistant Professor of Surgery, McGill University, and is participating in clinical activities at St. Mary's Hospital and at the Montreal General Hospital.

Related Topics:
St. Mary's Hospital - Montreal General Hospital

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