Interview with: Michael Brundage, MD
Queen’s University
The President’s Award is awarded to individuals who have advanced health related quality of life (HRQL) research and made outstanding contributions to the ISOQOL in one or more of the following areas:
- Education of professionals, patients or lay individuals about HRQL’s value
- Promotion or execution of HRQL or other scholarly activities
- Facilitating or furthering policy initiatives that have an impact on HRQL
Michael Brundage, MD, received the President’s Award at the Annual Conference in October 2024.
In an interview with QualityTALK, Dr. Brundage talks about his experience with the Society and lets members get to know him better.
Can you tell a little about your journey to the award, how you got here, who was important to the process, etc.?
Michael Brundage (MB): I’ve been incredibly lucky over the span of my career to have wonderful teachers, mentors, collaborative colleagues, students, and many friends to inspire my academic career and my administrative and clinical contributions. As a clinician scientist, I’ve been fortunate to have experience in managing patients with cancer and in conducting research that informs clinical practice in different ways. And of course, all the family support one could ever hope for!
What does this award mean to you?
MB: It’s so fulfilling and at the same time somewhat humbling, given all of the many distinguished contributors to the Society. It‘s a wonderful way to end a career journey!
Why did you join ISOQOL?
MB: I had a keen interest in measuring quality of life in clinical trials, and in finding ways of communicating trial findings to patients in clinical practice.
What is your favorite thing about ISOQOL?
MB: Collaborating with many wonderful researchers with common interests!
What would you say to other professionals who may be considering becoming an ISOQOL member?
MB: It’s well worth joining. A special shout-out to health care professionals with an interest in working with methodologists toward common goals – we need both clinical and methodological perspectives.
What member benefits do you value and use the most?
MB: Scientific meetings, including SIGs.
What do you love most about HRQL research?
MB: It has meaning! More and more we measure what matters.
What’s your biggest (or one of your biggest) professional accomplishment(s) so far?
MB: It’s not really about me. Many things have been accomplished from basic research to applied research to knowledge translation, but all of this was done by multi-disciplinary collaborations.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
MB: Ruthlessly protect your time and don’t overextend yourself (although I did, many times).
What’s one thing you learned in the last month?
MB: One learns something every day I think!
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
MB: I’m an amateur musician – including the bag pipes.
What’s one of your favorite ISOQOL memories?
MB: The New Orleans Annual meeting – and the social event on Halloween with my accomplished scientific co-chair Dr. Snyder.
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The International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL) is a global community of researchers, clinicians, health care professionals, industry professionals, consultants, and patient research partners advancing health related quality of life research (HRQL).
Together, we are creating a future in which patient perspective is integral to health research, care and policy.