We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Emily Schaeffer has been appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of British Columbia, effective July 1, 2025.
This appointment marks an exciting milestone for our department and was made possible by salary support from the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and the leadership of Pediatric Orthopaedic Division Head Dr. Tony Cooper. Her appointment reflects both her outstanding contributions to pediatric orthopaedic research and her unwavering commitment to advancing global child health.
Dr. Schaeffer joined UBC Orthopaedics and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at BC Children’s Hospital in 2014 after earning her PhD in Experimental and Molecular Medicine at Dartmouth College. She subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Kishore Mulpuri, where she played a pivotal role in establishing our renowned pediatric hip research program within the Hippy Lab.
Since 2018, Dr. Schaeffer has excelled as a Research Associate, leading the development of the Hippy Global Registry Program, including the Global Hip Dysplasia Registry (GHDR) and the SCFE Longitudinal International Prospective (SLIP) Registry. She also co-founded the Hip Health Outcomes in Pediatrics – Hip Hope Network, a pioneering global initiative dedicated to improving hip health outcomes for children worldwide.
“As an Assistant Professor, my goal is to build upon the foundation of the Hippy Global Registry Program by conducting targeted hypothesis-testing studies within the framework of this larger registry. I aim to establish a new Rare Hip Conditions Registry that unites pediatric hip experts from around the world to address overlooked conditions. Additionally, I will collaborate with others to utilize registry data in developing AI and machine learning models that can facilitate research and be integrated into clinical care to improve outcomes for children both locally and globally.”
— Dr. Emily Schaeffer
In her role as Research Director for Pediatric Orthopaedics at BC Children’s Hospital since 2019, Dr. Schaeffer has provided invaluable mentorship and scientific guidance to faculty, staff, and trainees. Her leadership has helped shape a collaborative and inclusive research environment that bridges local and global efforts to improve pediatric orthopaedic care.
Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Schaeffer serves as a co-leader of WORTH (Women in Orthopaedics), an initiative aimed at addressing underrepresentation in the field, particularly in surgical and academic roles.
“I am excited to also expand my mentorship and teaching capacity with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows while continuing to build critical integration of research into clinical care. With dedicated and passionate mentorship and guidance, we can build research infrastructure and capacity while strengthening intra-department collaboration and connection, establishing ourselves as global leaders in research excellence, partnership and mentorship.”
— Dr. Emily Schaeffer
Dr. Schaeffer’s work is grounded in a “Local to Global to Local” philosophy, promoting equitable, diverse, and inclusive research and clinical care. Her passion for science, dedication to improving patient outcomes, and commitment to mentorship make her an exceptional addition to the academic faculty.
We invite you to learn more about Dr. Schaeffer’s impactful work through these stories and spotlight features:
- The Hippy Lab – Promoting Health and Wellness for Children Locally and Globally
- Hippy Lab Researchers Awarded Over $1M Funding for Hip Dysplasia Non-Inferiority Randomized Control Trial
- Faculty Spotlight – Emily Schaeffer
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Emily Schaeffer on this well-deserved appointment. We look forward to the continued impact of her work in shaping the future of pediatric orthopaedic research and care.
