Anne Aspler

Dr. Anne Aspler

Personal Bio

From a low-income upbringing, raised by a single mother with schizoaffective disorder, all of Dr. Aspler’s accomplishments are thanks to Canada’s gracious social safety net supporting her family. She shared some of her story in The Globe and Mail. In her early childhood, she lived in foster care, was sustained on the diet of the foodbank, and delighted in annual charity boxes from the local church. These early experiences embedded a deep humanitarianism and compass for equity and inclusion.

Through the support of mentors in high school and at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, she was awarded numerous awards and scholarships including the G.P Nicholson Citizenship Award, Gold Humanism Honor Society in Medicine Award, and Canadian Millennium Excellence Award. She went on to study, work, and volunteer in over 30 countries internationally.

Her interest in equity and experiences in international development led her to a career in Emergency medicine and point-of-care ultrasound imaging.

Professional Bio

Dr. Aspler’s academic focus is on how ultrasound done at the bedside by any clinician, including non-physicians, can help improve patient care in real-time. She is specifically interested in supporting clinicians in less resource-rich contexts.

She completed her master’s at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, an internship at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Emergency Medicine Royal College training in Toronto, Diploma in Tropical Medicine in Peru, and a fellowship in Point-of-Care ultrasound at Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

She is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and Attending Emergency Physician and North York General Hospital and the University Health Network.  She is a member of Global Health Emergency Medicine, the Ultrasound Leadership Academy, the Canadian Association of Emergency Physician’s Ultrasound section, and speaker at Canada’s national EM update.

She is a dynamic speaker and welcomes any speaking requests here.

Select Publications

  • Aspler A, Wu A, Chiu S, Mohindra R, Hannam P. Towards quality assurance: implementation of a POCUS image archiving system in a high-volume community emergency department. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine 2021:1-5.
  • Beyene, T, Aspler, A, Chun, A, Bryan, J.  (2021) A live avatar approach to virtual procedural teaching: An experience from the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Emergency Medicine.  Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Conference Abstract.
  • Aspler, A. (2021) Peripheral Venous Access. In Ultrasound Guided Procedures in Emergency Medicine. Stone, Mike and Nagdev Arun. In press
  • Aspler, A. (2019) “Edema”. in Oxford Handbook of Humanitarian Medicine. Kravitz, Amy. Oxford University Press. Published April 21 2019. ISBN: 9780199565276
  • Aspler, A, Heslop C, and Stone, MB. (2015) Lung Ultrasound. Academic Life in Emergency Medicine(ALiEM). PV Card Publication.
  • Aspler, A. Stone, MB. Pitfalls in the ultrasound diagnosis of pneumothorax, the authors respond. Vol 32, Issue 9, Sept 1 2014. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 
  • Aspler A, Pivetta E, Stone MB. (2014) Double-lung point sign in traumatic pneumothorax. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.ajem.2013.12.059.
  • Esfahani, K, Aspler, A, Menzies, D, Schwartzmann, K. (2011) Potential cost-effectiveness of rifampin vs. isoniazid for latent tuberculosis: implications for future clinical trials.  International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.  Oct;15(10):1340-6.
  • Tseng, C, Oxlade, O, Menzies, D, Aspler, A,  Schwartzman, K. (2011) Cost-effectiveness of novel vaccines for tuberculosis control: a decision analysis study. BMC Public Health.  11:55
  • Kolber, M, and Aspler, A.  (2011) Conservative Management of Occupational Laryngeal Perforation in Rural Alberta, a Case Report and Review of Penetrating Neck Injuries for Peripheral Centres.  Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine. Mar;13(2):127-32. Review.
  • Aspler, A  Long, R, Trajman, Khan, K, , Schwartzman, K, Menzies. D.  (2010) Impact of treatment completion, intolerance and adverse events on health system costs in a randomised trial of 4 months rifampin or 9 months isoniazid for latent TB.  Thorax. BMJ.  65:582-587
  • Aspler, A, Chong, H, Kunimoto, D, Chui, L. , Der, E,  Boffa, J, Long, R. (2010). Sustained Intra- and Inter-jurisdictional Transmission of Tuberculosis within a Mobile, Multi-ethnic Social Network: Lessons for Tuberculosis Elimination. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 101 ( 3): 205-209
  • Aspler, A, Oxlade, O,  Banda, J, Mwenge, L, Menzies, D, Godfrey-Fawcett, P, and Ayles, H. (2008) Cost of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment from the patient perspective in Lusaka, Zambia.  International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.  Aug;12(8):928-35.
  • Aspler, AL,  Bolshin C, Vernon SD, Broderick G.  (2008) Evidence of inflammatory immune signaling in chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study of gene expression in peripheral blood.  Behavioural and Brain Functions.  4: 44.
  • Aspler, A  Dion, MJ, Long, R, Trajman, A, Yang, J, Jahdali, H Al, Khan, K, Gardam, M, Wobeser, W,  Hoeppner, V, Cowie,R, Schwartzman, K, Menzies. D. (2008). Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of a Randomized Trial of 4 Months Rifampin versus 9 Months of Isoniazid for Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI). In: American Thoracic Society International Conference, 2008, Toronto. v. 177. p. A790.
  • Tseng, O. Oxlade, D. Menzies, A. Aspler, K. Schwartzman. (2008). Cost-Effectiveness of Novel Vaccines for Tuberculosis Control. In: American Thoracic Society International Conference, 2008, Toronto. v.177. A439.
  • Aspler, A. Meyler, P, and Gamtchoe, M.(2008) The role of women in shaping awareness of HIV/AIDS among rural youth in the west province of Cameroon. Abstract: Public Health and International Development Conference, Yale, USA.
  • Aspler, A and Queyranne, G.  (2007) Conflict and Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lancet Student Journal.  Available from:  http://www.thelancetstudent.com/2007/11/16/