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Leanne Tran, JD, MD

Overview

Dr. Tran is a lawyer with diverse work experience in academia, hospital, not-for-profit and other health care settings, from which she has gained a wealth of unique skills. Leanne offers services at the interface of law, medicine and research with expertise in medical and scientific due diligence in personal injury, medical malpractice, class action and product liability matters.

Having worked in-house, at a health law boutique and at a global law firm, Leanne has helped many clients regulated by Health Canada to obtain market access and in all areas of compliance including privacy, security and data management matters. She has advised on the appropriate pathways to market for novel products and product classification including commercialization strategies as well as reviewed and negotiated various contracts facilitating research including hundreds of clinical trial agreements, both sponsor and investigator initiated.

Leanne’s broad technical expertise includes clinical medicine, medical research, systems review, best practices, risk management, quality assurance, process improvement, and health law matters. She is passionate about health care, improving patient outcomes and systems, and knowledge translation through legal avenues, education and research. Leanne has written and spoken extensively on medical and legal matters, and has taught courses and workshops at several of the Toronto teaching and research hospitals and at the University of Toronto. She has also conducted clinical research at several academic hospitals and at NASA.

Work, Research, and Teaching Experience

  • Adjunct Faculty at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law
  • Managing Research Legal Counsel at a Toronto teaching and research hospital
  • Legal Consultant at a medical device company
  • Research Fellow at a Toronto teaching and research hospital
  • Associate and Consultant at a global law firm
  • Health Law Counsel at a boutique health law firm
  • Worked in the Legal Services department of a Toronto teaching and research hospital
  • Worked in the Grant and Contract Services department of a Toronto teaching and research hospital
  • Research Associate at a Toronto teaching and research hospital
  • Conducted research at the Johnson Space Center and Wyle Laboratories of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • Led and managed the international registration and licensing of trademarks in the Intellectual Property Group, General Counsel’s Department of a Canadian financial institution
  • Research Associate at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto

Publications and Presentations

  • “From In-House to the Bench”. Canadian Corporate Counsel Association Program Co-Chair, Ontario Bar Association, Women General Counsel Canada, and National GC Network. March 4, 2024, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • “Navigating the Legal Impacts of Emerging Technology in Healthcare”. Health Law Section Program Co-Chair, Ontario Bar Association. February 20, 2024, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • “Strategies for Success: Practical Tips on Career and Professional Development for In-House Counsel”. Lerners LLP – Canadian Corporate Counsel Association Program Chair, Ontario Bar Association. November 28, 2023, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • DiMatteo C, Marshall E, Tran L, Tremblay RPractical Approaches to Data Security for Corporate Counsel, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and Canadian Corporate Counsel Association, Ontario Bar Association, Oral Presentation, October 26, 2023, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Shurtleff S, Tran L. Data Protection (Regulatory Aspects): Navigating GDPR Compliance. MAGI@home Clinical Research Conference, Oral Presentation. October 16-20, 2023.
  • Coy K, Tran L. Navigate GDPR Compliance in CTAs: Challenges and Opportunities. 4th Clinical Trial Agreements Forum, Oral Presentation. August 29-30, 2023, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A..
  • “Generative AI: Opportunities, Challenges, and Practical Tips”. Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP – Canadian Corporate Counsel Association Program Co-Chair, Ontario Bar Association TECHxpo 2023: Maximize Your Practice’s Performance. June 9, 2023, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Tran, L.E. (2023) The Canadian Law of Consent to Treatment, 4th Edition. Toronto, Ontario: LexisNexis Canada.
  • Landsberg L, Sakran E, Schick G, Schuman D, Sullivan P, Tran L. Capstone Session: Managing Research Participant Injury Considerations from Regulatory, CTA, Budget, and Compliance Perspectives. wcg MAGI East 2023 Clinical Research Conference, Oral Presentation. May 21-24, 2023, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A..
  • Tran, L.E. (2023) Halbury’s Laws of Canada – Public Health (Reissue 2023). Toronto, Ontario: LexisNexis Canada.
  • Tran L, Weidman J. Contracts: Deal Breaker Terms in CTAs. wcg MAGI West 2022 Clinical Research Conference, Oral Presentation. October 16-19, 2022, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A..
  • Goren-Gibson A, Dykeman MJ, Tran L. Key Developments in Health and Privacy Law: Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care, Ontario Bar Association (OBA) Privacy Law Summit, Oral Presentation, June 8, 2022, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Tran L. COVID-19: The Changing Legal and Regulatory Landscape in Health Research, University of Toronto Future of Law Lab: Speaker Series, Oral Presentation, March 17, 2022, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Tran, L.E. (2021) Outbreaks: A Practical Legal and Risk Management Primer for the Healthcare Sector. Toronto, Ontario: LexisNexis Canada.
  • Gasparis G, Kulunchakov M, Rakoski R, Tran L. Recent Developments in Subject Data Privacy & Security … and How to Address Them. MAGI’s Clinical Research vConference – Fall 2021, Oral Presentation. October 18-28, 2021.
  • Barlow C, Boyce P, Kulkarni D, Tran L. Recent Developments in Subject Data Privacy & Security … and How to Address Them. MAGI’s Clinical Research vConference 2021, Oral Presentation. April 26 – May 6, 2021.
  • Daniels L, Tran L. Those Devilish Details: Key Words & Phrases in Clinical Trial Agreements. MAGI’s Clinical Research vConference 2020, Oral Presentation. November 2-12, 2020.
  • Boyce P, Sullivan P, Tran L, Walland J. Into the Abyss: Subject Injury and Indemnification. MAGI’s Clinical Research Cloud Conference 2020, Oral Presentation/Workshop. June 22- July 2, 2020.
  • Saladino S, Tran L. Those Devilish Details: Key Words & Phrases in Clinical Trial Agreements. 2019 MAGI’s Clinical Research Conference 2019 West, Oral Presentation. October 27-30, 2019, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A..
  • Inions, N.J., Tran, L.E., Rozovsky, L.E. (2018) Canadian Health Information: A Practical Legal and Risk Management Guide. Toronto, Ontario: LexisNexis Canada.
  • “Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs) for Investigator-Initiated Trials”. 2018 MAGI’s Clinical Research Conference 2018 East, Session Chair. May 20-23, 2018, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A..
  • Gasparis G, Markey M, Tran L. Recent Developments in Subject Data Privacy & Security. 2018 MAGI’s Clinical Research Conference 2018 East, Oral Presentation. May 20-23, 2018, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A..
  • Tran L. Contracts: The in’s and out’s and In-Between’s – “Trouble Clauses” in Research Contract Negotiations. 2018 Clinical Trials Ontario (CTO) Clinical Trials Conference and Workshop (No Site Left Behind! Opportunities for Streamlined Start-up), Oral Presentation. March 26-28, 2018, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Markey M, Tran L. Recent Developments in Subject Data Privacy & Security. 2017 MAGI’s Clinical Research Conference 2017 West, Oral Presentation. November 12-15, 2017, San Francisco, California, U.S.A..
  • “Those Devilish Details: Key Words & Phrases in Clinical Trial Agreements”. 2017 MAGI’s Clinical Research Conference 2017 West, Session Chair. November 12-15, 2017, San Francisco, California, U.S.A..
  • Tran L. Who Owns the Data from a Clinical Study? Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices. 2017 Aug, 13(8):1-8.
  • Foust A, Tran L. Material Transfer and Data Use Agreements. 2017 MAGI’s Clinical Research Conference 2017 East. Oral Presentation. May 21-24, 2017, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A..
  • Capasso M, Tran L. Those Devilish Details: Key Words & Phrases in Clinical Trial Agreements. 2016 MAGI’s Clinical Research Conference 2016 West, Oral Presentation. October 23-26, 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A..
  • “Managing Risk with Contracts: Informed Consent, Subject Injury, Insurance & Indemnification”. 2016 MAGI’s Clinical Research Conference 2016 West, Session Chair. October 23-26, 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A..
  • Tran L, Wadhwa A, Mann E. Implementation of Structured Radiology Reports. JACR (Journal of the American College of Radiology) 2016 Mar, 13(3):296-9.
  • “Common Imaging Issues Arising in Medical Negligence Cases”. 2016 OTLA Conference: Medical Malpractice Conference – It’s All About the Medicine, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Oral Presentation. February 19, 2016, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • “Diagnosing Pregnancy Complications in Resource-Poor Regions”. 2015 Global Health & Innovation Conference, Yale University, Oral Presentation. March 28, 2015, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A..
  • Meyer H, Kandel S, Tran L, Boehnert M, Rogalla P. Validation of Volume CT Perfusion Measurements in Swine Kidney. Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2011, Scientific Poster Presentation ID11009850. November 27 – December 2, 2011, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A..
  • Fierstra J, Speith S, Tran L, Conklin J, Tymianski M, Ter Brugge KG, Fisher JA, Mikulis DJ, Krings T. Severely impaired cerebrovascular reserve in patients with cerebral proliferative angiopathy. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2011 Sep, 8(3):310-5.
  • “Publishing Scientific Manuscripts in North American Journals – Editors’ Views and Expectations”. Charité Berlin Department of Radiology Teaching Rounds, Oral Presentation. June 9, 2011, Berlin, Germany.
  • Tran L. A guide to writing radiology manuscripts for publication: Avoiding common pitfalls. Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2010, Education Exhibit 9007653. November 28 – December 3, 2010, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A..
  • Tran L, Giuliani M, Masterson M, Mungroo R. Features of high-quality residency programs: A Canadian perspective. Research in Medical Education (RIME)/Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Meeting, Oral Presentation. November 10, 2010, Washington, D.C., U.S.A..
  • Tran L, Stein N, Miller S. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: early diagnosis is critical yet challenging. J Pediatr. 2010 Nov, 157(5):860.e1.
  • Tran L, Giuliani M, Masterson M, Mungroo R. Features of high-quality residency programs: A Canadian perspective. International Conference on Residency Education (ICRE)/Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) Meeting, Oral Presentation. September 24, 2010, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
  • Gupta P, Tran L, Mertens L, Yoo SJ, Babyn P. Quantitative correlation of CT chest and microbubble perfusion echocardiography in pediatric Hepatopulmonary Syndrome. The Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR) 2010, 53rd Annual Meeting, Oral Presentation PA96. April 13-17, 2010, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A..
  • Tran L, Hamilton D, Dulchavsky S, Melton S. Analysis of the Onboard Proficiency Enhancer (OPE) in training astronauts and cosmonauts to use Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity (ADUM) and OPE’s terrestrial applications. American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) 2008, 108th Annual Meeting, Oral Presentation 231. April 13-18, 2008, Washington, D.C., U.S.A..
  • Tran L, Hamilton D, Dulchavsky S, Melton S, Sargsyan A. Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity (ADUM), Onboard Proficiency Enhancer (OPE) and Application to Terrestrial Situations. UK Radiological Congress 2007, Oral Presentation, Abstract Control No. 07-AS-691-UKRC. June 11 – 13, 2007, Manchester, United Kingdom.
  • Tran L, Hamilton D, Dulchavsky S. Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity (ADUM), Onboard Proficiency Enhancer (OPE) and Application to Terrestrial Situations. 2007 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) Annual Convention, Oral Presentation, Abstract ID No. 296748. March 15 – 18, 2007, New York, New York, U.S.A..
  • Tran L, Hamilton D. OPE for ADUM: Onboard Proficiency Enhancer in training astronauts and cosmonauts to use Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity. Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Aerospace Medicine Elective Meeting, Oral Presentation. September 26, 2006, Saint-Hubert, Quebec, Canada.
  • Tran L, Hamilton D. ADUM: Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity. NASA JSC Aerospace Medicine Elective Research Sessions, Oral Presentation. April 27 – 28, 2006, Johnson Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, Texas, U.S.A..
  • Tran L, Hebert D, Dipchand A, Fecteau A, Richardson S, Allen U. Invasive pneumococcal disease in pediatric organ transplant recipients: A high-risk population. Pediatric Transplantation 2005, 9(2):183-6.
  • Tran L, Hebert D, Dipchand A, West L, Fecteau A, Ng V, Grant D, Richardson S, Allen U. Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Pediatric Transplant Recipients. American Transplant Congress 2003 Meeting, Slide Session, Abstract Publication No. 1050. June 3, 2003, Washington, D.C., U.S.A..

Recognition

  • Organizational Leadership Certificate, University of Central Missouri and Dale Carnegie Canada (March 30, 2023)
  • Outstanding Performance Award, Dale Carnegie Course: Foundations of Leadership, Toronto (2020)
  • First Prize in the Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) Toronto competition (June 2012) for outstanding hacking for humanity for the Nepal ultrasound project
  • CMPA Grant for Collaborative research and Risk management program development
  • Operational Space Medicine Grant for NASA Aerospace Medicine Elective, Canadian Space Agency
  • Dr. John Agnos Memorial Award in Diagnostic Radiology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (SSMD), The University of Western Ontario (UWO)
  • Martin J. Inwood Award, SSMD, UWO for the greatest contribution to the UWO Medical Journal
  • Schulich Undergraduate Scholarship, SSMD, UWO
  • James Jefferson Prize in Health Law, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
  • Cassels Brock & Blackwell Entrance Scholarship, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
  • Dean’s List, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto

Education

M.D.   Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
           The University of Western Ontario

J.D.     Faculty of Law
           University of Toronto

B.Sc.   Faculty of Arts and Science
           University of Toronto

Professional Involvement

Member, Ontario Bar
Member, Law Society of Ontario
Adjunct Faculty, University of Toronto Faculty of Law

Member, Sections Subcommittee, Governance and Equality Committee, Leadership Forum, Canadian Bar Association (CBA)

Communications Officer, Health Law Section Executive, CBA

Member-At-Large, Intellectual Property Law Section Executive, CBA

Member-At-Large, Privacy and Access Law Section Executive, CBA

Member-At-Large, Business Law Executive, CBA

Public Affairs Liaison, Ontario Bar Association (OBA) Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) - Ontario Chapter Section Executive

Toronto Regional Representative, OBA Council

Member-At-Large, Health Law Section Executive, OBA

Member-At-Large, Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law Section Executive, OBA

Member-At-Large, Privacy and Access to Information Law Section Executive, OBA

Member-At-Large, Women Lawyers Forum Executive, OBA

Community Involvement

Community, Privacy/Legal, and Scientific Member, Humber River Health Research Ethics Board

Legal/Privacy Expert and Scientific member, Women's College Hospital Research Ethics Board

Board Co-Chair and Director, St. Michael's Homes

Past Roles:

Board Vice Chair and Director, CHIRS (Community Head Injury Resource Services)

Board Director, CPPA (Canadian Positive Psychology Association)

Direct project for ultrasound training, mobile app, web server, and infrastructure development in Northern Canada, Nepal, and other developing countries