Philip Wells

Dr. Wells is Chair and Chief of the Department of Medicine at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. He is a Professor in the both the Department of Medicine and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He holds a Canada Research Chair in Thromboembolic Disease.

Dr. Wells received his medical school education and specialty training in Internal Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He then studied Hematology at McMaster University, concentrating on the special problems of venous thrombosis (blood clots in the veins) under the tutelage of the internationally renowned expert, Dr. Jack Hirsh. At McMaster, he also obtained an MSc in Clinical Epidemiology.

On returning to Ottawa, Dr. Wells developed a clinical and research practice that has enabled him to perform internationally recognized research. He pioneered the concept of clinical prediction rules to assist in the diagnosis of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. For each of these diseases, he embodied these prediction rules in valuable algorithms and they are now known as the “Wells Model for DVT” and the “Wells Model for PE”. They are currently used worldwide in the diagnostic process for these illnesses and are incorporated into many National and Organizational guidelines.

As part of building his clinical practice, he established the Thrombosis Treatment and Assessment Unit at The Ottawa Hospital. Along with Drs Rodger and Forgie he mentored and hired thrombosis physicians into this Unit which is now probably the only Clinical program in the world to offer thrombosis care 7 days a week, 365 days per year.

Dr. Wells has taken on many roles and responsibilities including Program Director for Hematology, Chief of the Division of Hematology, Director of Clinical Research, Associate Director of Clinical Research at the OHRI, and Deputy Head of Research in the Department of Medicine. These positions have kept Dr. Wells very much involved in the life of The Ottawa Hospital, the OHRI and the University, and through his involvement, he has succeeded in his continuing goal of increasing the profile of clinical research in these institutions.