At the Electrical Injury Network of Canada (EINC), our mission is to ensure that no survivor of electrical injury, or their family, has to navigate their journey alone. A cornerstone of this commitment is our dedication to education, which relies heavily on the groundbreaking work of leading medical experts. These pioneers have transformed our understanding of electrical injuries, moving beyond visible burns to illuminate the complex, often-invisible consequences that profoundly impact survivors' lives.

Join us as we highlight the foundational research of four distinguished experts whose contributions are vital to EINC's educational and advocacy efforts.

Dr. Joel Fish: Unveiling the Long-Term Impact of Low-Voltage Injuries

Dr. Joel Fish's research has been instrumental in challenging the long-held assumption that low-voltage electrical shocks are benign. His work led to the establishment of the electrical injury program at St. John's Rehab, Canada's only specialized facility for clinically treating and researching these complex injuries.  

In a pivotal 2008 study, "Long-Term Sequelae of Low-Voltage Electrical Injury," Dr. Fish revealed a high incidence of persistent problems, with neurological and psychological symptoms affecting a majority of patients. Crucially, his findings showed that patients with low-voltage injuries often reported more frequent long-term neurological and psychological symptoms than those with high-voltage injuries, with debilitating effects sometimes appearing months after the initial incident. Further research co-authored by Dr. Fish quantified the devastating impact on professional life, showing that only a small percentage of patients could return to their previous job duties, and many could not return to work at all.  

Dr. Marc Jeschke: Redefining Electrical Injury as a Multi-System Trauma

Dr. Marc Jeschke's work has been pivotal in shifting the medical community's understanding of electrical injuries from solely focusing on visible burns to recognizing them as complex, multi-system traumas. He emphasizes that many of the most debilitating symptoms are "invisible" to standard diagnostic tools, creating a significant disconnect between objective test results and a patient's lived suffering.  

Dr. Jeschke's research, including a key study comparing high-voltage and low-voltage injuries, demonstrated that while high-voltage injuries cause more severe acute complications, both groups experience severe long-term neuropsychological and social consequences. Common long-term issues include insomnia, anxiety, and depressed mood, with a significant percentage of survivors from both injury types unable to return to any form of work. His advocacy for continued research and early, individualized interventions is crucial for improving patient outcomes.  

Dr. Raphael Lee: The Science Behind the "Invisible Injury"

Dr. Raphael Lee's research provides the fundamental scientific understanding of the "invisible injury" at a microscopic level. As a co-founder of the Chicago Electrical Trauma Research Institute, his work has explained how electric shock causes widespread and lasting damage.  

Dr. Lee's pivotal research on electroporation challenged the notion that all electrical damage was purely thermal (burns). He demonstrated that electrical forces can create microscopic pores in cell membranes, disrupting their function and leading to cell death. This non-thermal damage is particularly devastating to long cells like nerves and muscles, explaining why survivors often experience diffuse, widespread neurological symptoms and chronic pain far from the original contact points. Dr. Lee's work provides crucial scientific validation, proving that the most profound injuries are often cellular and not visible on standard medical scans.  

Dr. Neil Pliskin: Validating the Neuropsychological Impact

Dr. Neil Pliskin's research has been foundational in clinically validating the profound neuropsychological impact of electrical injuries. As a leading expert and co-founder of the Chicago Electrical Trauma Research Institute, his controlled studies challenged the assumption that survivors' cognitive and emotional struggles were merely psychological reactions to trauma.  

His research demonstrated that electrical injury survivors perform significantly worse on measures of attention, mental speed, and memory compared to control groups. Dr. Pliskin's work also documented a high incidence of psychiatric disorders like PTSD and depression, noting that these debilitating symptoms often have a delayed onset or increase in severity months after the initial injury. This research provides the clinical proof that validates a survivor's experience, confirming that challenges like "brain fog," memory loss, and emotional distress are measurable neuropsychological consequences requiring specialized diagnosis and care.  

A Foundation of Knowledge for EINC's Mission

The collective work of Dr. Fish, Dr. Jeschke, Dr. Lee, and Dr. Pliskin forms the bedrock of our understanding of electrical injuries. Their dedication to research has illuminated the complex, often-invisible challenges survivors face, providing the scientific and clinical evidence needed to advocate for better recognition, diagnosis, and specialized care.

At EINC, we leverage this invaluable knowledge to connect survivors, educate the public and professionals, and champion the rights of those affected by electrical trauma. By sharing these expert insights, we aim to empower our community and ensure that every survivor's journey is understood and supported.

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