Joanna Henderson, PhD
Director, Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health
Implementation Director, Cundill Centre for Child and Youth Depression
Senior Scientist in the Child, Youth and Emerging Adult Program

Dr. Joanna Henderson is Director of the Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Executive Director of Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario. She is also a Senior Scientist at CAMH and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Her work aims to improve access to high quality, integrated services for youth with substance use and/or mental health concerns and their families. She is examining mental health and substance use among youth through the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a marked increase in mental health symptoms early in the pandemic, with higher increases among certain vulnerable groups, such as youth with transgender and gender diverse identities or with physical health conditions. Mental health symptoms are declining over time among many youth. Using their findings, Dr. Henderson is working closely with her youth team to develop informational materials to support youth mental health during the pandemic.

Chaya Kulkarni, BAA, M.Ed., Ed.D
Director, Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMHP), Learning Institute
The Hospital for Sick Children

Dr. Chaya Kulkarni is the Director of IMHP, a national organization which improves outcomes across the lifespan through translating and promoting the science of early mental health into practice with families during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood. Currently, in collaboration with the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, Kids Brain Health Network and Children First, IMHP has launched a nation-wide caregiver survey on how our child and youth mental health system can improve the quality of services for children under six throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Nicholas, PhD
Professor and Associate Dean, Research & Partnerships
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary

Dr. David Nicholas is a Professor in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary. His research addresses quality of life, family support, and neurodevelopmental disabilities. He is the principal investigator of a CIHR-funded study examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with health conditions and disabilities, including youth with mental health challenges. He has published on the impact of the 2003 SARS outbreak on pediatric care.

Lucyna M. Lach, MSW, PhD
Associate Dean (Student Affairs), Faculty of Arts
Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Faculty of Arts
Associate Member, Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University

Dr. Lucyna Lach is an associate professor in the School of Social Work and an associate member of the Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University. Her program of research focusses on the well-being of children with neurodisabilities and their caregivers (i.e. caregiver health, and parenting).

Rudolf Uher, MD, PhD
Psychiatrist and Researcher, Nova Scotia Health Authority
Professor, Canada Research Chair in Early Intervention in Psychiatry, Dalhousie University

Dr. Rudolf Uher is a psychiatrist and researcher who works with families living with mental illness. He leads the Families Overcoming Risks and Building Opportunities for Well-being (FORBOW; www.forbow.org) project, which aims to help children of affected parents develop resilience and avoid mental illness. Dr Uher’s team at Nova Scotia Health have tracked the impact of the pandemic on 500 children and their parents.

Kathleen Sheehan, MD, DPhil, FRCPC
Clinician-investigator, UHN Centre for Mental Health
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto Dept. of Psychiatry

Dr. Kathleen Sheehan is clinician-investigator with the medical and inpatient psychiatry programs at the Centre for Mental Health-University Health Network. Her research uses a variety of methodologies to explore health service delivery and quality of health care for individuals with co-occurring physical and mental illnesses, especially in the areas of stroke, delirium, and COVID-19.

Suze Berkhout, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Clinician-Investigator, University Health Network
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry

Dr. Suze Berkhout is an early career clinician-investigator whose program of research utilizes ethnographic and narrative qualitative methods to explore social and cultural issues impacting access and navigation through health care systems. Her research focuses on how lived experience offers novel and important forms of knowledge in medicine, and in mental health especially. She carries out this work in diverse populations, including in treatment resistance in mental health, early psychosis, transplant medicine, and in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anthony Levitt, MD, MBBS, FRCPC
Chief, Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Scientist, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto Medical Director, Family Navigation Project

Dr. Anthony Levitt has extensive expertise in psychiatric support for youth with mental health and/or addiction (MHA) concerns and their families as well as in conducting patient-informed research and developing patient-centered services. He is currently researching the MHA impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the population of Ontario.

Soham Rej, MD Assistant Professor, McGill University Geriatric Psychiatrist and Junior Clinician-Scientist at the Jewish General Hospital/Lady Davis Institute

Dr. Soham Rej is a Geriatric Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH), McGill University, Montreal, Canada. His team is currently running a Telehealth Intervention Program for isolated Older Adults (TIP-OA). The program provides weekly friendly phone calls from trained volunteers during and post-COVID: https://www.telehealthmontreal.ca/index.html. Dr. Rej’s JGH Geri-PARTy team also conducts clinical trials of behavioral interventions (e.g. mindfulness, meditation, tai chi, yoga, exercise, health education, virtual reality) in late-life mood, anxiety, and cognitive disorders.

Catherine Lebel, PhD
Associate Professor, Radiology, University of Calgary
Adjunct Professor, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary
Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute

Gerald Giesbrecht, PhD, R. Psych
Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary
Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute

Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, PhD, R. Psych
Associate Professor, Psychology and Pediatrics, University of Calgary
Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute

Drs. Lebel, Giesbrecht, and Tomfohr-Madsen are researchers at the University of Calgary focused on maternal stress and mental health and child development. They co-lead the Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic study, which is characterizing how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental and physical health of pregnant individuals, and how it will ultimately affect the health and well-being of their babies.

Aaida Mamuji, PhD
Associate Professor & Coordinator, Disaster and Emergency Management (DEM), School of Administrative Studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
York University

Dr. Aaida A. Mamuji is an Associate Professor of Disaster and Emergency Management at York University. Her areas of interest are social vulnerability and capability in the disaster context, hosting and resettlement, international responses to natural disasters, and risk assessment. Dr. Mamuji was awarded a major COVID-19 research grant as principal investigator from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Rapid Research Program. Dr. Mamuji will be sharing initial findings from this research entitled “Destigmatizing Chinese Communities in the face of COVID-19: Emergency Management Actions to Address Social Vulnerability”.  

Brenda Elias, PhD
Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady. Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Manitoba

Dr. Brenda Elias is internationally regarded for her research that bridges Indigenous, gender health, social determinants, social epigenetics, mental health, neurodevelopmental conditions, cancer, and health info-structures. She is a member of the International Group for Indigenous Health Measurement and Canada’s Immunity Task Force, Indigenous Advisory Circle. She is a research lead of a social epigenetic biobank of FASD, a dignity promotion project on FASD stigma, and a national Indigenous COVID-19 seroprevalence study.

Geoffrey Hicks, PhD
Director, Regenerative Medicine, Professor of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Senior Investigator of the Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology, CancerCare Manitoba
Principal Investigator of Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba

Dr. Geoff Hicks is recognized internationally for his expertise in the genetic modeling of human disease and functional genomics to understand genetic determinants of cancer, ALS and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Hicks is an investigator of the Kid’s Brain Health Network. His team has developed new modela of FASD that identify Vitamin A as a potential preventative treatment, and Epi/Genetic biomarker signatures that can be used for early diagnosis and intervention in children with FASD

Michael J. A. Wohl, PhD
Graduate Chair, Carleton University
Professor, Psychology, Carleton University

Dr. Michael Wohl is the director of two laboratories. In the Carleton University Gambling Laboratory members examine factors that predict disordered gambling, positive play (e.g., monetary limit setting and adherence), and behaviour change. In the Conflict Resolution Laboratory members focus on the emotions that stem from group-based victimization (angst) and their effects on intergroup relations as well as emotions that lead to intergroup harm doing (e.g., hate) and facilitate reconciliation efforts (e.g., guilt). In this presentation, Dr. Wohl will discuss addiction substitution among gamblers following COVID-19 precipitated casino closures.

Cécile Rousseau, MD
Clinical Psychiatrist, Montreal Children’s Hospital
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University
Investigator, McGill University Health Research Centre

Dr. Cécile Rousseau is a research and clinical psychiatrist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. In June 2020, Dr. Rousseau’s study (n=3273) documented the prevalence of COVID related discrimination in Quebec and its impact on mental health. Results confirmed the over-exposure of ethno-cultural groups to COVID-19 and to COVID related discrimination. COVID-related discrimination was associated with higher mental health distress and black participants reported worse mental health outcomes. Multi-sectoral community-based anti-discrimination programs are urgently warranted to buffer the mental health consequences of the pandemic.

Catherine Legault, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University
Clinical Neurologist, McGill University Health Centre

Dr. Catherine Legault is an early career Assistant Professor at McGill University in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery and a clinical neurologist caring for patients with stroke at McGill University Health Centre. Dr. Legault was at the forefront of the COVID-19 epidemic. She will relate her experience as well as the experience of the neurology group caring for patients with COVID-19 suffering from neurological complications.

Mary Pat McAndrews, PhD
Senior Scientist and Division Head – Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Research Institute (Krembil)
Professor, Dept. of Psychology, University of Toronto
Discipline Head – Psychology, University Health Network
Director, Neuropsychology Clinic, Krembil Brain Institute, UHN

Dr. Mary Pat McAndrews research focuses on memory and language, using functional neuroimaging, studies of patients with medial temporal lobe dysfunction, and brain stimulation techniques to understand how brain networks are organized and modified by focal damage or therapies. Dr. McAndrews collaborates on research on long-term cognitive dysfunction following systemic illnesses and depression that aims to merge clinical and computational approaches to better understand the relationship between cognition, brain networks, and clinical features of disorders and therapeutic outcome.

Margaret McKinnon, PhD, CPsych
Homewood Chair in Mental Health and Trauma Associate
Professor and Associate Chair, Research Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University

Dr. Margaret McKinnon is the Homewood Chair in Mental Health and Trauma in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. Her work focuses on better characterizing PTSD and on the translation of this knowledge to development of novel treatment interventions aimed at reducing the tremendous burden of this illness.  Dr. McKinnon has a special interest in military, veteran and first responder populations, and has worked with these groups clinically and through research.

Lakshmi Yatham, MBBM, DPM, FRCPC, MBA (Exec)
Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry Director, Institute of Mental Health, UBC
Regional Head and Regional Program Medical Director, Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Healthcare

Dr. Lakshmi Yatham is Professor and Head of the UBC Department of Psychiatry, Director of the UBC Institute of Mental Health, and Regional Head of Psychiatry for Vancouver Coastal and Providence Health Care Authorities. He is also Editor-in-Chief for the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, and President of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry. Dr. Yatham is a world-class clinician-scientist in mood disorders who has made fundamental advancements to the understanding of the neurobiology and treatment of bipolar disorder. Dr. Yatham is currently involved in studies examining the impact of knowing someone with Covid19 on anxiety and depression in university students, and Covid19 related social rhythm disturbances on mood disorders.

Jennifer Bethell, BSc, MSc, PhD
Affiliate Scientist, KITE (Toronto Rehability Institute – University Health Network)
Assistant Professor (Status-only), Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
Adjunct Scientist, ICES

Dr. Jennifer Bethell is an epidemiologist and health services researcher interested in studying topics related to mental health, injuries and prescription medication use across the life course. She is currently funded by a CIHR COVID-19 in Mental Health grant to work with knowledge users to synthesize and mobilize research on the mental health impacts of social connection for residents of long-term care homes as well as strategies to enable social connection in this population during COVID-19.

Scotty Butcher, MSc, PhD, BScPT, ACSM-RCEP, CF-L1, CMMT
Associate Professor, School of Rehabilitation Science, University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Scotty Butcher is a physical therapy researcher with a 25 year lived experience with anxiety. He has begun research into the physical and mental health aspects of post-COVID-19 rehab and of pandemic-related remote learning in University Students. He is a Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher and incorporates mindfulness into his personal and professional life.

Sophia Frangou, PhD
UBC President’s Excellence Research Chair in Brain Health
Director, Translational Neuroimaging and Clinical Neuroscience Program in Mental Health
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UBC

Dr. Sophia Frangou’s personal research interest is in using neuroimaging to define aspects of brain organization and their relationship to psychopathology across the lifespan. As Vice-Head for research at the Department of Psychiatry at UBC, she leads strategic meetings on COVID-19 response.