Community Mentor for Laura Harris Lane

Alexia Jaouich is the Vice- President, Implementation and System Impact with Stepped Care Solutions, a not-for-profit mental health system consultancy group. Alexia has over 18 years of experience as a system change leader and psychologist, and offers expertise in implementing large-scale, evidence-based, innovative mental health programs at the organizational and systems level. Alexia has served as the strategic lead on the development of core components and an implementation guide for Stepped Care 2.0, and continues to lead efforts to build implementation best practices into the Stepped Care 2.0 model. Given Alexia’s passion and expertise in Implementation Science, she has provided mentorship to trainees, as well as training, coaching, and consultation at provincial, national, and international levels.

Community Mentor for Fernando Chacon

Ana María has a degree in Social Work and experience in the psychosocial approach to situations of domestic violence, both with survivors and aggressors, within the framework of judicial proceedings, at the Psychosocial Care Center of the Supreme Court of Justice in Chalatenango, El Salvador. She began her position in 2020, providing comprehensive care to family members affected by violence, promoting processes of reflection and deconstruction of dominant discourses stemming from sociocultural contexts.

Since 2021, following academic training at the diploma level in psychosocial intervention in mental health and drug use, she has integrated care for people with problematic alcohol use. The aforementioned interventions are based on respect for human rights and the following perspectives: anti-oppression, gender, intersectional, and community mental health, working in coordination with judicial bodies and institutional support networks.

Community Mentor for Rachelle Drummond

Anna Goplen is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Government of Alberta, managing the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services’ cancer research for screening and prevention portfolio. She has her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Calgary.

Anna is a longtime member of Alberta’s speed skating community and has coached with speed skating clubs in Edmonton and Calgary. She is also passionate about civic engagement, having previously volunteered with nonpartisan Get Out the Vote initiatives and leadership campaigns within student and municipal government. She is currently the Director of Communications at Ask Her, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing inclusive and equitable representation by preparing women and gender-diverse people to engage in municipal leadership.

Professional Mentor for Marianne Berthiaume

Community Mentor for Lisa-Marie Maukel

Anne Elliott is a retired critical care nurse and clinical nurse manager with 40 years of experience in healthcare. Her personal experience with MINOCA and microvascular SCAD deepened her understanding of the psychosocial challenges faced by women with heart disease. Committed to improving support and outcomes, Anne serves as a Community Mentor with the Canadian Behavioural Interventions and Trials Network (CBITN) and has completed training as a Women@Heart Peer Leader—continuing her lifelong dedication to advocacy, education, and compassionate care.

Academic Mentor for Nellie Siemers

Dr. Bärbel Knäuper is Full Professor and holds the James McGill Chair of Health Psychology at McGill University. She is the director of the Health Psychology Laboratory in the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on the development of behavioural interventions for health behaviour change. For example, she is currently developing and testing the effectiveness of a series of programs that target emotional eating and is developing a mobile application for the delivery of psychotherapy exercises. Other projects include the promotion of sleep in adolescents, the effects of mindfulness interventions, the promotion of physical exercise, and improving medication adherence.

Community mentor for Fatemeh Khorramrouz

Carol Lee (BscN) is a Clinical Research Project coordinator with SickKids in Toronto. She is responsible for delivering the interventions in a SickKid’s TARGet Kids! Parenting Study. The study’s goals are to support families in promoting healthy lifestyles, mental health and secure attachment using behavioral intervention strategies. She was also involved in delivering healthy lifestyle interventions to participants in HeLTI Canada-the first preconception trial in Canada. This large-scale study was developed in partnership with research teams from Canada, India, China, and South Africa, and in collaboration with the World Health Organization. The study goals are to learn how the health of parents, from preconception onwards, can promote child development, lower a child’s risk for obesity and chronic diseases later in life, and improve the overall health of families. Prior to working in research, she worked for 35 years as a Public Health Nurse with the City of Toronto. This is where she developed her interest and passion for health prevention and promotion. Carol has over 40 years of experience as a community-based nursing focusing on health promotion and prevention. 

Academic Mentor for Fatemeh Khorramrouz

Dr. Catherine S. Birken is a general paediatrician in the Division of Paediatric Medicine, Professor at the University of Toronto (U of T), and a Senior Scientist in Child Health Evaluative Sciences at SickKids Research Institute. She is a paediatrician in inpatient paediatrics and a paediatrician in the Healthy Living Clinic for children with complex obesity.

Birken's research is in prevention of childhood overweight and obesity in early childhood, and is co-leader of TARGet Kids! primary care, practice-based research network to advance child health research. Birken is funded by CIHR for the study of obesity and cardiometabolic risk and early childhood development in school, randomized controlled trials in obesity prevention and treatment with public health nurse led parenting intervention, and a population evaluation of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge in Ontario.

Professional Mentor for Jessica Burdick

Cheryl Petrinchuk is a registered psychotherapist in private practice in Laval, Quebec. Her specialties include working with young adults, adults, and elders to heal trauma, improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, work through relationship difficulties, and grow personal strength factors such as self-esteem, self-compassion, self-confidence, and communication skills, to name a few. Cheryl uses approaches such as humanistic, psychodynamic, positive psychology, internal family systems, mindfulness, emotion focused and cognitive behavioural therapy. She is continually inspired by the fortitude, determination, and resiliency she witnesses in individuals who strive to thrive despite adversity. People may feel uncertain, scared, angry, down, even weak and also, simultaneously have strengths inside. She is passionate about finding a way to help individuals heal, grow, and thrive, whatever that looks like to them.

Academic Mentor for Lotenna Olisaeloka

Dr. Vigo is a psychiatrist, licentiate in psychology, and public health specialist, originally from Argentina. In addition to being an Associate Professor at UBC, he serves as the BC's Chief Scientific Advisor for Psychiatry, Toxic Drugs & Concurrent Disorders, Provincial Medical Lead of the BC Advanced Practice for Assertive Community Treatment, Medical Lead for Tertiary Care for the Regional Mental Health and Substance Use Program at Vancouver Coastal Health, as well as a psychiatrist in an assertive community treatment team. He has worked in multiple clinical, research, teaching, and leadership roles across the public and private sector, and has published peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and reports on public health, health systems, global mental health, psychiatric epidemiology, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and e-mental health. Dr. Vigo also leads several projects in BC and globally, including on E-Mental Health for University Students, Needs-Based Planning for Mental and Substance Use Disorder Services, and as Chair of the Services and Policy Workgroup of the WHO-World Mental Health Surveys Initiative, the largest global research group producing primary psychiatric epidemiology data.

Academic Mentor for David Robinson 

Dr. Darren Warburton’s is a professor at the University of British Columbia. His research spans the spectrum of Indigenous health and wholistic wellness, elite athletic performance, childhood health, and the treatment of persons living with chronic medical conditions.

Lab Website: Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit

Professional/Community Mentor for Emma Giberson

Professional/Community Mentor for Sitara Sharma

Community Mentor for David Robinson 

Academic Mentor for Saba Salimuddin

Dr. Heather Hadjistavropoulos is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Regina and Founder of the Online Therapy Unit (serving residents of Saskatchewan) and PSPNET (serving Canadian public safety personnel). Her research focuses on developing, evaluating, and improving evidence-based online interventions to enhance accessibility and effectiveness of digital mental health care. She has secured over $50M in funding as principal investigator and published more than 215 peer-reviewed papers. Recent recognitions include the Leadership and Translational Research Awards from the International Society for Internet Interventions. She is the 2025 Canadian Global Ambassador for the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, Fellow of the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies and the Canadian Psychological Association, and Associate Editor of Internet Interventions.

Academic Mentor for Lisa-Marie Maukel

Academic Mentor for Emma Giberson

Janine’s research explores different ways to increase access to evidence-based psychological interventions. Her interests are grounded in cognitive behavioural theories with a focus on anxiety and related disorders (e.g., depression, posttraumatic stress, substance use). Within this scope, her three primary interests are the use of physical activity (e.g., running) in mental health treatment, the exploration of transdiagnostic interventions (i.e., interventions focused on treating shared risk factors, most notably anxiety sensitivity), and the development and evaluation of distance-delivered psychological interventions (e.g., Internet-based care).

In line with her interest in the intersection between physical activity and mental health, she also studies the psychosocial factors that impact athlete mental health and substance use.

Community Mentor for Matthieu Dagenais

Jayne Morrish serves as the Research Impact Manager within Brock University’s Office of Research Services, leading the Research Impact Unit. In this capacity, she spearheads Knowledge Mobilization and research impact initiatives, supporting researchers in strategic planning throughout the research cycle. Jayne holds a SSHRC-funded Master’s Degree in Lifespan Development from Brock University, a Bachelors of Health from York University, and certificates in Knowledge Translation (University of Toronto and York University). Recognized for her achievements, Jayne has received prestigious awards, including the Canadian Psychological Association's Certificate of Academic Excellence, a 40 Under Forty Award, and the Brock University President’s Distinguished Staff Service Award.

Academic Mentor for Sitara Sharma

Jennifer Brunet (PhD) is a Full Professor in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. She holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Physical Activity Promotion for Cancer Prevention and Survivorship. Her innovative research aims to help more people meet and exceed physical activity guidelines because she has led several studies that show that people across all stages of the cancer continuum can experience fewer physical, psychological, cognitive, and social challenges and expect improvements in their health and wellbeing by engaging in physical activity. Studies led by Dr. Brunet: (1) explore factors that determine physical activity levels in persons at different stages of the cancer continuum, (2) develop knowledge on how to promote physical activity in people of all ages at different stages of the cancer continuum, and (3) develop, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based targeted initiatives promoting physical activity to empower people to prevent and manage cancer-related sequelae.

Academic Mentor to Laura Harris Lane

Jennine S. Rawana, Ph.D., C.Psych. is an Associate Professor at York University in the Department of Psychology (Clinical Developmental Area), and a Clinical Psychologist. Dr. Rawana is the Director of the Research on Emotion Regulation in Clinical Developmental Psychology and Health (REACH) lab and has fostered an inclusive, rigorous research and clinical training environment that supports students from a variety of diverse backgrounds. Her mentee, Laura Harris-Lane, is a member of the REACH lab. Research by the REACH Lab focuses on emotion regulation (e.g., how people manage their emotions) using a clinical-developmental lens, primarily on emotion regulation among emerging adults (e.g., ages 18-30 years old), and secondarily, among adolescents. Dr. Rawana is also a co-chair of York University’s Well-being Strategy, and she has co-led the development of a pan-university framework to support the well-being of the York community.

Academic Mentor for Nelson Fernando Chacon

Jesse Chavarria is an Assistant Professor of Psychology (Clinical Science and Psychopathology) at Western University, an Affiliate Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and a clinical scientist. He directs the Research on Addiction and Disparities (RoAD) Lab, which investigates the social, psychological, and psychopharmacological mechanisms underlying the progression from substance use experimentation to addiction. The lab’s mission is twofold: to translate this knowledge into targeted interventions for substance use, and to design and disseminate treatment protocols that address the unique needs of minority and hard-to-treat populations. A central focus of this work is identifying and dismantling barriers to treatment initiation and adherence in underserved groups. Beyond his research, Jesse contributes to the Departmental Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, where he works to promote greater representation and inclusion across research and science.

Academic Mentor for François Kajiramugabi Maneraguha

José Côté, RN, PhD, FCAN, is a full professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the Université de Montréal and a regular researcher at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Center. She has been appointed Chair in New Nursing Practices for four five-year terms (2020-2025). A pioneer in the field of innovative nursing practices in digital health, she created the TAVIE MD (Treatment, Virtual Assistance, Nurse and Teaching) concept and platform to support individuals in managing their chronic health conditions. Her research results have been disseminated in over 160 publications in peer-reviewed journals and over 300 presentations at the regional, national, and international levels. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honorary distinctions. A firm believer in the democratization of science and accessibility to knowledge, she directed as editor-in-chief the journal Science infirmière et pratiques en santé - Science of Nursing and Health Practices produced by RRISIQ (2016-2020) and has been its co-editor in shief since 2025.

Professional/Community Mentor for Saba Salimuddin

Academic Mentor for Marianne Berthiaume

Dr. Kim Lavoie is a professor of psychology and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Medicine at the University of Quebec at Montreal. She is the Co-Director of the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, a fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, and co-lead of the Canadian Behavioural Interventions and Trials Network (CBITN) and International Behavioural Trials Network (IBTN). She is internationally recognized for her research on chronic disease prevention (with a focus on heart, lung and metabolic diseases) and the impact of behavioural interventions, such as motivational communication, on health behaviours and chronic disease outcomes. She has held more than $78 million in grant funding (including $17 million as PI) and has more than 250 peer-reviewed papers

Academic Mentor for Jamie Petersson

Dr. Linda Carlson has held the Enbridge Research Chair in Psychosocial Oncology since 2007, is Full Professor in Psychosocial Oncology in the Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology. She is the Director of the Alberta Complementary Therapy and Integrative Oncology (ACTION) Centre (ACTION Centre | My Site (action-centre.ca), and is Director of Research and continues to work as a Clinical Psychologist at the Department of Psychosocial Resources at Cancer Care Alberta, where she has provided clinical service since 1997.

Academic Mentor for Nellie Siemers

Dr. Marco Sinai received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Concordia University in 2009. His dissertation research examined the extent to which executive dysfunction in Amnestic MCI is a risk factor to developing Alzheimer’s Disease. Since joining the Allan Memorial Institute in the Department of Psychology in 2010, his clinical interests have spanned Neuropsychological Assessment, diagnosis and psychosocial treatments of Adult ADHD, Functional Neurological Disorders, and Mood Disorders. He is currently a Clinical Psychologist in the Mood Disorders Program and the Epilepsy Unit of the Montreal Neurological Institute. Dr. Sinai is Aidan Smyth’s professional mentor.

Academic Mentor for Nikita Surani

Dr. Maryam Amin (DMD, MSc, PhD) is a Professor and the Associate Chair of Research, as well as the Director of the Dentistry Graduate Program at the University of Alberta, School of Dentistry. Holding the Alberta Dental Association and College Clinical Dentistry Research Chair, Dr. Amin's research focuses on the social and behavioral aspects of oral health. She particularly investigates psychosocial, behavioral, community, and societal influences on oral health and dental care access among disadvantaged populations. Her research program aims to identify risk factors leading to adverse oral health outcomes and inequalities, developing strategies for public health promotion and oral disease prevention.

Melissa Mumbi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice from the University of British Columbia. She is a visionary leader committed to fostering equitable, supportive and inclusive spaces where communities can thrive.

At UBC, she played a pivotal role in launching and coordinating the first Black Student Space, transforming an idea into a vibrant hub that addresses the distinct needs of Black undergraduate and graduate students. Through her leadership, the space has grown into a cornerstone for connection, empowerment and identity-affirmation.

In her current role as an Experiential Learning Advisor with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC, Melissa supports graduate students from sub-Saharan Africa in navigating their academic journeys, exploring dignified career pathways and amplifying their capacity to create lasting impact both in their home countries and globally. She is a strong advocate for student mental health and well-being, advancing this work through relevant programming and partnerships with student groups and campus stakeholders.

Her influence extends beyond higher education. In the nonprofit sector, she has worked to support immigrants in their settlement journeys and is the Founder and Executive Director of Tawahudi Unite Foundation, a community-driven initiative that advocates for Kenyan individuals impacted by autism spectrum disorder through culturally responsive awareness, advocacy and accessible resources.

With extensive experience in designing, implementing and evaluating programs that center the needs of marginalized communities particularly within the African and Black diaspora, Melissa combines her leadership, passion and lived experience as a Kenyan immigrant to serve as a powerful catalyst for change.

Community Mentor for Jamie Petersson

Mohamed is a patient advocate, caregiver to his wife, Nassim, and active community member. He was born in Dares Salaam and went to England on an apprenticeship program and studies, eventually leading to an electrical engineering degree at the University of Bath. He worked for many years as an electrical utility engineer in Oxford and later, Calgary. After retiring, he and Nassim moved to Edmonton to be with their daughter, her husband, and two granddaughters, who can be best described as tornadoes. Fate handed both Mohamed and Nassim the same cards of cancer, being diagnosed within months of each other, which required them both to assume the dual roles of patient and caregiver. Between the two of them, they have experienced a wide range of cancer treatments, hospitalizations, and post-treatment symptoms. Together, Mohamed and Nassim are active members of the research and cancer community, participating in studies such as the Alberta Cancer Exercise program. They also engage in many psychosocial and lifestyle activities, such as pole walking, qigong, and Wellsprings ‘Men’s Group’. They thoroughly enjoy nature, be it in the city or rural setting, mountains, rivers and lakes, viewing and listening to flora and fauna.

Professional/Community Mentor for Elizabeth Cuellar

Morgan Kahentonni Phillips, PhD is a Kanien’kehá:ka woman (Wolf Clan) from the Kanien’kehá:ka Territory of Kahnawake and a citizen of the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy. Her research expertise includes Indigenous health and well-being, resilience, community-based participatory research, Indigenous research methodologies, program evaluation and Indigenous pedagogy in the context of decolonization. Morgan has a solid background in qualitative research, knowledge of her culture, and supports collaborative partnerships with community. She is currently a Senior Research Advisor in the Dept of Educational & Counselling Psychology at McGill University in Montreal and a Research Consultant involved in many Indigenous wellness projects.

Academic Mentor for Nicole Billias

Dr. Pavlos Bobos is an Assistant Professor (tenured track) in musculoskeletal health at Western University. Professor Bobos’ research themes include the development and evaluation of mobility and activity interventions, clinical measurement methods and innovations and the identification of best practices using evidence synthesis. His clinical experience is in the field of musculoskeletal health with a focus on exercise, activity modification and complex multimodal interventions that improve physical and mental health in people with chronic pain. He is strongly committed to creating knowledge that can affect the lives of the people living with injuries and chronic illnesses that compromise musculoskeletal health and mobility.

Professional/Community Mentor for Nikita Surani

Dr. Rafael Figueiredo assumed the position of Provincial Dental Public Health Officer with Alberta Health Services in 2014. He provides leadership and strategic direction to improve and respond to the oral health needs of Albertans through the Oral Health Action Plan (OHAP), which addresses four domains: Health Promotion, Prevention, Treatment Services and Research and Surveillance. Previous to his position with AHS, Dr. Figueiredo worked as a researcher and as an instructor at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto. Further to his research and teaching activities, he received a Master of Science Degree, M.Sc. and a Dental Public Health Specialty Degree. He has certification as a Dental Public Health Specialist with the Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Dr. Figueiredo is also an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Dentistry, University of Alberta, a Dental Public Health Examiner with The National Dental Specialty Examination, The Royal College of Dentists of Canada as well as a Surveyor with Accreditation Canada.

Academic Mentor for Matthieu Dagenais

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Academic Mentor for Jessica Burdick

Dr. Bacon is a behavioural scientist interested developing tailored interventions to help positively change high-risk behaviours. Most of his work has focused on health behaviours (e.g., physical activity, diet, weight management, medication adherence) and has targeted health-related outcomes. The work that he does is multidisciplinary and intersectoral, requiring the engagement of a number of different collaborators and partners, and utilises a variety of mixed-methodologies. Currently, Dr. Bacon is the FRQS co-Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health for Health Behaviour Change and the CIHR SPOR Chair in Innovative, Patient-Oriented, Behavioural Clinical Trials. Dr. Bacon is co-director of the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, and co-leads the International Behavioural Trials Network and the CIHR funded Canadian Behavioural Interventions and Trials Network.

Academic Mentor for Elizabeth Cuellar

Srividya (also known as Vidya Iyer) holds the Canada Research Chair in Youth, Mental Health and Learning Health Systems (Tier 1). She is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and an Associate Member in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She is a licensed psychologist and a Researcher at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. Her work focuses on youth mental health and early intervention, including for serious mental health problems such as psychosis. She seeks to ensure that more young people worldwide have timely access to appropriate, youth-friendly mental healthcare and enjoy well-being and social participation. Srividya works closely with young people, families, and health, community and government partners to influence practice and policy in Canada and globally. She leads ACCESS Open Minds, a pan-Canadian network of youth, families, service providers and policymakers across 16 sites serving urban, rural, Indigenous, post-secondary and homeless youths across Canada.

Srividya is also a research leader in Aire ouverte, Quebec’s integrated youth services initiative. Working with Dr. Chris Mushquash and many Indigenous young people, leaders and communities across Canada, she co-leads a pan-Canadian Indigenous integrated youth services network that draws on ACCESS Open Minds’ Indigenous Council. Srividya significantly contributes to various mental health capacity building and research projects globally, including in India (where she was born), Nigeria and Bangladesh. As a psychologist, Srividya has assessment and treatment experience in India, the United States, and Canada.  

Academic Mentor for Rachelle Drummond

Dr. Tavis Campbell is a Professor of Clinical Psychology and Oncology at the University of Calgary. Dr. Campbell is a behavioral medicine specialist with a program of research focused on mechanisms underlying behavior change. Dr. Campbell has held several leadership roles in national organizations, including Chair of Care Delivery for Hypertension Canada and Chair of the Health section of the Canadian Psychological Association. He is a service consultant with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Indigenous Services Canada. He has also served as a consultant to the Calgary Emergency Management Agency on public communications.

Professional/Community Mentor for François Kajiramugabi Maneraguha

Dr. Valentin Mutabunga, MD, is a physician and humanitarian health worker with extensive experience in clinical medicine, health program management, and community-based interventions. He currently serves with the Canadian Red Cross as a Public Health Specialist, contributing to epidemic prevention and control, vaccination, and rapid testing, while also supporting training, quality monitoring, and collaboration with health authorities across Canada. Previously, as Field Site Manager with the International Medical Corps in the Central African Republic, Dr. Mutabunga oversaw hospital operations, conducted emergency surgeries, and led on-the-job training for local medical teams, reinforcing resilience in fragile health systems.

Dr. Mutabunga’s work across internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology-obstetrics, emergency and orthopedic surgery, combined with his ability to navigate volatile contexts, highlights his strong commitment to serving vulnerable populations. His commitment to delivering lifesaving health services and strengthening local capacity aligns with the community-oriented approach underpinning Kajiramugabi’s doctoral research on mobile health applications for young people’s comprehensive sexuality education.

As Kajiramugabi’s Community Mentor within the CBITN fellowship, Dr. Mutabunga brings valuable insights into the design and implementation of behavioral interventions in real-world, resource-limited settings. His experience will help bridge clinical realities, community engagement, and the development of rigorous behavioral trials aimed at improving youth health outcomes.