My program of research has two main streams, the first focusses on documenting social determinants of living a life of quality among children, youth and young adults with neurodisabilities and their families, and the second focuses on the co-construction of systems of care that promote navigation of and access to supports and services needed by these individuals and their families. Projects addressing social determinants have documented caregiver health, parenting, income trajectories, educational outcomes, and utilization of health services by children and their primary caregivers. Funded by Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) and using administrative and clinical databases, this work has revealed the heightened challenges faced by this population in the Canadian context. I have collaborated with Dr. David Nicholas (University of Calgary) to increase capacity across and within government and non-government organizations to create transparent and more efficient pathways of care. Organizations that families must navigate access to have come together in Vancouver, Edmonton, Watson Lake (Yukon), and Montreal, to collaborate and innovate through program development and training. In addition, I am part of CHILDBRIGHT, and have been co-principal investigator (along with Dr. Patrick McGrath) on 2 projects, a randomized controlled trial entitled Parents Empowering Neurodiverse Kids. This project is evaluating a web-based parenting program that combines group coaching and educational modules, with parent-to-parent support for parents whose children have brain-based development disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disability AND a mental health problem. The second is a project that is about the adoption of non-medical psychosocial interventions by decision makers. I am also a peer-reviewer for numerous journals and funding bodies.
To date, I have 83 peer reviewed publications, 13 chapters, have received just over $5M in research funds as principal or co-principal investigator, and another $5.2M as co-investigator. I have purposefully approached my role as a tenured academic to create a legacy by mentoring numerous graduate students. I am recognized as a social scientist in the neuroscience space, and have focussed my efforts, almost exclusively on supervising/mentoring student outputs such as such as theses, presentations, peer-reviewed articles and chapters. I regard this is one of the highlights of my career.
As Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts (2012-2021), I oversaw the Student Affairs portfolio where I led a number of initiatives to improve support that students receive from their point of entry until graduation. In this role, I provided academic leadership and contributed to various faculty-specfic and university-wide committees addressing student success and well-being. In the community, I am a board member on the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest Board of Directors, the Board of Governors at Centre Miriam, and the Board of Directors of Dans La Rue. Through my research and community engagement, I am committed to improving the lives of neurodivergent children, youth, and young adults and their families.
CURRENT projects include
- Bridging the gap from science to uptake: A CHILD-BRIGHT study of the processes and criteria used for adoption/scaling of psychosocial interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their carers
- Child Bright:聽Child Health Initiatives Limiting Disability- Brain Research Improving Growth and Health Trajectories
PAST聽projects include
- Health economics and social determinants of health (HE-SDOH): A framework for understanding socioeconomics and quality of life outcomes among children with neurodisabilities and their caregivers
- CIHR Team in PARENTING MATTERS! The Biopsychosocial Context Of Parenting Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders In Canada
- Outcome Trajectories in Children with Epilepsy: What Factors are Important? Quebec Subsample of the Canadian Study of Paediatric Epilepsy Health Outcomes