Cynthia Howard

youth assessor
My career began in Educational Publishing, where I worked on school and university textbooks for 12 years. When I decided it was time for a new direction, I began working as a research assistant at Dalhousie and I discovered a real love of research with children. I worked  in childhood literacy research at Dalhousie for several years. After that I worked in Autism and Rheumatology research before starting at FORBOW. I am thrilled to be a part of this great team, and am looking forward to meeting  young people and their families.
 
In my free time, I love hiking and kayaking in the summer, and Pilates in the winter. I am a voracious reader with a particular love of the literature of the Victorian era.

Sheri Rempel

youth assessor
I graduated in 2002 with a B.Sc honours in Psychology from the University of Victoria and in 2006 with a MSc.A in Communication Sciences and Disorders from McGill. I am a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and have been working mostly with school aged children for the past 11 years. I was drawn to FORBOW because of my curiosity about developmental aspects of children other than just speech and language. I love working with children and families and being part of the FORBOW team will allow me to participate in research and increase my understanding of the factors that contribute the well being of children and their families.
 
Other than being Research Assistant and an SLP, I am also an 500hr Registered Yoga Teacher, and I enjoy teaching various levels of yoga classes to children and adults. In my spare time I love to practice Yoga and meditation, read books, cook and spend time with friends and family. 

Meg Stephens

youth assessor
My background is in healthcare and childcare. I graduated from the University of Nottingham, UK with a BMedSci and a BMBS. I have worked as an Early Years Educator and as a Junior Doctor. I am currently working towards completing my clinical examinations to return to medicine in Canada.

I am really excited to be a part of the FORBOW team, as working with children and their families is something I have always enjoyed. Looking at ways to identify risks early and promote the well-being of our future generation is an area I feel very passionate about.

I moved from the UK in 2017. My interests include photography, snowboarding, kayaking and exploring Nova Scotia with my husband and our two dogs. I love to travel and have been lucky enough to go on some exciting adventures around the world.

Alexa Fine

youth assessor
I graduated from the University of Toronto in 2016 with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Psychology. After graduating, I worked for two years as the research coordinator of an outpatient psychiatry clinic in Toronto, where I gained experience with cognitive testing, clinical trials and psychiatric assessments for individuals with a wide range of disorders. It was eye-opening to see how mental illness can impact so many aspects of a person’s life. I moved to Halifax in 2018 after learning about FORBOW and their research on early identification and prevention of mental illness in youth. This research really interested me because of its potential to have a positive impact on youth as they develop. I am extremely excited to be a part of the team and look forward to meeting families!

In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing recreational sports, travelling and exploring beautiful Nova Scotia!

Kelsey Villars

youth assessor
I have my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in developmental psychology from Emmanuel College in Boston, MA. I moved to Halifax shortly after graduating back in 2015. I have volunteered at a few different institutions and organizations soaking in as much knowledge and experience as I could. I've worked with people who come from many different backgrounds. Through it all I have been driven by the desire to improve peoples everyday lives. All of my experiences have lead me to FORBOW. I was very excited to hear about the work being done to help create ways that get to the roots of mental illness. I'm grateful to be able to be apart of a team and initiative that has the goal to improve peoples opportunity for wellness. 

Besides my passion for understanding and helping those around me, I enjoy many things including, snuggling with my dog, drives through the country, being by the ocean, and all things comfy-cozy.

Holly Van Gestel

youth assessor & brain scan Coordinator
​I’ve always been passionate about the ways in which we foster healthier minds and bodies. This interest has guided my past and present academic and extracurricular pursuits and is what has guided me to FORBOW. 
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I am currently completing my third year as a student of osteopathic medicine, upon the completion of my master’s degree at Dalhousie University.  My thesis research was a neuroimaging study focused on uncovering the brain regions responsible for the stress response, commonly known as “fight or flight”. I’m excited and honored to be part of the FORBOW team, and to employ the skills that I’ve learned along the way to help explore the developing brain in young people.

Tammy Lamb

youth assessor
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Prince Edward Island and have worked in research since 2011. Over the past 6 years, I have had the opportunity to work for Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, and Mount Saint Vincent University. During my time with these schools, I was fortunate to work on many different studies, investigating language development and acquisition, and social and emotional well-being. The FORBOW study seemed like a natural fit for me and I am excited to be a part of this remarkable team.

In my spare time I enjoy playing softball, watching movies, and road trip adventures exploring this beautiful province with my husband.  

Shannon Neville​

youth assessor
I graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2014 with my Honours Degree in Psychology. During my time at SMU, I worked on various research projects which really opened my eyes to the value of experimental psychology. When I first heard about the FORBOW study, I was amazed at the team’s initiative and was very enthusiastic when asked to join such an innovative study. I began working with the FORBOW team in June of 2014 as a Research Assistant. In May 2016 I started a new position as the Research Psychometrist for Dalhousie’s Department of Psychiatry. I am continuing my work with FORBOW and am also involved in several other studies within the department. I always look forward to my days at FORBOW and meeting new participants!
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When I am not working, I enjoy being active and outdoors. My interests include: hiking, canoeing, fishing, and exploring new places! I also love spending time with my family, friends, and pets (a dachshund, two ferrets, two snakes, and lots of fish).

Jackie Glover​

youth assessor
I worked in a research lab focused on child development before joining the FORBOW team of researchers.

I’ve always had an interest in counselling and helping others. This led to my passion for psychology, which I pursued in my degree from Dalhousie University. I’ve worked with children since I was a teenager. From an early age I have always known that I wanted a career that could combine my interests in psychology and working with children and youth. I am really happy to be a part of the FORBOW study and to help promote well-being in youth and their families. When I’m not working I love to cook, travel, spend time with my family, husband and friends, and play soccer.
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Lynn Mackenzie​

Youth assessor & clinical phd student
I greatly enjoy working as a member of the FORBOW research team. I am happy that this innovative project is happening in Nova Scotia. I believe that FORBOW will help to promote health and well-being in young people across the province.

My first career was as a teacher. I discovered my true passion is clinical psychology, and then took a master’s degree in psychology at Columbia University, in New York, in 2011. In 2012, I joined the FORBOW research team. As a research associate, I gather information that the children share as part of the study.

As a PhD student, in clinical psychology, my research will focus on autism, brain imaging, therapeutic interventions, and a range of mental-health concerns in children and adolescents. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, sailing, yoga, kayaking, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

Alyson Zwicker​

youth assessor & PATHOLOGY PHD student
I graduated from Western University with a BSc in Psychology in 2015, and joined the FORBOW team shortly thereafter. As a graduate student at Dalhousie, my work with FORBOW involves studying genetic factors that influence the development of mental health, environmental exposures that could have adverse effects on mental health, and interactions between the two.

Vlad Drobinin​

youth assessor & medical neuroscience phd student
I am excited to be a resident of this beautiful city and a researcher with this innovative study.

My work with FORBOW gives me the unique opportunity of studying how the young brain develops. Please see the video to find out more about how we do that!

I’m also interested in rectangles. We use rectangles of different sizes every day. These include cellphones, tablets, laptops, and TVs. The types of things that we do with our screens matter. My goal is to find out how technology affects humans.

In my spare time, I enjoy photography, technology, reading, movies, meditation, and a stroll by the harbour.
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Emily Howes Vallis​

youth assessor & MASTERS IN PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH STUDENT
I graduated from Dalhousie in 2016 with an Honours Degree in Psychology. While studying at Dalhousie, I had the opportunity to work on diverse research projects, which is where I developed a love of experimental psychology and a passion for mental health. I am excited to continue pursuing my interests in research and mental health as a member of the FORBOW team.
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In my spare time, I teach ballet and I enjoy cooking, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors.

I’m looking forward to meeting participants and their families!

Alex Pizzo

youth assessor & masters in psychiatry research student
I completed my undergraduate degree at Dalhousie University in Psychology. I am currently a Masters student at Dalhousie. Outside of FORBOW I like to watch TV and play sports.

Andrea Sandstrom

youth assessor & masters in psychiatry research student
I did my undergraduate at Western University in Psychology before moving to Halifax and joining Forbow. I am especially interested in the development of mental illness in youth, and early intervention for anxiety disorders. Outside of Forbow I enjoy hiking, going to the gym and exploring Halifax.

Rudolf Uher​

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
I am a psychiatrist and a researcher. I believe that we should do research that really matters and improves lives.

I came to Nova Scotia to take the opportunity offered by the Canada Research Chair Program. In my work here, I am studying how to help young people develop mental well-being and avoid mental illness. This work builds on my earlier training in medicine and psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital in London, UK, and in Prague, in the Czech Republic. In my earlier training, I noticed that adults with mental illness often experience only limited improvement, even with the best available treatment. I often wondered if we could make a bigger difference by working with people when they are younger, when the brain and body are developing.

With my colleagues in Halifax, London, Boston, and elsewhere, I am studying whether we can predict what treatment works best for whom. I am grateful that as a researcher I can help advance knowledge and as a clinician I can put in into practice. When I am not working, I enjoy hiking, observing wildlife, and taking photographs.
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Barbara Pavlova

investigator
I am a clinical psychologist, cognitive-behavioural therapist and researcher. I want to find out why some people develop anxiety disorders and whether we can prevent it. I am testing a new way of helping parents not to pass anxiety on to their children. I am also interested in the interplay between mood and anxiety. I am looking at whether effectively treating anxiety reduces the risk of depression and other problems.

​Jill Cumby​

research manager
As a mental health nurse, I am interested in learning how we may help youth who are at risk of developing a mental illness.

When I was a teenager, my career plan was to help youth in many ways. I wanted to work as a high school teacher and guidance counsellor. I did teach for a while, before going into mental health nursing. I completed my undergraduate nursing degree from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. I then returned to my home province of Newfoundland to complete my master’s in nursing at Memorial University. I have worked as a mental health nurse in Halifax since 2000. Outside of work, I love to sing, practice yoga, do aquafit, as well as spend time with family and friends.