John is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Victoria, where he specializes in early assessment/diagnosis of diverse neurodevelopmental concerns (e.g., ASD, FASD, very preterm birth), as well as the development and evaluation of accessible and affordable clinical interventions (e.g., the KBHN-funded Dino Island Training Program for Attention and Executive Functioning, led by Dr. Sarah Macoun). As part of his work to create and improve early assessment tools, John is a co-creator of the Computerized Preschool Executive Functioning (CPEF) Battery, a group of tablet-based assessment tools that evaluate the executive functioning abilities of preschool-aged children. In this work, John collaborates with researchers/hospitals in Canada and the U.S., as well as being a co-investigator in previous and ongoing longitudinal studies investigating the impact of diverse neurodevelopmental concerns (e.g., very premature birth, ASD), such as the Cincinnati Infant Neurodevelopmental Early Prediction Study (CINEPS) led by Dr. Nehal Parikh. Across all of his clinical work and research, a primary interest is the rôle that various systems play in the émergence of neurodevelopmental concerns, as well as how they can be optimized to help children and families reach their own unique goals (e.g., neural systems, family systems, and community systems/policies). John’s background also includes a degree in Consumer Health Policy from the University of Utah, where he also spent valuable time working with the Utah Special Olympics (Sports Director) and as a Homeless Youth Outreach worker.
