Sarah J. Macoun, Ph.D., R.Psych.
Sarah is a Registered Psychologist and Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology (Pediatric Neuropsychology) at the University of Victoria (UVic) with expertise in cognitive rehabilitation, neuropsychological intervention/assessment, and neurodevelopmental disabilities. She has over 20 years of experience as a practicing clinical neuropsychologist and applied researcher in hospital, school, and community settings. Her professional expertise includes development/evaluation of cognitive/academic interventions, neuropsychological assessment, and program planning for children with neurodevelopmental conditions that impact brain function. She continues to do clinical work within the community focused on neuropsychological and Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnostics, to maintain a strong connection with the communities that her research serves.
Sarah has led the development, piloting, and validation of cognitive interventions focused on attention and executive function (Dino Island (DI) and its predecessor the Caribbean Quest (CQ)). She has designed and implemented small and large-scale research initiatives to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive interventions across a range of pediatric populations (Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Learning/Attention Disorders, Congenital Heart Disease, Very Preterm Delivery, Brain Injury, etc.). A core aspect of this research pertains to technology transfer and translation of novel interventions into direct outputs that positively and directly impact children and families and the systems that support them. This work has involved expertise in navigating a range of bureaucracies, developing a shared language, establishing mutual goals, and building trust to maximize outcomes.
Her projects and collaborations have involved coordination across multiple local/international sites, research team training, community-recruitment, interventionist training, and stakeholder KT and KM, with a focus on both clinical and implementation efficacy. She holds research and professional collaborations with Canadian government (Ministries of Education and Health), professional bodies (College of Psychologists), community agencies (Learning Disabilities Association, Centre/Foundation for Child Development, Woodview Autism and Mental Health Services, The Uncomplicated Family, etc.), and educational/medical bodies (BC Children’s Hospital, Mayo Clinic, School Districts, etc.). She has over 15 years of undergraduate and graduate student training/supervision in the fields of clinical neuropsychological assessment, intervention planning, and applied research and this continues to be one of the most rewarding aspects of her career.
