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Kids Brain Health Network can actually push boundaries in terms of getting people to support families of children with any neurodevelopmental disability. The programs brings different people together with different perspectives, in terms of how research can support them, what are the methods that can be used in the research, and how to take the research beyond that level into practice.
I have learned so many things in terms of implementing the research. Not only to understand the theory but how to put it into practice, every step that you need to to do make it a reality for the users is something I’ve gained from this experience. I would like to encourage spreading the message not only across Canada, but outside Canada. In my own country, I will try to extend the message to see what people do here at Kids Brain Health Network. It’s an amazing organization because of the different perspectives built into it.” ~ Dr. Bilikis Oluwatoyin Banire |
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I graduated from the University of Calgary School of Public Policy, and right after that I got my first internship along with KBHN and Mitacs support. My core background has always been in neurodevelopmental disabilities, and when I learned that KBHN is also striving to make change for the lives of people with NDDs and their caregivers, that really got me excited.
Being a researcher gives me the opportunity to learn many things about the core issues that individuals and families with NDDs are facing, and how to synthesize that knowledge with the support of evidence-based research… and to use that knowledge so that people can relate to cutting-edge issues. Most importantly, the idea of influencing policy and practice through evidence-based change is something that really excites me. I think the learning curve has never stopped for me, and I’m a believer in lifelong learning. I have wonderful support from mentors who are pioneers in their fields, and learning from them is a dream come true.” ~ Ashish Seth |
Trainees & Alumni
Meet some current and alumni members of KBHN’s National Training Program:
Maathangi Kuruparan
Maathangi has a vested interest in improving access to care and support for families and children with neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities, with a particular focus on those who are newly landed immigrants.
Marianna Healey
Marianna is a registered social worker and a PhD student at Wilfrid Laurier University. She previously completed a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Windsor (2015) and a Bachelor of Science (Honours; BScH) degree from Queen’s University (2012).
Melika Kangarani-Farahani
Melika completed her bachelor and master’s in occupational therapy at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran. She has been an occupational therapist for 12 years in Iran.
Olivia Tsihilias
Olivia is a Ph.D. student at the University of British Columbia, under the supervision of Dr. Jill Zwicker.
Patricia Basualto
Patricia is a Physiotherapist and Master’s degree in Health Psychology. She bring experience in research projects related to early childcare interventions, mental health, and occupational health, with an emphasis on the experience of caregivers in different healthcare settings.
Sara Izadi-Najafabadi
Sara Izadi-Najafabadi is a PhD candidate of Rehabilitation Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She works with Dr. Jill Zwicker on a project to investigate the effect of rehabilitation on brain function and structure of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).
Sarah Raza
Sarah Raza is a PhD student in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta, under the supervision of Dr. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum. She previously completed her MSc in Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge, where she examined the role of early experiences on animal behavior, brain development, and plasticity.
Vanessa Tomas
Vanessa Tomas, M.Sc., is a SSHRC-funded Ph.D. candidate in the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute and Collaborative Program in Neuroscience.
Zainab Albandari
Zainab is currently a MSc student at Dalhousie University with a double major in Neuroscience and mathematics. Prior to Neuroscience, she completed a Bachelor of Mathematics (King Faisal University). She also has a diploma in Computer Science (Kiron University). Her interests lie in child neurodevelopment, with a particular focus in children with epilepsy and ADHD.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the KBHN National Training Program, or if you want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact training@kidsbrainhealth.ca.
