Chair
Dr. Nicolás Francisco Narvaez Linares, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Pronouns: he/him
Email: drnicolasfnl@gmail.com
Dr. Nicolás F. Narvaez Linares brings a unique perspective to his work as a trilingual and bicultural individual, enriching his approach to understanding diverse needs. He has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Child, Adolescent, and Family Services, along with a specialization in Behavioural Neurosciences from the University of Ottawa. He is registered with the provinces of Ontario (CPBAO) and Québec (OPQ) in the areas of Clinical Neuropsychology, Clinical Psychology and School Psychology. He completed postdoctoral training in pediatric neuropsychology at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). He is currently the Clinical Director of Neurodevelopmental and Psychological Service Centre de services psychologiques et neurodéveloppementaux (NPSCSPN) and teaches at the undergraduate and graduate level at the University of Ottawa. Beyond clinical practice, he actively contributes to professional associations, furthering the advancement of the field of psychology.
Veuillez noter que le Dr. Narvaez Linares parle français et espagnol. Ainsi, n’hésitez pas à communiquer dans la langue officielle de votre choix.
Chair-Elect
Dr. Sara Pishdadian, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Pronouns: She/her
Email: spish@yorku.ca
Dr. Sara Pishdadian is a graduate of York University’s Adult Clinical Psychology PhD program in the Neuropsychology stream and The Ottawa Hospital’s Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology stream predoctoral internship. Her practice areas are Clinical Psychology, Rehabilitation Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology working with adults and seniors. Clinically, she has worked in private practice, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and West Park Healthcare Centre, a rehabilitation hospital part of University Health Network (UHN). She is an assistant professor in the Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology programs at York University and director of the Cognition, Lasting Outcomes, Symptom Evaluation and Rehabilitation(CLOSER) Neuropsychology Lab..
Past Chair
Dr. Theone Paterson, Ph.D., R.Psych
Pronouns: She/her
Email: tpaterson@uvic.ca
Dr. Theone Paterson is the Past-Chair of the Clinical Neuropsychology section. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Victoria, and teaches within the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program. She is also a co-investigator, and site principal investigator for the Victoria data collection site, of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Her research focuses on examining the interplay between neurocognition and psychosocial functioning, and the prediction of real-world health outcomes in aging and chronic illness groups. Dr. Paterson is also a practicing Clinical Neuropsychologist with lifespan focus.
Members-at-Large
Dr. Sabrina Lemire-Rodger, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Pronouns: She/her
Email: drlemirerodger@slrpsych.com
Dr. Sabrina Lemire-Rodger is a Member-at-Large of the Clinical Neuropsychology section. Dr. Lemire-Rodger is a registered neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist in Ontario. Her clinical work focuses on the assessment and treatment of individuals with acquired brain injury, dementia, somatic and functional disorders, mood disorders, and trauma. She is part of the Brain Medicine Clinic at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the director of SLR Psychology, a private practice focused on integrating clinical and neuropsychology. She is also a lecturer at York University, where she teaches in the graduate program.
Dr. Amir A. Sepehry, MSc, PhD
Pronouns: he/him
Email: sepehryaa@gmail.com
Dr. Sepehry has extensive training as a scientist-practitioner. He completed his doctoral training by combining works from the University of Victoria (UVIC) and the University of British Columbia (UBC). Completed a Postdoctoral training in neurology at UBC, and forensic neuropsychology. He has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, and encyclopedias chapters, link. Before his doctoral training, Dr. Sepehry completed a master’s program in psychiatric sciences/pharmacology at the Universite de Montreal (In French). Dr. Sepehry is currently teaching at Adler University (Vancouver) as an assistant professor of clinical psychology, and adjunct professor of counselling psychology. Dr. Sepehry serves at the CPA as the psychopharmacology section chair, and Chair of the Council of Sections. He is currently the BCPA past-president.
Dr. Lisa Lejbak, Ph. D., R. Psych.
Pronouns: She/her
Email: lisalejbak@gmail.com
Dr. Lisa Lejbak is a Member-at-Large of the Clinical Neuropsychology section. She is a Registered Doctoral Psychologist in Saskatchewan with lifespan clinical and neuropsychology competencies. She provides clinical neuropsychology services at the Saskatchewan Epilepsy Program (Saskatchewan Health Authority) and has a private practice in lifespan neuropsychology. She completed clinical training with a PhD from the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan (2010), a pre-doctoral residency program in Clinical Neuropsychology, and extensive post-graduate training in clinical neuropsychology, including an organized fellowship. She continues to be involved in research, teaching, and clinical supervision, including the role of Rotation Coordinator for the Neuropsychology Track at the Saskatoon and area pre-doctoral residency.
Dr. Simritpal K. Malhi, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Pronouns: She/her
Email: simritpal.malhi@sunnybrook.ca
Dr. Malhi completed her doctoral degree at the University of Windsor, residency at the London Clinical Psychology Residency Consortium, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. She is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist with the Tory Trauma Recovery Clinic at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an assistant professor/affiliated scientist with the University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry. She conducts research in the area of traumatic brain injury.
Student Representatives
Somayya Saleemi, B.Sc. (Hons.), PhD Student, Clinical Psychology
Pronouns: She/her
Email: somayya.saleemi@uottawa.ca
Somayya Saleemi (she/her) is a Doctoral student at the University of Ottawa in the Clinical Psychology program. Her research is focused on the effects of bilingualism on cognition and aging. Other areas of interest include child psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and research ethics. She completed her Hons. BSc. in Psychology from York University in Toronto, followed by an Ontario Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research from Humber College. Currently, she is serving as a clinical program representative on UOttawa’s Graduate Association of Students in Psychology, and is passionate about advocacy related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, and spending time with her three cats named Potter, Weasley, and Hermione.
Vanessa Correia, B.A. (Hons), MA-PhD Student, Clinical Psychology/Neuropsychology
Pronouns: She/her/elle
Email: correia3@uwindsor.ca
Vanessa Correia is a third-year graduate student in the Clinical Neuropsychology program at the University of Windsor. Her current research focuses on the pre-injury risk factors involved in recovery from sport-related concussion. More broadly, she is interested in traumatic brain injury, sleep, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases. Vanessa completed her B.A. (Hons) at Concordia University in Montreal, then worked as a neuropsychology research assistant at both Concordia and McGill University before starting her graduate studies. She is passionate about offering mentorship to aspiring psychologists at the undergraduate level and is enthusiastic about the opportunity to advocate for the needs of current and future clinical neuropsychology trainees across Canada with the CPA. When not studying or working, Vanessa enjoys volunteering as an active listener, going for walks, cooking, spending time with her cats, and watching psychological thrillers.
Hayley Turner, Honours Psychology Undergraduate Student
Pronouns: She/her
Email: turnerh1@myumanitoba.ca
Hayley Turner is a graduate student at the University of Manitoba, currently in her first year of the Clinical Psychology program. She recently completed her B.Sc. Honours in Psychology degree at the University of Manitoba. Her research examines how the functional connectivity of the brain is associated with psychiatric symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression) in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Furthermore, she is interested in the factors that influence the progression of neuropsychological and neurodegenerative disorders. She is excited to promote and support the student perspective as part of the section’s executive. Outside of academics, Hayley volunteers with Special Olympics and at a local community hospital, and competes for the University of Manitoba track and field team.