Chair
Theone Paterson, Ph.D., R.Psych
Email: tpaterson@uvic.ca
Dr. Theone Paterson is the Chair-Elect, and previously a Member-at-Large, of the Clinical Neuropsychology section. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Victoria, and teaches within the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program. 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.
Chair-Elect
Nicolás Narvaez Linares, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Email: nnarv038@uottawa.ca
Nicolás completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa in early 2022. Currently, he is pursuing post-doctoral training in Clinical Neuropsychology at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), in School Psychology at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), and in Clinical Psychology in private practice. Nicolás will be seeking registration in these areas with the College of Psychologist of Ontario and l’Ordre des Psychologues du Québe. He provides neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessments to children and youth who have a medical condition, a neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g., ADHD, ASD, APD, ID, SLD), or are gifted/twice-exceptional.
Past Chair
Kristina Gicas, Ph.D., C.Psych
Email: kgicas@yorku.ca
Dr. Kristina Gicas is the Chair, and previously a Member-at-Large, of the Clinical Neuropsychology section. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University and Director of the Cognition and Complex Conditions Lab where her research focuses on the neuropsychology of mental illness and addiction in marginalized populations. Dr. Gicas is also a practicing Clinical Neuropsychologist.
Members-at-Large
Sabrina Lemire-Rodger, Ph.D., C.Psych.
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, mood disorders, and trauma. She currently works in Private practice, integrating clinical and neuropsychology. She is a graduate of York University and completed her residency in the Neuropsychology and Cognitive Health program at Baycrest Health Sciences and the Neuropsychology Clinic at the Krembil Neuroscience Center at UHN’s Toronto Western Hospital.
Amir A. Sepehry, MSc, PhD
CPA – Psychopharmacology Chair
CPA – Director of Chairs
BCPA – President
Email: sepehryaa@gmail.com
Dr. Sepehry has an 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 Post-doctoral training in neurology at UBC, and forensic neuropsychology. He has published nearly 100 peer reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, and encyclopedias chapters (https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=g2NrqKMAAAAJ&hl=en). 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 the 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 president.
Iris Yusupov
Email: irisy@yorku.ca
Iris Yusupov is a Member-at-Large of the Clinical Neuropsychology section. She is currently a Ph.D. student in York University’s Adult Clinical Psychology program in the Neuropsychology stream. She is completing her pre-doctoral residency at Baycrest Hospital. Her clinical training to date includes providing psychotherapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and conducting neuropsychological assessments in a variety of settings such as hospitals, correctional facilities, and private practices. Iris also has an MBA and graduate diploma in Health Industry Management. She is on the Board of Directors of a long-term care facility for veterans in Toronto. Her dissertation research is evaluating the newly translated online version of the in-person Memory & Aging Program®, a memory-strategy training and brain health promotion intervention for healthy older adults offered at Baycrest Hospital.
Student Representatives
Sara Pishdadian, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate (she/her)
Email: sarapish@yorku.ca
Sara Pishdadian is a Student Representative in the Clinical Neuropsychology section. She is a Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology stream predoctoral intern at The Ottawa Hospital for the 2022-2023 year and a Ph.D. candidate from York University’s Adult Clinical Psychology program in the Neuropsychology stream. She has successfully defended her dissertation which investigated the relationship between subjective or self-reported memory and objective memory and spatial navigation abilities in older adults and individuals with hippocampal amnesia. Her clinical experiences include providing neuropsychological assessment, cognitive rehabilitation, and psychotherapy services, in acute care, outpatient, psychiatric, and rehabilitation settings.
Somayya Saleemi, B.Sc. (Hons.) (She/her | Elle)
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology / Étudiant en Doctorat, Psychologie Clinique
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.