Lectures

The lecture will focus on a patient journey through the Waterloo-Wellington stroke system. Topics will include stroke prevention and risk factor modification, stroke recognition (signs and symptoms), treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery, including re-integration. The coordinated care within Waterloo Wellington will be described through organized care pathways and strong healthcare and community partnerships.

Presenter

Holly Arnold

Holly Arnold is the District Stroke Manager for Waterloo Wellington. Holly holds a Masters of Physiotherapy and a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honors) from the University of Western Ontario. Holly’s 20 years of experience includes both leadership and physiotherapy point of care roles in general and stroke rehabilitation at the Brantford General Hospital and Grand River Hospital, now Waterloo Regional Health Network. She has worked throughout the continuum of care, with a particular focus in stroke, completing numerous programs, workshops, and certificates, including the NDT/Bobath certificate course. Holly is passionate about standardization and quality improvement, leading initiatives such Stroke follow-up phone calls and Stroke Distinction Accreditation at the Waterloo Regional Health Network.

After the lecture, you may contact Holly Arnold for questions at: holly.arnold@wrhn.ca

Link to further resources:

Details on specialized stroke care at Waterloo Regional Health Network

The presentation provides an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition that affects communication, behaviour, and social interaction. It explores the core characteristics of autism, including challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, and sensory sensitivities. The presentation also highlights the diversity of experiences among individuals on the spectrum, emphasizing that autism affects people differently. Key topics include early signs and diagnosis, the importance of early intervention, support strategies, and promoting inclusion and acceptance. The goal is to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage supportive environments for individuals with autism.

After the lecture, you may contact Jessica Fortunato for questions at: jess.m.fort@gmail.com

Presenter

Jessica Fortunato is a seasoned Behaviour Analyst with over 13 years of experience in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). She is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), a Registered Behaviour Analyst in Ontario (R.B.A. ONT.), and holds a Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in ABA. As a Clinical Supervisor at Lansdowne Children’s Center, she specializes in the assessment and treatment of children and youth with autism. Jessica is recognized for her clinical expertise in using evidence-based ABA practices to develop and implement individualized treatment plans. Her work is grounded in comprehensive assessment, data-driven decision making, and a compassionate, client-centered approach.

Most of us have an idea of what addiction looks like, and many of us have been affected by addiction in one way or another. But what is happening inside the person with an addiction that drives them to so intently continue to engage in those behaviours? This lecture will discuss the mental health diagnosis of ‘substance use disorder’ within the context of what is going on in the brain. We’ll also discuss what we know about why addictions can become so strong, why they affect some people and not others, and why only some treatments work some of the time. The lecture will span behavioural brain research from rats to humans, and how that work informs the ways we can best treat those with substance use disorders.

Presenter

Dr. Jennifer Murray

Dr. Murray began investigating the interoceptive stimulus properties of drugs of abuse as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the United States. After completing her PhD in 2009, she then worked as a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Cambridge in England studying novel models of drug dependence to assess theories of addiction. While there, she was also an official fellow of Murray Edwards College and directed studies for their psychology students. In 2018, Dr. Murray joined the faculty of the Department of Psychology at the University of Guelph.

After the lecture, you may contact Dr. Murray for questions at: jmurr@uoguelph.ca

Link to BBC article on Karen Ersche's work:

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-16854593

Further reading:

Two books by Sam Quinone: "Dreamland" and "The Least of Us"

Rhythms are found everywhere in biological systems, from motor movements for locomotion to communication signals such as speech and music. I will present evidence that infants are sensitive to musical rhythms from before birth and that temporal processing is a general principle of brain functioning. I will also present evidence that auditory-motor interactions for timing are present early in development and that the human auditory system uses the motor system to accomplish rhythmic timing. Finally, I will discuss the social implications of coordinated movements in human interactions from musical ensembles to pro-social behaviour in infants, and why music can improve wellbeing.

Presenter

Dr. Laurel Trainor

Laurel Trainor (McMaster University) is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada; the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; and the Association for Psychological Science. Her honours include a Society for Music Perception and Performance Lifetime Achievement Award and a YWCA Women of Distinction Award. She directs the McMaster Institute for Music and Mind’s LIVELab, a unique research-concert hall (livelab.mcmaster.ca). She has published over 200 articles including in Science and Nature and is also principal flute of the Burlington Symphony.

After the lecture, you may contact Dr. Trainor for questions at: ljt@trainor.ca

Link to Dr. Trainor's Auditory Development Website: https://trainorlab.mcmaster.ca/

Traditionally, the connections and cellular composition of our central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) were believed to be fixed following the completion of

development. However, it is now known that this system is incredibly plastic and can undergo both structural and functional changes throughout our lifetime. Unraveling the intricate choreography of signals required to first form, preserve and then adapt neuronal communication and connection in the brain is still one of biology’s greatest challenges. In this lecture, I will describe the nature of these changes, the processes responsible for directing and coordinating it, and how it pertains to reconstruction and repair following trauma or disease.

Presenter

Dr. Angela Scott

Dr. Scott is a neurobiologist that specializes in the study of regulatory mechanisms responsible for neuroplastic changes during development, neurodevelopmental disease or following trauma. She uses relatively diverse research approaches to explore the molecular and cellular interactions that govern these changes and to characterize the adaptive or maladaptive mechanisms of plasticity within these tissues. Following the completion of her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, she completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Edinburgh and McMaster University. Dr. Scott has been the recipient of numerous research and teaching awards from several local, national and international sources, and is currently an assistant professor at the University of Guelph.

This session begins with an introduction to common myths and truths about concussion, addressing misconceptions in sport and healthcare through the lens of current research. We’ll follow the journey of an athlete from the moment of inciting trauma through each stage of recovery to return to play. Along the way, we’ll explore what happens in the brain during a concussion, including neurophysiological, cellular, and metabolic changes, and examine the broader systemic effects that explain the wide range of symptoms. The brain-heart connection and its role in autonomic regulation and heart rate variability will also be discussed. Evidence-based strategies for retraining the autonomic nervous system and supporting recovery will be shared. Finally, we’ll outline universal planning and pacing principles, offering practical guidance for return-to-learn and return-to-play. The session concludes with a Q&A and clinical discussion.

Presenter

Craig Dixon

Craig Dixon is a physiotherapist at the University of Guelph’s Health and Performance Centre, where he has spent the past nine years working with athletes of all ages and competitive levels, from recreational to professional. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University and a Sessional Lecturer at the University of Guelph. Craig’s clinical focus is on the management of sport-related concussion, with a special interest in autonomic nervous system dysfunction and cardiovascular retraining. He is passionate about advancing evidence-based concussion care and brings a practical, athlete-centered perspective to recovery and return-to-play decision-making.

After the lecture, you may contact Craig Dixon for questions at: craig.dixon@uoguelph.ca

Public awareness of dementia is increasing. Yet, for many people, the word dementia invokes feelings of fear and worry. These feelings are often the result of stigma and misunderstanding of dementia. This presentation will start by providing an overview of dementia, with a focus on the myths, facts and realities of dementia. Using a strengths-based approach, we will then explore how people living with dementia can live their best lives. Throughout the presentation, we will consider the role of sex and gender as well as ethno-racial diversity in dementia.

Presenter

Carrie McAiney is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo and Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging. Carrie’s research involves working collaboratively with persons living with dementia and family care partners to co-design, implement and evaluate interventions to enhance their wellbeing. Her recent work includes working collaboratively with diverse ethno-racial communities to increase understanding of dementia experiences and co-design resources and supports.

After the lecture, you may contact Dr. McAiney for questions at: carrie.mcainey@uwaterloo.ca

Your brain is your most important asset. In this presentation, you will gain insight about the impact of stress on brain function and what the latest scientific findings tell us about enhancing resilience and maintaining brain fitness throughout our lives. Why is sleep so important? Does meditation really work? How can physical exercise or getting out into nature boost memory and attention? With his focus on practical research-based strategies for enhancing brain function, promoting healthy choices, and maintaining emotional balance, Dr. Fenske will help you learn how to best develop and care for your brain. 

Presenter

Dr. Mark Fenske

Dr. Fenske is a cognitive-neuroscientist and Professor at the University of Guelph. A former faculty member at Harvard Medical School, his research combines neuroimaging and studies of human behaviour to better understand the brain’s attention and emotion systems. His public writing and speaking are aimed at helping others enhance performance, resilience and well-being. Dr. Fenske's efforts to translate scientific findings and make them accessible to the public at large include the bestselling book, 'The Winner's Brain: 8 Strategies Great Minds Use to Achieve Success' and his popular 'Better Brain' column, which regularly appeared in the Globe & Mail.

After the lecture, you may contact Dr. Fenske for questions at: mfenske@uoguelph.ca