Our People & Partners

National Leadership Team

Our team is composed of some of Canada’s leading academic physicians, researchers, and leaders of major national health organizations. The National Leadership Team promotes knowledge transfer and translation of Fountain of Health™ materials, to the public and to healthcare providers across Canada. The National Team is responsible for building momentum of the Fountain of Health™ across Canada and internationally and works in alignment with the Positive Psychiatry Section of the World Psychiatric Association.

National Leadership Team Members 

Dr. Beverley Cassidy, MD, FRCP(C)
Assistant Professor in Geriatric Psychiatry, Dalhousie University

Dr. Cassidy is an Assistant Professor in Geriatric Psychiatry at Dalhousie University. Her academic interests include late life mood and anxiety disorders, the neurobiology of healthy aging, and the application of cognitive behavioural therapy in late life and resilience across the lifespan. Dr. Cassidy pursued her undergraduate degree in neurobiology at Yale University, received her psychiatric training at McGill University, and completed 2 year fellowship at the University of Toronto with a focus on attachment affect regulation and mood disorders.  She has been actively involved in the Fountain of Health™ Initiative for the past five years, and currently spearheads a provincial effort to bring healthy aging tools to primary care clinicians to jumpstart health behavior change in brief 10 minute office visits. She is part of the Fountain of Health™ App development team and co-ordinates the Fountain of Health™'s National Speakers' Bureau, having presented on the initiative both provincially and internationally.

Dr. Keri-Leigh Cassidy, MD
Founder, National Leadership Team

Dr. Keri-Leigh Cassidy, MD FRCPC, is a Professor of Geriatric Psychiatry at Dalhousie University, and the founder of the Fountain of Health™ Initiative for Optimal Aging. She is also the co-founder of the World Aging and Brain Health Institute, and Vice President of the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry. Dr. Cassidy is a national expert in late life mood disorders and psychotherapy teaching at the CAGP National Review Course in Geriatric Psychiatry, and author of Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for older adults. Dr. Cassidy received the 2016 Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Award for Outstanding Contributions to Geriatric Psychiatry in Canada. She was the 2018 recipient of the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Betty Havens Prize for Knowledge Translation in Aging. 

Dr. David Conn, MD
VP Education, Baycrest

Dr. David Conn is the Vice-President of Education and Director of the Centre for Education & Knowledge Exchange at Baycrest. He is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. He is founding Co-Chair of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health and Past President of the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry. He is the author or co-author of more than 100 publications and co-editor of three textbooks. He received the 2005 Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Award for Outstanding Contributions to Geriatric Psychiatry in Canada and a Distinguished Service Award from the International Psychogeriatric Association in 2009. In 2010 he was co-recipient of the CIHR Institute of Aging Betty Havens Award for Knowledge Translation in Aging.

Dr. Chris Frank, MD
Chair, FCFP (Care of Elderly)

Dr. Chris Frank MD, FCFP (Care of Elderly); is the Chair of the Health Care of the Elderly Program at the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Queen’s University and the Clinical Leader of Specialized Geriatric Services at Providence Care. His clinical interests are palliative care and geriatric rehabilitation.

Margaret Gillis
President, International Longevity Centre Canada

Margaret Gillis is the founding President of the International Longevity Centre Canada, part of a global alliance of 17 Centres dedicated to the needs and rights of older people. An award winning executive and innovative leader, Margaret played a key role in establishing the Age-friendly Community program in Canada and internationally, this program is now in over 900 Canadian communities and 26 countries worldwide.  Her career includes leading a joint government-NGO project to protect seniors in disasters which was recognized by Her Majesty the Queen.  Margaret has strong credentials in regard to human rights, working with and speaking at the UN General Assembly and as a Canadian Delegate to the Organization of American States, Institute for Children.  With a background in health promotion, protection and programming for the aged, women and children, Margaret is committed to improving the rights of older people.

Dr. Cindy Grief, MD
Medical Director, Mental Health Services, Baycrest

Dr. Cindy Grief, MD, FRCP(C) is a Geriatric Psychiatrist at Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto, where she is the Medical Director for Mental Health Services. Her clinical roles include inpatient and outpatient psychiatry. She is also the consultant to Baycrest’s palliative care unit. Bereavement is a particular area of interest, which prompted her to complete a Master’s of Science degree in Medical Anthropology. Dr. Grief is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. She is also a graduate of the Centre for Faculty Development’s Education Scholars program (UofT), and has been active in postgraduate and continuing education. Dr. Grief is currently developing a national education program in geriatric mental health (GeMH) for health care professionals using varied education technologies including videoconferencing, webinars and simulation.

Greg Kyllo
National Director of Program Innovation at the Canadian Mental Health

Mr. Greg Kyllo is the National Director of Program Innovation at the Canadian Mental Health Association, National. The Canadian Mental Health Association, celebrating its 100th year in 2018, is the largest national non-profit mental health organization in Canada. In his role overseeing nationwide programs and services, Greg’s strategic innovation priorities include population mental health, promotion and prevention, e-mental health, peer support and workplace mental health. Prior to his clinical roles, Greg worked in Corporate Canada for over 15 years in progressive leadership positions with three Fortune 50 industry leading companies. This experience enabled him to build national teams as well as develop innovative chronic disease management programs to support Canada's health care professionals. He is a strong advocate for increased access to bio-psycho-social-spiritual community-based mental health and addiction programs in Canada. 

 

Dr. Kiran Rabheru, MD
Past President, Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry

Kiran is a Full Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. In 2014, he was certified as a subspecialist in Geriatric Psychiatry by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.  Currently at The Ottawa Hospital, he serves as Medical Director of the Geriatric Psychiatry and ECT Program, as well as the Behavioral Support Team.  Kiran has been passionate and committed to serving the elderly throughout his career. He is recognized nationally and internationally as a Founder of the subspecialty of Geriatric Psychiatry. He is the recipient of Outstanding Achievements in Geriatric Psychiatry in Canada award by the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry (CAGP). Kiran has served as President of the CAGP and the Board of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) for four years. Currently he serves on the OMA’s General Council and the OMA Health Policy Seniors Care Working Group. 

Dr. Mark Rapoport, MD
President, Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry

Dr. Mark Rapoport, MD, FRCP(C), is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, a clinical scientist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and the current President of the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry (CAGP).  He is an associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Geriatrics.  He founded the CAGP National Review Course in Geriatric Psychiatry in 2012, an annual event that won the 2014 Joint CPA-COPCE Award for the Most Outstanding Continuing Education Activity in Psychiatry in Canada.  He was the scientific co-chair for the 2009 Internaltional Psychogeriatric Association Congress in Montreal, Quebec.  He is a Fellow of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA), and won the 2014 CAGP Awar4d for Outstanding Contributions in Geriatric Psychiatry.  

Mary Schulz, M.S.W; R.S.W
Director, Information, Support Services and Education

Mary Schulz has been the Director, Information, Support Services and Education at the Alzheimer Society of Canada since 2006.  A Social Worker by background, she has spent her career in health care, primarily working with older adults and their families.  Mary's professional aim has remained constant for three decades:  to work with others to improve the experirence of living with dementia in Canada.

Beta App Development Team

A special note of appreciation goes out to the Fountain of Health™ Beta App Development team. This team volunteered their time and expertise over a two-year period to design and test The Wellness App prototype for frontline care.

They are: Dr. Roger Hamilton (design), Mr. David Newcombe (software/design), Mr. Callum Cassidy-Nolan (software), and Mr. Nolan Turnbull ( Beta App testing Co-ordinator).