HEARTS Research Team
Laetitia Satam
Pronunciation: Laetitia (La-tee-sha) Satam (sat-um)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Laetitia is a second-year Nutrition and Food Sciences student on Treaty 6, Métis homelands at the University of Alberta. Her passion for youth mental health advocacy has led to her sitting on the Board of Directors for Kids Help Phone and supporting a variety of mental health research teams, with a goal of making mental health care accessible for all Canadian youth.
Brianna Comeau
Pronunciation: Brianna (Bree-AH-Nah) Comeau (Kuh-MOH)
Pronouns: she/her
Brianna is a Master of Social Work student at Wilfrid Laurier University (soon to be graduating) who is interested in continuing to pursue a career in mental health counselling and research. She has worked for non-profit organizations, including one that provides supportive living environments for youth and adults who experience mental health difficulties, and disabilities.
Thyra Bui
Pronunciation: Thyra (Tie-rah) Bui
Pronouns: she/her
Thyra is an undergraduate student at McMaster University with a passion for counselling psychology. Curious and excited for research that prioritizes patient-oriented policies and healthcare.
Tony Todorova
Pronunciation: Tony Todorova (Toh-doh-roh-vah)
Pronouns: she/her
Tony brings over 5 years of qualitative and quantitative research in various areas related to mental health including systems neuroscience, psychiatric epidemiology, public health and bioethics. She is excited to co-create space with other dedicated researchers who want to see change in mental health service provision!
Abitha Suthakaran
Pronunciation: Abitha (AH-Bee-thuh) Suthakaran (Soothe-AH-kah-ran)
Pronouns: she/her
Abitha is passionate about improving mental health outcomes for marginalized communities, including people of colour, the neurodiverse population, and the 2SLGBTQ+ community. By leveraging her lived experiences, she hopes to improve the accessibility of mental health services for youth experiencing mood and anxiety issues, acknowledging intersectionality and cultural sensitivity.
Julien Quickstad
Pronunciation: Julien (Ju-lee-en) Quickstad (kwik-staad)
Pronouns: he/him/il
Julien is a 4th year Psychology student at York University’s bilingual campus, Glendon College. Dedicated to improving the outcomes of youth and men’s mental health, he has utilized his skills to support numerous mental health advisory boards and organizations. Julien intends to pursue a career in counselling.
Stacie Smith
Pronunciation: Stacie (STAY-see) Smith (SMIH-th)
Pronouns: she/her
Stacie is a Master's Student in Curriculum Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University, with a background in Kinesiology and Education. Her passion for working with youth has led her to be the Co-Executive Director of the Young Canadians Roundtable on Health and works at the YWCA Halifax as the Youth Programs Lead. She is passionate about youth mental health and youth engagement.
Ysabelle Tumaneng
Pronunciation: Ysabelle (Eeh-SAH-Bell) Tumaneng (Too-MAH-Neng)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Ysabelle, a recent University of British Columbia graduate with a Kinesiology degree, draws inspiration from her journey of seeking help and being diagnosed with severe anxiety during the pandemic. She's dedicated to improving mental health services, with a focus on BIPOC youth. Active in her university's ACAM Dialogues, she advocates for mental health awareness and anti-racism within BIPOC communities, committed to dismantling cultural barriers that hinder youth from accessing essential mental health care.
Rae Jardine
Pronunciation: Rae (Ra-eh) Jardine (Jar-dean)
Pronouns: she/they
Rae has enduring passions for health and changemaking with a background in Human Rights (St. Thomas University) and an M.A. in Global Development (Queen’s University). Her passion for meaningful youth engagement and her lived/living experiences led her to found the nonprofit SRHR Hubs where she serves as the Executive Director.
Kaiden Dalley
Pronunciation: Kaiden (Kay-den) Dalley (Dah-lee)
Pronouns: he/they
Kaiden recently graduated with a BSc (Hons) in behavioural neuroscience from Memorial University of Newfoundland. After navigating the system on his own journey, he is passionate about the accessibility of long-term mental healthcare and what that looks like from a holistic approach. He is hoping to bring experience and knowledge into medicine.
Tarin Karunagoda
Pronunciation: Coming Soon
Pronouns: Coming Soon
Coming soon
Mitchell Langford
Pronunciation: Mitchell Langford
Pronouns: he/she/they
Mitchell Langford 1994 He, they, she, asexual poly. ADHD( Anxiety Depression H.A.M D2). Plumbing, boilers, and heat pumps.
I’m kinda your everything person got my mind and hands on multiple skills and careers as hobbies beside the hard work I do for a clean paycheque. Many genres of friend groups from punk to prep.
Mohammad Qureshi
Pronunciation: Mohammad (Mo) Qureshi (Kuh-re-shee)
Pronouns: he/they
Mo is passionate about community research, and bringing the lived realities of QTBIPOC into research, healthcare, and policy. He has worked with street clinics, food rescue groups, and programming for newcomer immigrants. He is an aspiring artist, fruit enjoyer, and plant dad, currently finishing his degree in Life Sciences with a minor in Psychology and Indigenous studies.
Alyshah Pirwany
Pronunciation: Alyshah (uh-lee-shuh) Pirwany (pir-wah-nee)
Pronouns: she/her
Alyshah, a second-year Psychology student at the University of Alberta, champions mental health awareness. Following her own mental health journey, Alyshah began volunteering at local health clinics, advocating for mental health initiatives, and collaborating with community organizations. Alyshah is dedicated to breaking barriers and creating an inclusive future for all.
Brooke Allemang
Pronunciation: Brooke (Bruuk) Allemang (AH-luh-MANG)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Dr. Allemang a social worker and Research Fellow in Child Health Evaluative Sciences at SickKids Research Institute. She holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of Calgary which focused on the pediatric-adult transition readiness of youth with co-occurring chronic health and mental health conditions. Brooke is a passionate advocate for amplifying youth voices in health & mental health service delivery by partnering with youth with lived expertise in research & program development.