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. Beverley Cassidy, MD, FRCP(C)

Assistant Professor in Geriatric Psychiatry, 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 Optimal Aging 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. 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, and 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. David Conn, MD

VP Education, Baycrest 
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. Cindy Grief, MD

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

Dr. Michael Vallis, PhD

Founder, Behavioural Change Institute, Canada 
Dr. Vallis, PhD is a registered health psychologist practicing at the Capital Health, Halifax, and cross-appointed to Dalhousie University as Associate Professor in Family Medicine and Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor in Psychology and Health and Human Performance. His expertise in adult health psychology, withg an emphasis on diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular risk and gastroenterology. He developed the Behaviour Change Institute, a training program for lifestyle counselling skills for physicians, nurses, dietitians and other healthcare providers, and he supervises research on motivation, behavioural change and adaptation to chronic disease. He was recently awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Government of Canada on the recommendation of the Diabetes.

Claire Checkland

Director, Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health 
Claire Checkland has been working with national, not-for-profit health organizations for approximately 20 years. She began her career in health advocacy and policy analysis in the HIV/AIDS field in the 1990s and has since done similar work at the Canadian Cancer Society, Mental Health Commission of Canada and most recently as a private contractor for smaller charities in need of shorter-term support. She began working with the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health as a contractor in 2015, becoming their full-time Executive Director in May 2017. Claire has a passion for ensuring that the mental health and wellbeing of older adults is recognized as a priority across health and social systems in Canada.