Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychology - Rural and Remote Memory Clinic (RRMC) http://www.cchsa-ccssma.usask.ca/ruraldementiacare/rrmc.html

Associate Member, Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, Medicine

Remote Dementia Care - https://cchsa-ccssma.usask.ca/ruraldementiacare/remote/index.php

co-PI - Team 15 Rural - RRMCi https://bit.ly/memoryclinic
 Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) http://ccna-ccnv.ca/en/research/theme-3/

Co-I - Rural Dementia Action Research (RaDAR) team http://www.cchsa-ccssma.usask.ca/ruraldementiacare/investigators.html

PI - VideoTherapy Analysis Laboratory (ViTAL) http://ssrl.usask.ca/vital/

Member - Psychology Working Group - Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) https://www.clsa-elcv.ca/

Publications since 2022

Kosteniuk, J., Osman, B. A., Osman, M., Quail, J., Islam, N., O’Connell, M. E., Kirk, A., Stewart, N., Karunanayake, C., & Morgan, D. (2024). Rural-urban differences in use of health services before and after dementia diagnosis: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Health Services Research, 24(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10817-3

Jones, A., Ali, M.U., Kenny, M., Mayhew, A., Mokashi, V., He, H., Lin, S., Yavari, E., Paik, K., Subramanian, D., Dydynsky, R., Aryal, K., Correia, R.H., Dash, D., Manis, D.R., O’Connell, M. E., Liu-Ambrose, T., Taler, V., McMillan, J.M., Hogan, D.B., Kirkland, S., Costa, A.P., Wolfson, C., Raina, P., & Griffith L. (2024). Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors for Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1159/000536643

Bethell, J., Andrew, M. K., Hothi, S., Mick, P., Morgan, D., O'Connell, M. E., Phillips, N. A., Stewart, S., Walker, J. D., Wittich, W., & McGilton, K. (2023). Does social connection mediate the association between neuroticism and cognition? Cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Aging & Mental Health, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2023.2252369

Mayhew, A. J., Hogan, D., Raina, P., Wolfson, C., Costa, A. P., Jones, A., Kirkland, S., O'Connell, M. E., Taler, V., Smith, E. E., Liu-Ambrose, T., Ma, J., Thompson, M., Wu, C., Chertkow, H., Griffith, L. E., & CLSA Memory Study Working Group (2023). Protocol for validating an algorithm to identify neurocognitive disorders in Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging participants: an observational study. BMJ Open, 13(11), e073027. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073027

O’Connell, M. E., Kadlec, H., Griffith, L. E., Wolfson, C., Maimon, G., Taler, V., Kirkland, S., & Raina, P. (2023). Cognitive impairment indicator for the neuropsychological test batteries in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging: Definition and evidence for validity. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, 15, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-023-01317-3

Kosteniuk, J. G., Morgan, D. G., Osman, B. A., Islam, N., O'Connell, M. E., Kirk, A., Quail, J. M., & Osman, M. (2023). Utilization of health services before and after diagnosis in a specialist rural and remote memory clinic. Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 26(3), 350–363. https://doi.org/10.5770/cgj.26.653

Blackberry, I., Rasekaba, T., Morgan, D., Royals, K., Greenhill, J., Perkins, D., O’Connell, M. E., Hamiduzzaman, M., Winbolt, M., Robinson, A., Davis, H., & Wilding, C. (2023). Virtual dementia-friendly communities (Verily Connect) stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial: Improving dementia caregiver wellbeing in rural Australia. Geriatrics, 8(5), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics8050085

Cai, S., Kirk, A., Karunanayake, C., O’Connell, M. E., & Morgan, D. (2023). Can depressive symptomatology at diagnosis predict cognitive and functional decline over 1 year in rural Canadian patients with dementia? Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 37(3), 179-183, https://doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0000000000000574

Kosteniuk, J., Morgan, D., Elliot, V., Bayly, M., Froehlich Chow, A., Boden, C., & O'Connell, M. E. (2023). Factors identified as barriers or facilitators to EMR/EHR based interprofessional primary care: a scoping review. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 1–12. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2023.2204890

Mogic, L., Rutter, E.C., Tyas, S. L., Maxwell, C. J., O’Connell, M. E., & Oremus, M. (2023). Functional social support and cognitive function in middle- and older-aged adults: a systematic review of cross-sectional and cohort studies. Systematic Reviews, 12(86), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02251-z

Joundi, R., O’Connell, M. E., Patten, S., & Smith, E. (2023). Mediation of Post-Stroke Function by Cognition in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1017/cjn.2023.6

Grewal, K. S., Gowda-Sookochoff, R., Kirk, A., Morgan, D., & O’Connell, M. E. (online ahead of print). Base rates of low neuropsychological test scores in older adults with subjective cognitive impairment: Findings from a tertiary memory clinic. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult. https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2023.2208699

Bacsu, J. D., Andrews, M., Azizi, M., Berger, C., Cammer, A., Chasteen, A. L., Fraser, S., Green, S., Grewal, K. S., Gowda-Sookochoff, R., Mah, J. C., McGilton, K. S., Middleton, L., Nanson, K., Spiteri, R. J., Tang, Y., & O’Connell, M. E. (2023). Using Twitter to understand COVID-19 vaccine-related ageism during the pandemic. The Gerontologist, gnad061. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad061

Bacsu, J. D., Kortzman, A., Fraser, S., Chasteen, A., McDonald, J., & O’Connell, M. E. (2023).  Understanding intersectional ageism and stigma of dementia: A systematic scoping review protocol. JMIR Research Protocols, 12, e46093, https://doi.org/10.2196/46093

Scerbe, A., O’Connell, M. E., Astell, A., Morgan, D., Kosteniuk, J., Panyavin, I., DesRoches, A., & Webster, C. (2023). Digital tools for delivery of dementia education for caregivers of persons with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS One, 18(5), e0283600. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283600

O’Connell, M. E., Panyavin, I., Bourque Bearskin, L., Walker, J., & Bourassa, C. (2022). Neuropsychological assessment with Indigenous Peoples in Saskatchewan: A lesson in cultural humility. In F. Irani (Ed.), Handbook of cultural diversity in neuropsychological assessment: Developing understanding through global case studies (pp. 119-133). Routledge. *since the time of this work C. Bourassa was found to be a settler who only self-identified as an Indigenous Person but her contribution to this work was minimal and does not diminish its value.

Kosteniuk J., Acan Osman, B., Osman, M., Quail, J., Islam, N., O’Connell M. E., Kirk, A., Stewart, N., & Morgan D. (2022). Health service use before and after dementia diagnosis: A retrospective matched case-control study. BMJ Open, 12(11), e067363. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067363

Bacsu, J., Cammer, A., Ahmadi, S., Azizi, M., Grewal, K. S., Green, S., Berger, C., Gowda-Sookochoff, R., Knight, S., Spiteri, R. J., & O'Connell, M. E. (2022). Examining the Twitter discourse on dementia during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Canada: Infodemiology study. JMIR Formative Research, 6(10), e40049. https://doi.org/10.2196/40049

Bacsu J., O'Connell, M.E., Cammer, A., Ahmadi, S., Berger, C., Azizi, M., Gowda-Sookochoff, R., Grewal, K. S., Green, S., Knight, S., & Spiteri, R.J. (2022). Examining the evolving COVID-19 impact on people with dementia from the perspective of family and friends. JMIR Aging, 5(2), e38363. https://doi.org/10.2196/38363

Morgan, D., Kosteniuk, J., O'Connell, M. E., Stewart, N. J., Kirk, A., Cammer, A., Dal Bello-Haas, V., Minish, D. P., Elliot, V., Bayly, M., Froehlich Chow, A., Bracken, J., Parrott, E., & Bronner, T. (2022). A stakeholder engagement strategy for an ongoing research program in rural dementia care: Stakeholder and researcher perspectives. PLOS ONE, 17(9), e0274769. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274769

Quan, S., Menec, V., O’Connell, M. E., Cloutier, D., Newall, N., Tate, R., & St. John, P. (2022). Prevalence of obesity and elevated body mass index along a progression of rurality: A cross-sectional study – The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine, 27(4), 148-157. https://doi.org/10.4103/cjrm.cjrm_55_21

Kosteniuk, J. G., Morgan, D., O’Connell, M. E., Seitz, D., Elliott, V., Bayly, M., Cameron, C., & Froehlich Chow, A. (2022). Dementia-related continuing education for interprofessional primary health care: Perceptions and needs of webinar participants. Primary Healthcare Research and Development, 23, e32. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1463423622000226

Wilding, C., Morgan, D., Greenhill, J., Perkins, D., O’Connell, M. E., Bauer, M., Farmer, J., Morley, C., & Blackberry, I. (2022). Web-based technologies to support carers of people living with dementia: Protocol for a mixed-methods stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 11(5), e33203.

Bacsu, J. D. R., O’Connell, M. E., & Wighton, M. B. (2022). Improving the health equity and the human rights of Canadians with dementia through a social determinants approach: A call to action in the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 113(2), 204-208. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-022-00618-8

Peacock, S., Fletcher, S., Gibson, K., MacRae, R., Jack-Waugh, A., Haase, K., Bally, J., Duggleby, W., Hall, S., Holtslander, L., McAiney, C., Michael, J., Morgan, D., O'Connell, M. E., Ploeg, J., Rohatinsky, N., Thompson, G., & Vedel, I. (2022). Championing dementia education: Adapting an effective Scottish dementia education programme for Canadian acute health care providers. Canadian Journal on Aging, 42(2). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0714980822000484

Bacsu, J., Fraser, S., Chasteen, A. L., Cammer, A., Grewal, K. S., Bechard, L. E., Bethell, J., Green, S., McGilton, K. S., Morgan, D., O’Rourke, H. M., Poole, L., Spiteri, R. J., & O’Connell, M. E. (2022). Using Twitter to examine stigma against people with dementia during COVID-19: Infodemiology study. JMIR Aging, 5(1), e35677. https://doi.org/10.2196/35677

Vonk, J. M. J., Gross, A. L., Zammit, A. R., Bertola, L., Avila., J., Jutten, R., Gaynor, L., Suemoto, C., Kobayashi, L. C., O’Connell., M. E., Elugbadebo, O., Amofsa Sr, P. A., Staffaroni, A., Arce Reteria, M., Turney, I. C., Jones, R. N., Manly, J. L., Lee, J., & Zahodne, L. B. (2022). Cross-national harmonization of cognitive measures across the HRS HCAP (USA) and LASI-DAD (India). PLOS ONE, 17(2), e0264166. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264166

Morgan, D., Kosteniuk, J., O'Connell, M. E., Seitz, D., Elliot, V., Bayly, M., Froehlich Chow, A., & Cameron, C. (2022). Factors influencing sustainability and scale-up of rural primary healthcare memory clinics: Perspectives of clinic team members. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 148. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07550-0

Stoliker, B. E., Kerodal, A. G., Jewell, L. M., Brown, K., Kent-Wilkinson, A., Peacock, S., O’Connell, M. E., & Wormith, J. S. (2022). Older people in custody in a forensic psychiatric facility, prevalence of dementia, and community reintegration needs: An exploratory analysis. Health and Justice, 10(3), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-022-00168-8

Active Grants

Kosteniuk, J. (PI), O’Connell, M. E., Cammer, A., Seitz, D., Kirk, A., Zorn, C., Klapak, D., Wiley, M., Acan Osman, B. (Co-Is). (July 2024-June 2027). Exploring opportunities to increase rural primary care readiness for dementia care. $149,909 CAD. Establishment Grant, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF). Kuspinar, A., Mayhew, A. (Co-PIs), Beauchamp, M., Griffith, L., Lang, J., O’Connell, M. E., Perez, R., Raina, P. (Co-Is). (2023-2024). Development and validation of a composite measure of physical function using a battery of performance-based measures: A longitudinal analyses of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. $70,000 (CAD). Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

St. John, P. D. (NPI), Brown, C., Cloutier, D., Griffith, L., Newall, N., O’Connell, M. E., Tate, R. (Co-Is). (2023-2024). Health Status of Rural Canadians 2.0. $67,814 (CAD). Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Cossette, B., Griffith, L. E., & Nicholson, K. (Co-PIs), Beauchamp, M., Chiu, Y., Dolovich, L., Kouladjian O’Donnell, L., Lebel, K., Lee, J., Levasseur, M., Mangin, D., Mayhew, A., O’Connell, M. E., Sirois, C., Stranges, S. (Co-Is). (2023-2024). Anticholinergic and sedative medications use in the Canadian population. $69,980 (CAD). Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Chertkow, H. (NPI), Co-Is include 37 researchers from across Canada, including O’Connell, M. E. (2023-2028). Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging: Application for Phase III CCNA Operations Centre. $20,555,200 (CAD). Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging, Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).

O’Connell, M. E., Walker, J. (Co-PIs), Middleton, L., Roach, P. (Co-Is), Sivananthan, S. (Knowledge User), Mercieca, E., Caporossi, T., Spadafora, C. (Collaborators). (November 1, 2023 – October 31, 2026). Supporting Indigenous Caregivers: Barriers and facilitators to implementing culturally safe dementia caregiver support groups with Indigenous communities and local Alzheimer Societies. $748,085 (CAD). Operating Grant: Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

McAiney, C., Middleton, L. (Co-PIs), Heibein, W. (Principal Knowledge User), Bethell, J., Keller, H., Liu-Ambrose, T., O'Connell, M. E., You, M-L. (Co-Is). Thelker, C., Norman, M., Corepal, R. (Collaborators). (November 1, 2023 - October 31, 2024). Co-creating a research plan to promote wellbeing of people living with dementia and their care partners. $25,000 (CAD). Planning and Dissemination Grants - Institute Community Support, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

O’Rourke, H. M. (NPI), Hoben, M., Peacock, S. (PIs), Bethell, J., Boscart, V., Chamberlain, S., Cranley, L., Ghosh, S., Hopper, T., McGilton, K., O’Connell, M. E. (Co-Is), Deobald, V., Duncan, D., Eager, C., Friesen, S., Huhn, A., Maisey, S., Michael, J., Peck, S., Sand, A. (Collaborators). (2023-2024) Connecting today to combat social isolation and loneliness: A pragmatic cluster RCT of a remote visiting program for care home residents living with Dementia. $100,000 (CAD). Project Grant Patient-Oriented Research: Early-Career Investigator Priority Announcement, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Anand, S. S. (NPI), Friedrich, M. G. (PI), Azab, S., Bangdiwala, S. I., Britz-Mckibbin, P., Brook, J. R., De Souza, R. J., Dehghan, M., Joundi, R., Kandasamy, S., Larose, E., Lear, S. A., Lee, D. S., Luu, J. M., Moody, A. R., O'Connell, M. E., Paré, G., Pigeyre, M., & Smith, E. E. (Co-Is). (2023-2028). Canadian Alliance of Healthy Hearts and Minds: Dissecting the Pathways Linking Ectopic Adipose Tissue to Cognitive Dysfunction. $1,617,976 (CAD). Project Grant, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Cammer, A. (PI), Jeffery, B., Parrott, E., O’Connell, M. E., & Cook, S. (2023-2024). The Cognitive Kitchen: An evidence-based nutrition and socialization program for rural caregiver support. $49,509 (CAD). Innovation Grant, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF).

Kent-Wilkinson, A. (PI), Lagimodiere, K. (Co-PI), Jewel, L., Stoliker, B., Kerodal, A., O’Connell, M. E., Peacock, S., & Mela, M. (2023-2025). Dementia screening and diagnosis for older persons in custody at the Regional Psychiatric Centre. $134,827 (CAD). Impact Grant, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF)/Alzheimer Society of SK.

O’Connell, M. E., Michael, J., Marcinkiw, K., Peacock, S, & Cammer, A. (2023-2025). Increasing capacity of Alzheimer Society of SK care partner support group facilitators in virtual care and interpersonal therapy: The CCAPS Project. $148,953.40 (CAD). Impact Grant, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF)/Alzheimer Society of SK.

Raina, P., & (Co-PIs) Wolfson, C., Kirkland, S., Balion, CM., Griffith, L., Liu-Ambrose, T., Smith, E., Surette, M., & (Co-Is) Hogan, D., Menec, V., Taler, V., Bartha, R., Duchesne, S., Noseworthy, M., Hoge, R., Descoteaux, M., MacKay, A., Tam, R., Lim, A., Beauchamp, M., McIlroy, W.,  O’Connell, M. E., Thompson, M., Wu, C., McNicholas, P., Corbeil, J., Cossette, B., Costa, A. (2021-2028). CLSA Healthy Brains, Healthy Aging Initiative. $12,240,322 (CAD). Weston Family Foundation Funding.

Vedel, I., & (co-PI) Arsenault-Lapierre, G., & (Co-Is) Gaid, B., Bergman, H., Bethell, J., Bronskill, S., Bui, T., Coté, L., Couturier, Y., Draper, P., Dumaresq, D., Eagleson, H., Fernandez Loughlin, R., Gagliardi, A., Godard-Sebillotte, C., Henein, M., Khanassov, V., Kosteniuk, J., Labelle, P., Lea, P., Maclagan, L., McAiney, C., Miskucza, K., Morgan, D., Myers Barnette, K., O’Connell, M. E., O’Connor, D., Pasquin, J., Peters, J., Quail, J., Rojas-Rozo, L., Seitz, D., Sivananthan, S., Smith, E., Sourial, N., Trépanier, T., Wighton, M. B., Wilchesky, M. (2021-2024). Understanding and improving the care of men and women with dementia across four Canadian provinces during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. $90,000 (CAD). Women, Sex, Gender & Dementia (WSGD) program from Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) grant.

Smith, E. (PI), Badhwar, A., Mazerolle, R., Stefanoivic, B (Co-PIS). Co-Is include 73 researchers from across Canada, including O’Connell, M. E. (2022-2024) Vascular Cognitive Impairment Health Research Training (VAST) Platform. $2,400,000 (CAD). Health Research Training Platform (HRTP), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Gagnon, M., Alberts, N., Gordon, J., Mandryk, R., O'Connell, M. E., Risling, T., Stinson, J., & Patient Partner Smolyakova, A. M. Development and pilot evaluation of a mindfulness smartphone app for adolescents with dysmenorrhea. CIHR ECIs in Maternal, Reproductive, Child & Youth Health Operating Grant, 2020. 2021-2024. $184,168 (CAD).

Raina, P. (NPI), Wolfson C., Kirkland, S. (Co-PIs), Hofer, S., Hogan, D., Krigolson, O., Lathrop, G., Liu-Ambrose, T., MacDonald, M., Menec, V., Wishart, D., Griffith, L., Taler, V., Wister, A., Cossette, B., Richards, B., Kobor, M., Balion, C., Pare, G., Wilson, J., Xia, J., O’Connell, M. E., Smith, E., Vrkljan, B., Beauchamp, M., Dumas, M., Quesnel-Vallee, A., & McGrail, K. Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA): A Platform for Interdisciplinary Research. Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), 2021-2026, $9,578,643.

NPIs Raina, P., Griffith, L., Costa, A., & (Co-PIs) Wolfson, C., Kirkland, S., Hogan, D., Smith, E., O’Connell, M. E., Taler, V., & (Co-Is) Cossette, B., Hofer, S., Liu-Ambrose, T., Menec, V., Mugford, G., Wister, A., Wu, C., Thompson, M. Ascertaining Dementia and Surveillance of Risk Factors in the CLSA. Public Health Agency of Canada. 2020-2024. $999,526.

PhD Supervision

Meghan Flath - Meghan is investigating use of pet therapy/pet sharing as a method for social inclusion and combatting loneliness for older adults including those with MCI or dementia. She held a CIHR MA award ($17,500 for 2018-2019) and she currently holds a SSHRC doctoral award ($60,000 for 2019-2022).

Karl Grewal - Karl entered the graduate program in September 2018 and is focusing on intraindividual variation in neuropsychological performance. He held a CIHR MA award ($17,500 for 2017-2018) and he is currently funded as part of CCNA. His PhD work is focused on augmentation of remote cognitive rehabilitation with use of in-home technology. What will be specifically examined is if remote cognitive rehabilitation can be integrated with off-the-shelf technology to help people living with dementia improve their quality of life. This will be done as a series of case studies, to allow maximal attention to individual needs and intervention fidelity.

August Kortzman - August entered the graduate program in September 2017. He held a CIHR MA award ($17,500 for 2017-2018) and a University of Saskatchewan Dean’s fellowship ($66,000 for 2017-2020). He is currently funded by Dr. Morgan’s CIHR Foundation Grant to the RaDAR team. He is currently working on a project on a social network intervention for caregivers of persons with dementia for his dissertation beginning with a systematic review of social network interventions across all populations. He has a manuscript under review on measurement of caregiver distress, and is collecting data for a project on caregivers of persons with young onset dementias.

Jake Ursenbach - Jake is exploring computerized cognitive testing with algorithmic interpretations as one method of remote case based rural primary care provider support as part of REmote Specialist-to-Primary care support Enriched Care through Technology (RESPECT). He held a University of Saskatchewan Dean’s fellowship ($66,000 for 2017-2020). He held a CIHR MA award ($17,500 for 2017-2018). His manuscript on an interpretive algorithm for a computerized cognitive test is under review, he is conducting a systematic review of remote neuropsychological assessment measures as part of his dissertation, he has an additional manuscript on the measurement properties of a quality of life measure in caregivers, and he is and examining the psychometric properties of several psychological scales using data collected from Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Benjamin Gould - Ben is exploring user needs for technology to support aging well in First Nations communities in PEI. For this he held a University of Saskatchewan Dean’s fellowship ($66,000 2015-2018) and doctoral support from AGE-WELL (AGE-WELL a Networks Centre of Excellence for $11,000/year (2015-2018). Ben's publications are listed in the publications section, and he is currently working with communities in PEI exploring mental wellness needs and how technology might address unmet mental wellness needs in a culturally-safe manner. In addition he is working on a project detailing community-engagement for Indigenous research from the perspective of a community member with one First Nations community but as an outsider with another First Nations community.

Completed PhD Supervision

Andrea Scerbe - Andrea explored technology-based methods for remotely delivering dementia education to rural primary care providers, as part of REmote Specialist-to-Primary care support Enriched Care through Technology (RESPECT). She held a fellowship from the Team 15of the CCNA of $20,000/year (2016-2019) and a CCHSA Founding Chair Award.

Camille Branger - Camille explored positive experiences reported by informal caregivers of persons with dementia using a novel mixed meta integration approach with a subsequent manuscript on case studies. For this work, Camille held an Alzheimer Society of Canada Doctoral Award worth $66,000 (2015-2018). She completed her predoctoral residency in Calgary at Alberta Health Services (2018-2019). Camille's publications are listed in the publications section. Camille is currently in private practice in clinical psychology and neuropsychology Edmonton, Alberta.

Rachel Burton - Rachel investigated the use of cognitive rehabilitation to improve the everyday function of individuals with early stage Alzheimer's Disease. She studied the feasibility of delivering cognitive rehabilitation to families in rural and remote areas using telehealth videoconferencing. She also examined neuropsychological predictors of activities of daily living. For this work, Rachel held an Alzheimer Society of Canada Doctoral award worth $66,000 (2012-2015). Rachel completed her pre-doctoral residency in clinical psychology at The Ottawa Hospital (2015-2016), and currently holds a position as a clinical psychologist in Saskatoon. Rachel's publications are listed in the publications section.

Joe Enright - Joe researched the use of Reminiscence Therapy as a potential intervention to help reduce burden experienced by family caregivers of persons with dementia. He evaluated reminiscence with caregivers, and also adaptation of the program for delivery through telehealth videoconferencing. He also examined identity theory, intimacy, caregiver burden and the function of reminiscence. For this work, Joe has held a PHARE fellowship worth $44,000 (2013-2015) and a TVN (a NCE) Fellowship worth $100,000 (2014-2016). Joe completed his pre-doctoral residency in the adult neuropsychology stream at London Health Sciences Consortium (LHSC; 2015-2016), and a post-doc in clinical neuropsychology at LHSC, and he is currently in private practice in clinical neuropsychology. Joe's publications are listed in the publications section.

Completed Post-Doctorate Supervision

Dr. Juanita Bacsu – COVID and dementia projects, Twitter stigma projects. Dr. Bacsu is a CRC Tier II in a tenure-track faculty position at Thompson Rivers University.

Dr. Ivan Panyavin – applied research in remote dementia care. 

Clinical Supervision – No current practicum students, but Dr. O’Connell has supervised 28 practicum placements since her appointment in 2008.

Undergraduate Level.

Staff supervision

Research Coordinator - Shoshana Green has been part of the team since September 2020, and manages general operations of the O’Connell lab as well as numerous other items. She manages schedules and timelines for various components of the O’Connell lab and has a key collaborative role in research fund monitoring and maintenance. Shoshana has an instrumental role in coordinating the functions of the lab and is a key liaison on the behalf of Dr. O’Connell.

Aging Alzheimer Disease Dementia Frontotemporal Dementia Health Memory Neuropsychology Psychometrics Rural Technology Telemedicine

Clinical neuropsychology assessment and interventions. Clinical and research emphasis on individuals and families struggling with a dementia diagnosis. Current programs of research include neuropsychological measurement relevant to dementia and evaluation of telehealth for caregiver support, exercise interventions, and cognitive rehabilitation.

PhD University of Victoria, Clinical Neuropsychology Stream