CIHR Summer Program in Aging 2025

About the Summer Program in Aging 2025

The Baycrest Academy for Research and Education is honoured to have been selected to host the Summer Program in Aging (SPA) from June 8 to 13, 2025 on our campus in Toronto, Ontario.

• Learning at Baycrest

  Baycrest is the largest provider of training and education programs in the care of the elderly in North America, extending internationally with a global telehealth program. Fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, Baycrest has an extensive clinical training program in geriatric care.
  
  Every year, nearly 1,500 students, trainees and other practitioners from more than 50 universities and colleges come to learn at Baycrest and experience the delivery of high-quality care alongside leading experts on one of the world’s most comprehensive campuses of care focused on aging and care of older adults.

• Research at Baycrest

   

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  The mission at Baycrest Academy for Research and Education (BARE) is to Revolutionize aging and brain health by discovering, assessing and mobilizing impactful knowledge through cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative education to enhance the lives of communities worldwide.  
  
  BARE’s Rotman Research Institute is a world-leading centre for the study of aging and brain function with a primary focus on aging and brain health, including Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
  
  Baycrest is home to the Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health and Wellness, the world’s first research-based community centre dedicated to reducing dementia risk and examining the benefits of personalized brain health programming for people aged 50+.
  
  Baycrest is also the scientific headquarters of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA), Canada's largest federally funded dementia research program.
  
  In addition, researchers and trainees at Baycrest have access to numerous state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG), electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and more.
• About Baycrest
  Baycrest is a global leader in geriatric residential living, healthcare, research, innovation and education, with a special focus on brain health and aging. We provide a unique continuum of care for older adults within a single campus, including independent living, assisted living, memory care living, long-term care and a post-acute hospital specializing in the care of older adults all within one campus. Our vision: A world where every older person lives with purpose, fulfilment and dignity. A key objective of our five-year strategic plan is to: Redefine the residential living experience for older persons.

Meaghan Adams, PT, PhD (she/her)

Manager, Simulation & Virtual Learning, Centre for Education & Knowledge Exchange in Aging, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education

Dr. Meaghan Adams is the Manager of Simulation and Virtual Learning at Baycrest’s Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging. She completed her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences and her Master’s of Science in Physiotherapy at Queen’s University, her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo, and a post-doctoral fellowship at York University and Toronto Rehab’s KITE Institute. She is a registered physiotherapist and an experienced researcher in the areas of brain health and injury, sensorimotor integration, and neurological rehabilitation. Dr. Adams holds appointments with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and the School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University.

Meaghan Adams, PT, PhD (she/her)

Manager, Simulation & Virtual Learning, Centre for Education & Knowledge Exchange in Aging, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education

Dr. Meaghan Adams is the Manager of Simulation and Virtual Learning at Baycrest’s Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging. She completed her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences and her Master’s of Science in Physiotherapy at Queen’s University, her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo, and a post-doctoral fellowship at York University and Toronto Rehab’s KITE Institute. She is a registered physiotherapist and an experienced researcher in the areas of brain health and injury, sensorimotor integration, and neurological rehabilitation. Dr. Adams holds appointments with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and the School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University.

Rosanne Aleong, MSc, PhD (she/her)

Executive Director, Research, Innovation, and Translation, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education & Director, Research, Innovation, and Translation, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation

Dr. Rosanne Aleong is the Executive Director of Research, Innovation, and Translation at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education (BARE). She also serves as the Director of Research, Innovation, and Translation at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI). She received her MSc and PhD in Neurological Sciences from McGill University, with her research focusing on inflammatory models of neurodegenerative disease; and body image and visual perception among adolescents and young adults. She has 20+ years of experience in neuroscience and brain health research across the lifespan.
 

In her current role with BARE and CABHI, she: 1) leads the Kunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied Research & Evaluation (KL-CARE), a support-and-services hub which enables healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, not-for-profit organizations, and industry in conducting foundational, applied and evaluative research as well as innovation implementation and evaluation; 2) co-leads the Research Training Centre which focuses on the technical, professional, and career development of research trainees; 3) supports strategic BARE and CABHI initiatives such as institutional funding opportunities, stakeholder relations, and community outreach; and 4) co-hosts and produces the CABHI Community of Innovation podcast and produces the Webby-nominated Defy Dementia podcast.

David Conn, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., FRCPC (he/him)

Geriatric Psychiatrist, Baycrest & Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto & Co-Chair, Canadian Coalition for Seniors Mental Health

Dr. David Conn is a Geriatric Psychiatrist at Baycrest and a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Until recently he served as the Executive Vice-President of Education and Chief Academic Officer at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education. Dr. Conn 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 is the co-editor of three textbooks including “Practical Psychiatry in the Long-Term Care Home: A Handbook for Staff”. He has received numerous awards including the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Award for Outstanding Contributions to Geriatric Psychiatry in Canada and a Distinguished Service Award from the International Psychogeriatric Association.

Alisa Grigorovich, PhD (she/her)

Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Brock University & Affiliate Scientist, KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network

Dr. Alisa Grigorovich is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University and an Affiliate Scientist at the KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network.  Her research program focuses on the interrelationship of leisure, aging and wellbeing, with particular attention to uncovering how inequality and social exclusion is perpetuated and maintained. A core aspect of her scholarship involves translation of research findings into arts-based and digital knowledge innovations to advance social inclusion of older adults and carers from historically excluded and marginalized groups. She is currently engaged in interdisciplinary and community-oriented research in two areas: 1) Technology to enhance wellbeing and quality of care; and 2) Leisure for human flourishing in dementia care.

Rosanna K. Olsen, PhD (she/her)

Senior Scientist, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education & Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto

Dr. Rosanna Kathleen Olsen is a Senior Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute (RRI), Baycrest Academy for Research and Education (BARE) and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Olsen holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, with a specialization in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford University. Her laboratory studies how human memory changes with advanced age and the brain regions involved in different types of memory. She also co-leads an international working group called the Hippocampal Subfields Group, which develops standardized neuroimaging analysis protocols. Dr. Olsen also co-leads the Neuroimaging Platform for COMPASS-ND (Phase III), the signature cohort study of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). In addition she serves as the Education Chair-Elect for the Organization for Human Brain Mapping. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Aging, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Alzheimer Society of Canada, and the EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND). At RRI/BARE, she is the faculty lead of the Research Training Centre. Please visit Dr. Olsen’s Google Scholar page to read more about her lab’s work.

Linda Truong, MA, PhD (she/her)

Manager, Research, Innovation, and Training Integration, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education

Dr. Linda Truong is the Manager of Research, Innovation, and Training Integration at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education (BARE). With a PhD in Psychological Science and postdoctoral training in applied research, she has conducted research across the spectrum in a range of settings, from basic research to innovation implementation - all focused on aging and brain health. She currently works on applied research and evaluation projects with the Kunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied Research & Evaluation (KL-CARE).
 
Dr. Truong is passionate about improving the experience of aging and has worked with companies and start-ups to accelerate impact through innovation. She co-leads the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) Science Collaborative to acquaint researchers with the innovation or industry ecosystem through interactive learning and training experiences. Her training approach extends to a postgraduate Clinical Research course that she teaches with engaging methods, such as the use of virtual reality and simulation.
 
Dr. Truong was previously a past SPA trainee and is excited to welcome SPA 2025 researchers to Baycrest to meet the caring staff and clients. She feels privileged to participate again in SPA and to craft a meaningful and impactful SPA experience.

Lillian Hung, RN, PhD (she/her)

Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Senior Care, Nursing, University of British Columbia

Dr. Lillian Hung is the founder and head of IDEA lab (Innovation in Dementia & Aging). Her research examines how technology and environment impact the care experiences of persons with dementia. She has expertise in patient-oriented research and knowledge translation. She is committed to facilitating connectivity between academia and practice, working collaboratively with interprofessional practitioners to find practical solutions to address pressing problems in care settings.

Karen Li, PhD (she/her)

Professor, Department of Psychology and Graduate Program Director (MA), Concordia University

Dr. Karen Li is a Professor of Psychology at Concordia University and Director of the Laboratory for Adult Development and Cognitive Aging. Dr. Li completed her PhD at the University of Toronto, followed by post- doctoral fellowships at Duke University and the Max Planck Institute for Lifespan Development.
 
Her research focuses on the normative aging of cognitive processes and executive functions. She has published widely on the effects of cognitive load on gait and posture (i.e., cognitive-motor multitasking). Her team was among the first to show that seated cognitive (dual-task) training could benefit balance and mobility in healthy older adults. She also examines combined aerobic exercise and cognitive training. Additionally, her work addresses the negative effects of age-related hearing loss on cognition, mobility, and falls risk. She leads a multidisciplinary team to examine cognitive training benefits on cognitive-motor multitasking with middle-aged and older adults, and older adult hearing aid users. This work addresses the issues of early intervention in midlife and the impact of cognitive training in addition to standard audiological care. She is a member of Concordia’s School of Health, the Centre for Research in Human Development, and the engAGE Centre for Research on Aging.

Kiira Poerschke (she/her)

Interprofessional Educator, Simulation and Virtual Learning, Centre for Education & Knowledge Exchange in Aging, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education

Kiira Poerschke is an accomplished Interprofessional Educator at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, specializing in Simulation and Virtual Learning. She launched her geriatrics career as a Recreation Therapist, earning her Honours Bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo, followed by a Master’s in Gerontology from Charles Sturt University. With over twenty years of expertise across long-term care, community, and retirement settings, she has developed a broad, international perspective, having worked in Sydney, Australia, and trained clinical professionals in Bangkok, Thailand. Her commitment to continuous professional development has expanded her skills in adult learning, curriculum design, project management, and interprofessional education (IPE).

Tyler Redublo, MHSc, HBSc (he/him)

Innovation Analyst, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI)

Tyler "Ty" Redublo is an Innovation Analyst at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), where he supports AgeTech innovators to develop, validate, and scale their solutions to improve the lives of older persons and caregivers. Ty also has a background in translational research; particularly in mental health recovery, dementia caregiving, and co-design. Finally, he is also a caregiver himself for his grandmother Alicia, who lives with Alzheimer's.

Adriana Shnall, PhD, MSW, RSW (she/her)

Program Director of the Koschitzky Centre for Innovations in Family Caregiving, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education

Dr. Adriana Shnall is the Program Director of the Koschitzky Centre for Innovations in Family Caregiving at Baycrest. With over 30 years of clinical experience, she has worked extensively with older adults and their families across community services, long-term care, and inpatient settings. Her commitment to gerontology has earned her awards, including the Baycrest Outstanding Innovations Award and the Stephen Herbert Award for Excellence in Education.
 
An Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, Dr. Shnall teaches graduate courses on caregiving, aging, and health at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and the Institute for Life Course and Aging. She is actively involved in advocacy and policy work, serving on the Board of Directors for the Petro Canada CareMakers Foundation and the Ontario Caregiver Coalition, while contributing to local, provincial, and national caregiver initiatives.
 
A respected speaker, Dr. Shnall frequently presents on family caregiving, aging, and dementia, drawing from her expertise in clinical practice, education, research, and leadership. She is dedicated to developing innovative programs and influencing policy to better support caregivers and older adults. Through her work, she continues to shape the future of aging and dementia care, ensuring meaningful impact at both the individual and systemic levels.

Susan Vandermorris, PhD, C. Psych (she/her)

Clinical Neuropsychologist, Neuropsychology and Cognitive Health, Baycrest

Dr. Susan Vandermorris is a Psychologist in the Neuropsychology and Cognitive Health Program at Baycrest. She received her Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology from the University of Victoria, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at the Rotman Research Institute and the University of Toronto. She is a grateful alumni of CIHR SPA 2010. Her clinical work involves neuropsychological assessment for differential diagnosis of geriatric cognitive disorders and delivery of a memory intervention program for healthy older adults.  Her research involves applications of neuropsychological assessment and intervention to improve diagnostic accuracy and enhance daily functioning.

Walter Wittich, PhD, FAAO, CLVT (he/him)

Associate Professor, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal - Professeur agrégé, École d’optométrie, Université de Montréal

Dr. Walter Wittich, an Associate Professor at the School of Optometry at the University of Montreal in Quebec, Canada, is dedicated to researching the rehabilitation of older adults facing both vision and hearing loss. With a background in Psychology (Master’s from Concordia University) and Visual Neuroscience (PhD from McGill University), he further specialized in audiology during a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Montreal. Originally focused on age-related vision loss, Dr. Wittich now explores dual sensory impairment and acquired deafblindness. His research spans basic sensory science, medical aspects, psychosocial factors, and rehabilitation approaches to sensory loss. He holds the distinction of being the inaugural chair of the Deafblind International Research Network, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and Quebec’s first Certified Low Vision Therapist.
 
Walter Wittich, professeur agrégé à l'École d'optométrie de l'Université de Montréal (Québec, Canada), se consacre à la recherche sur la réadaptation des personnes âgées confrontées à la fois à une perte de vision et d'audition. Avec une formation en psychologie (maîtrise de l'Université Concordia) et en neurosciences visuelles (doctorat de l'Université McGill), il s'est spécialisé en audiologie lors d'un stage postdoctoral à l'Université de Montréal. D'abord concentré sur la perte de vision liée à l'âge, le professeur Wittich explore maintenant la double déficience sensorielle et la surdicécité acquise. Ses recherches portent sur la science sensorielle fondamentale, les aspects médicaux, les facteurs psychosociaux et les approches de réadaptation de la perte sensorielle. Il a la particularité d'être le premier président du réseau de recherche de Deafblind International, d'être membre de l'American Academy of Optometry et d'être le premier thérapeute certifié en basse vision du Québec.