Meet the Women's Health Experts:
EPISODE ONE
Dr. Cathy Craven
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Dr. Cathy Craven is the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute/University of Toronto Chair in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation, Professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program and Senior Scientist at the KITE Research Institute within University Health Network. She has clinical and research expertise in health services and medical rehabilitation after SCI. Her research redefines patients’ experiences with health conditions after SCI, helping them avoid or better manage fracture. She has published over 200 articles on related topics as a primary investigator.
(ORCID 0000-0001-8234-6803) www.cravenlab.ca @drcathycraven
EPISODE TWO
Dr. Iliana Lega
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Dr. Iliana Lega is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at University of Toronto, a Staff Physician in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Women’s College Hospital (WCH) and a Clinician Scientist at Women’s College Research Institute. She is the Medical Lead for the Reproductive Endocrinology Program at WCH where she overseas clinical and research activities for medically complex patients with menopause. Dr. Lega has more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and holds funding from the Canadian Institute of Health Research and the Canadian Menopause Society. She was recently awarded the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM) New Investigator Award. Dr. Lega is passionate about improving the care of women as they transition through and beyond menopause.
EPISODE THREE
Marynell Laguna
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​Marynell is a Nurse Practitioner at the University Health Network’s Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – Lyndhurst Centre, with over 16 years of experience caring for individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). With a clinical background in spine and orthopedic surgery nursing and SCI rehabilitation, she has developed a strong foundation in managing complex and chronic health needs with a focus on patient-centered, collaborative care.
She currently leads UHN’s first nurse practitioner-led outpatient clinics for Pelvic Health and Skin and Wound Care. These programs were created to better support the specialized needs of people with SCI, including challenges related to chronic wounds and pelvic health—areas that are often under-addressed in traditional care models.
Marynell holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from McMaster University, a Master of Nursing (MN), and a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate (NP-PHC) from Toronto Metropolitan University. She recently completed the Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (NSWOC) program to further strengthen her expertise in wound care.
She remains committed to improving outcomes and access to care for individuals living with spinal cord injuries.
Lisa Beck
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​Lisa A. Beck MS, APRN, CNS, CRRN is Assistant Professor of Nursing, College of Medicine Mayo Clinic. She is a board-certified Clinical Nurse Specialist Provider in the Spinal Cord Injury Program at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN with a focus on SCI clinical care, education and research. She is a contributing author of “Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with Spinal Cord Injury” and the video “Feeling Your Way: Relationships and Sexuality after Spinal Cord Injury.” She has presented and published a variety of topics related to SCI. She is involved in the American Spinal Injury Association as chair of the Outreach Committee, (co-chair of the former Primary Care Committee) and member of the Program Committee. She was invited editor of Topic in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation journal; a two-part issue related to primary care providers. Ms. Beck’s involvement in the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP), includes, current program committee chair, Past President of the organization, Past President of the Nursing Section, past Secretary of the Governance Board for ASCIP, and a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. She is a member of the Steering Committee of the Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine and task force member for the revision of the Autonomic Dysreflexia and Dysfunction Clinical Practice Guideline. She is a Spinal Cord System of Care program surveyor for the Commission on Accreditation on Rehabilitation Facilities. Internationally, she is an expert participant of the WHO Rehabilitation Program in the development of SCI interventions in rehabilitation and traveled to Mongolia twice to educate hospital/clinic staff (MD, PT, OT and nursing) on the unique care of person with SCI.
EPISODE FOUR
Dr. Mark Nash
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Dr. Nash received the 2012 David Apple MD Award from the American Spinal Injury Association and presented the 2018 Southwest ACSM D.B. Dill Distinguished Lecture on Cardiometabolic Disease after Spinal Cord Injury: Component Risks and Guideline Interventions. He chaired the Inaugural Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Guideline Panel on Intervention and Management of Cardiometabolic Disease after SCI, and was awarded the PVA contract to write the companion Consumer Guide. He is the current Chair of the NINDS/ISCoS International SCI Extended Data Set on Voluntary Exercise. In 2018 Dr. Nash received the prestigious John Stanley Coulter Award from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, which celebrated his lifetime achievements in rehabilitation. He presented the Coulter Memorial lecture at the ACRM conference in 2019.
EPISODE FIVE
Dr. Jessica Armeland
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Dr. Jessica Armeland is a committed hospitalist physician who has provided dedicated care to inpatients at the Toronto Rehab Institute for the past nine years. For the most recent five, she’s been based at the Lyndhurst Centre, delivering comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals recovering from spinal cord injuries. Dr. Armeland is deeply devoted to advancing women’s health within this patient population and serves as a clinician educator, nurturing the growth of future health professionals through her passion for medical education.
EPISODE SIX
Dr. Abraham Snaiderman
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Dr. Snaiderman is an Associate Professor in both the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is the founding director of the Neuropsychiatry Clinic at the University Health Network -Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Brain and Spinal Cord Program where he has worked for almost 30 years.
He has been involved in the field of physical and neurologic trauma for many years.
As a clinician teacher he has been involved in training medical students, residents, fellows and ancillary health professionals as well as the general public for over 25 years.
He is a member of the Exam Board and examiner in Psychiatry for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
He is the winner of the Ivan Silver Award for Excellence in Mental Health Education given by the University of Toronto.
He is the vice chair of the board of directors of Community Head Injury Services and a member of several advisory boards for guidelines in acquired brain injury and stroke, and other organizations, initiatives and programs.
In his spare time, he plays guitar and is learning to play the flute, much to the dismay of his family and neighbours.