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HER BRAIN 

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Healing | Empowerment | Recovery

Brain health | Risk reduction | Awareness | Independence | Neurological care



Leadership Team

Dr. Aleksandra Pikula

Jay & Sari Sonshine Chair &

Founding Director

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Nursing Clinical Team

Stiffra Armamento

Clinical Nurse Specialist

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Research Team

Scientific Associate IV

Coming Soon 
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Una Pasagic

Clinical Research Analyst

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Patient Engagement & Education

Nicole Schneider

Patient Engagement and Education Lead

Community Based Brain Health Promotion

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Patient Advisory Group

PLEX Partners

Profiles coming soon.

Image by Hannah Busing

Students (Past and Current)

Adeyemi Akingbade

2024 Summer Research Student - JSSC

UHN Women's Health Student Awardee

University of Waterloo

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David Vaz

Clinical Research Assistant

2024 JSSC Chair Summer Student Awardee

Medical Student - Queens University

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Administrative Support

Angela Verven

Program Coordinator JSSC &

UHN Stroke Program

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Dr. Leanne Casaubon

Co-Founding Director

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Hamdi Mohamed

Clinical Nurse Specialist

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Dr. Sharon Iziduh

Scientific Associate III

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Jasmine Zhang

Clinical Research Assistant 

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Rachel Chong

2025 JS Sonshine Chair 

Summer Student Awardee 

University of  Toronto 

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Maricris Llanto

JSSC Administrative Assistant

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Our Patient Advisory Group connects stroke survivors and their care partners to help shape our work. Members of the JSSC-PAG share their personal experiences to guide our programs, research, and educational resources, making sure they truly address the needs of people after a stroke.

Emine Kocabas

Clinical Research Analyst &

PhD Student

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Aida Mortazavi

2025 JS Sonshine Chair 

Summer Student Awardee 

Medical Student - University of Ottawa 

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Team Members

Our work is powered by an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, students, and people with lived experience of stroke. We believe the best ideas come from bringing different perspectives together. By working side-by-side with stroke survivors, care partners, healthcare professionals, and researchers, we are able to design programs and resources that are practical, meaningful, and grounded in real experiences.

 

Together, we are committed to improving brain health, supporting recovery, and helping people live well after stroke.

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