Team & collaborations
The people behind the work.
Women's brain health in midlife is built by teams — clinicians, researchers, students, and people with lived experience of stroke at the Jay & Sari Sonshine Centre (UHN), and collaborators across institutions who share the science of stroke and dementia prevention.
The interdisciplinary team at the Jay & Sari Sonshine Centre / Krembil Brain Institute, UHN — behind the HER BRAIN toolkit and the Women in Midlife program.
Patient Advisory GroupStroke survivors & care partners (PLEX) shaping our research & resources
Angela VervenProgram Coordinator, JSSC & UHN Stroke Program
Dr. Gabriela de Melo GhisiScientific Associate IV & Associate Scientist, JSSC
Emine KocabasClinical Research Analyst & PhD Student
Hamdi MohamedClinical Nurse Specialist (WIM)
Jasmine ZhangClinical Research Assistant
Nicole SchneiderPatient Engagement & Education Lead
Rachel ChongJS Sonshine Chair — 2025 Summer Student Awardee
Jena ChenJS Sonshine Chair — 2026 Summer Student Awardee
Stiffra ArmamentoClinical Nurse Specialist (Lifestyle Medicine)
Una PasagicClinical Research Analyst
UHN Stroke ProgramUniversity Health Network
UofT Women's NeurologyUniversity of Toronto
Interested in joining the team? Get in touch ↗
Moments & events.
From the lab and clinic to conferences, retreats, and community — click any photo to view it larger.
External collaborations.
Collaborators and partner programs across institutions.
UHN PiPERPride in Patient Engagement in Research
OSSU–SPOROntario SPOR SUPPORT Unit
CIHRCanadian Institutes of Health Research
THETA CollaborativeToronto Health Economics & Technology Assessment, U of T
Heart & Stroke FoundationHSFC — Canada
UHN Women's Health ProgramUniversity Health Network
INSIGHTIntegrating Neurological Sex & Gender Issues in Global Health Training
WSO-GENESISGender Equity & Diversity in Stroke Care, World Stroke Organization
March of Dimes CanadaCommunity health & rehabilitation
Mature Women's ClinicMount Sinai Hospital (MSH), Toronto
U of T Department of MedicineUniversity of Toronto
UK BiobankPopulation cohort resource
ACLMAmerican College of Lifestyle Medicine
GBCCGlobal Brain Care Coalition
Brain Care LabsBrain Care Score · Massachusetts General Hospital
PAVING the Path to WellnessBrain health & wellness program
B+HARIBrain Health Applied Research Institute · Hawai‘i
ELMOEuropean Lifestyle Medicine Organization — Scientific Council