Pride in Patient Engagement in Research - PiPER

Cathy Craven, BA, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FASIA (she/her)
PiPER Lead,

I am the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute/ University of Toronto Chair in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation, Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program and Senior Scientist at KITE Research Institute within University Health Network (UHN). I also lead the PiPER initiative, Chair the PiPER Steering Committee, and sit on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research SUPPORT Unit (OSSU).

Triti Khorasheh, MPH (she/her)
PiPER Manager

I help oversee patient engagement in research initiatives across UHN. I collaborate with people with lived experience, scientists, and research staff to design, implement, and evaluate structures and processes related to patient engagement in research at UHN.

Ask me about opportunities to get involved!

Mariza Croosfernando, BSc, MHA (she/her)
PiPER Research Associate

I collaborate with internal and external individuals and groups to create communication materials, educational resources, and other learning opportunities for researchers and staff. I am also the lead of the PiPER Community of Practice.

Ask me about our Community of Practice & Newsletters!

Lucie Langford (she/her)
PiPER Research Associate

I facilitate the engagement of people with lived experience to contribute to PiPER activities. This includes collaborating to create the University Health Network Patient Engagement in Research Toolkit, the PiPER Research Day program, compensating standards, amongst others.

Ask me about Research Day & our Tools!

Louise Brisbois (she/her)
PiPER UHN Digital Liaison

I am the Manager of the Toronto Rehab Research Central Recruitment department which provides recruitment services for studies that involve inpatients across Toronto Rehab. In my role on the PiPER team, I act as the Liaison with UHN Digital and Technology initiatives that enable patient engagement in research. Since 2022, I have been part of the PiPER team conducting environmental scans and focus groups with staff and people with lived experience in preparation for the Strategic Plan Launch.

Curtis Black, BHSc (he/him)
PiPER Digital Research Associate

I contribute to work on the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry and the PiPER team. In my role on the PiPER team, I support the digital implementation of initiatives that enable patient engagement in research.

Ask me about all things PiPER digital and technology!

Michael Voth, MSc, CQA (he/him)
PiPER Team Member

I am the Manager of the Research Quality Integration department where I provide leadership in the planning, conduct and reporting of quality and risk management activities within UHN Research. In my role on the PiPER team, I provide strategic support, facilitate collaborations, and advise on UHN policy and standards, developing and delivering training, and performing internal quality audit and compliance activities to ensure we meet the expectations of our external funders, regulators and community for high quality research at UHN.

Amanda Weston, BA (she/her)
PiPER Team Member

I am a Research Quality Associate and provide educational programs for UHN quality initiatives and support the professional practice portfolio. In my role on the PiPER team, I help find integrative ways to engage patients in the UHN research enterprise. I also work with people with lived experience, staff, and researchers to create educational videos about research, patient engagement in research, and related topics.

Ask me about our educational videos!

Dawn Richards, PhD (she/her)
PiPER Consultant

I am an analytical chemist by training, however living with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis has profoundly impacted my career. In my role with the PiPER team, I am helping set up some of the foundations related to patient engagement in research at UHN. Specifically, I am contributing to the development of role descriptions for patient partners, establishing a patient engagement community of practice, and facilitating work related to other patient engagement events.