ABOUT

I am a social worker and psychotherapist who has worked extensively with individuals, families, and, health-care organizations. I practiced clinical social work in the Division of Haematology/Oncology at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) for 17 years (1997-2013), working with children and adolescents with life-threatening illnesses in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program and the Pediatric Brain Tumour Program. I was a recipient of the Dr. Ted McNeill ‘Excellence in Clinical Practice Award’ at SickKids in 2012.

From 1998 to 2008, I was an elected member of the Health Sciences Review Committee for Bioethics and Research in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine.

In the community, I was the Executive Director of Sheena’s Place (2014-2020), where I have facilitated support and psychoeducational groups for people with eating disorders and body image issues since 1998. I am an adjunct lecturer at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. I continue to be active as a public speaker, and have presented at numerous conferences including TEDx Toronto in 2013.

In 2014, I became a founder of Neshama Hospice, Canada’s first hospice residence based on Jewish values, located in North York, Ontario (currently in its building phase). I served as Board Director and Secretary of Neshama Hospice from 2014 to 2020.

I am registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), and I a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).