Our Team
Learn more about the team behind this program
Our team is made up of clinical psychologists, faculty researchers, and student researchers from the University of Manitoba’s Departments of Psychology and Clinical Health Psychology. This research is funded by Research Manitoba. We look forward to sharing our program with you!
Dr. Kristin Reynolds, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Principal Investigator/Project Lead
Dr. Kristin Reynolds is a Registered Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Manitoba. She is a Member of the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, working with pan-Canadian leading experts in perinatal mental health to advocate for a national strategy for perinatal mental health. She is a Member of the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, and Director of the Health Information Exchange Laboratory. Dr. Reynolds’ research employs qualitative, quantitative, mixed methodologies, patient/public engagement, and intervention science, with the aims of decreasing gaps in the translation of health-related knowledge to the public and increasing access to health-related information and services. Her work has been published in multidisciplinary and international journals including World Psychiatry; Archives of Women’s Mental Health; Qualitative Health Research; and Depression and Anxiety. Dr. Reynolds is passionate about mental health and is the Past-Chair of the Canadian Psychological Association Clinical Section, the Communications Director and Public Education Coordinator for the Manitoba Psychological Society, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba. One of her most treasured roles is being a parent to her daughter.
Dr. Gillian Alcolado, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Co-Investigator
Dr. Gillian Alcolado is a Clinical Psychologist at the Anxiety Disorders Clinic of St. Boniface Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Alcolado received her Ph.D. from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, and completed her residency at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton, Ontario. In her clinical practice she uses cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) to work with adults suffering from anxiety disorders, including women who are pregnant or postpartum. Dr. Alcolado’s research interests include the treatment of anxiety and related conditions, with current research projects focusing on cognitive therapy for compulsive checking, CBT for perinatal anxiety, and brief large-group CBT. Dr. Alcolado has published her academic work in book chapters, peer-reviewed journals, and presented her findings at local and international conferences. She currently serves as secretary-treasurer to the board of the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies. Dr. Alcolado has been a mother for two and a half of the five years she has been working in the area of perinatal anxiety and mental health and feels very passionate about this area of clinical intervention and research.
Dr. Patricia Furer, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Co-Investigator
Dr. Furer is a Clinical Psychologist and the director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at St. Boniface Hospital. She is also the Training Director for the Clinical Health Psychology Residency program at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Furer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Health Psychology and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Furer was also involved in the executive of the Canadian Psychological Association Clinical Section for 5 years, including as chair, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba. Dr. Furer specializes in the assessment and cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders. She has written papers and book chapters on health anxiety, perinatal anxiety, and other anxiety disorders, as well as a book on treatment of health anxiety and fear of death. She has developed the QuickStart to Overcoming Anxiety large group intervention and group CBT programs for perinatal anxiety, health anxiety, and mixed anxiety disorders. Current areas of research interest include treatment of perinatal anxiety, evaluation of stepped-care treatment models, and web-based interventions. Dr. Furer is involved in teaching and supervision of clinical and research activities with Clinical Health Psychology residents and practicum students as well as graduate students in the Department of Psychology. Dr. Furer is the proud mom of two adult children. She has learned a tremendous amount about parenting from her very patient children as well as from the many parents she has worked with over the years.
Madison Hardman, B.Sc. (Hons).
Research Coordinator
Madison received her undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto and has been involved with the Health Information Exchange Lab since 2019. Her research interests include perinatal mental health, mental health literacy, and mental health information evaluation. Madison’s recent research has focused on evaluating the quality of online perinatal depression information, as well as examining mental health literacy amongst pregnant and postpartum populations. She hopes to continue her education and training in psychology and obtain her Master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Outside of her research, Madison enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time at her cottage.
Sarah Petty, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
Research Assistant
Sarah Petty received her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Manitoba where she is currently completing her Ph.D. Sarah’s research centers around the experience of anxiety in the context of interpersonal functioning, help-seeking, knowledge translation, and consumer needs. Her dissertation focuses on help-seeking during the experience of perinatal anxiety during COVID-19. In her free time, Sarah enjoys going to the theatre, listening to podcasts, and searching for the best pizza joint in every city she visits.
Teaghan Pryor, B.A. (Hons).
Research Assistant
Teaghan Pryor is a second year Master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Manitoba. She has worked under the mentorship of Dr. Kristin Reynolds and has been a part of the Health Information Exchange Lab for over 5 years. Her research interests include health information evaluation, development and evaluation of e-health treatments, mental health service navigation and is interested in caregiver, older adult and chronic health populations. She lives with her two sweet cats and her husband and loves to take care of her many plants, as well as cook and bake.
Megan Gornik, B.A. (Hons).
Research Assistant
Megan Gornik is a first year Master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Manitoba. Megan is interested in researching women’s issues, such as perinatal/postpartum disorders, eating disorders, and trauma. Her thesis focuses on the impact of postpartum depression and perinatal anxiety on mother-infant interactions. In her extra time, Megan likes to bake, read, and explore nature