“Thanks to the PSI Foundation’s support, we showed that a quick, affordable robotic test can reliably detect thinking and memory problems in people with epilepsy. By combining this tool with advanced brain imaging, we are improving our understanding of the brain changes behind these difficulties. This paves the way for more tailored treatments in the future.” -Dr. Gavin Winston

About Dr. Gavin Winston

Dr. Gavin Winston is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at Queen’s University, with a cross-appointment to the School of Computing and affiliation with the Centre for Neuroscience Studies. He is also a Visiting Professor at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology.

With more than 20 years of experience across Europe and North America, Dr. Winston is a clinician scientist whose work sits at the intersection of neuroimaging, neurotechnology, and machine learning. His research focuses on improving how cognitive impairments are detected and understood in people with epilepsy including the use of robotic technology. Other research interests include improving the detection of the underlying abnormality in patients with normal conventional MRI scans using novel quantitative contrasts and machine learning techniques.

About the Funded Study

Epilepsy affects approximately 1 in 100 people, and for many, the impact extends beyond seizures. Difficulties with memory, attention, and thinking are common, yet they are often underdiagnosed because traditional testing can be expensive and difficult to access.

Through the PSI Clinical Research grant, Dr. Winston’s team evaluated a new approach using the Kinarm Endpoint Robot, a robotic system that measures brain function through movement-based tasks. His study, aptly titled “Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Cognitive Dysfunction in Epilepsy”, found that there was a strong agreement between this technology and standard cognitive tests, confirming it can serve as a reliable and efficient screening tool.

The robotic assessments also provided more detailed insights, namely that many patients experience slower processing speed and reduced accuracy–even when motor skills remain largely intact. These differences are often difficult to detect with conventional methods. When combined with advanced MRI techniques, the research also identified changes in brain networks associated with memory, attention, and planning.

Impact of the Funded Study

Cognitive impairment is a major factor affecting quality of life for the roughly 300,000 Canadians living with epilepsy, yet it remains widely underrecognized. This PSI-funded study shows that faster and more accessible screening is possible, which could allow more patients to be assessed earlier and more accurately. Earlier detection opens the door to better support, more informed care decisions, and improved daily functioning.

Dr. Winston’s research is already influencing how clinicians and researchers think about epilepsy and cognitive health. By demonstrating that robotic assessments can capture subtle cognitive changes, the study supports a shift toward more scalable and precise screening methods. The findings also contribute to the growing understanding of epilepsy as a network disorder, where disruptions across interconnected brain systems shape cognitive outcomes. These insights may help guide the development of targeted treatments and provide measurable biomarkers for future clinical trials.

Building on Dr. Winston’s work, a $2.3 million grant from the Weston Foundation is supporting the development of a mobile brain health lab led by Prof. Stephen Scott, inventor of the Kinarm and co-investigator for this work. This initiative aims to bring advanced cognitive assessment tools directly into communities, helping to reduce barriers such as cost and geographic access while enabling larger-scale research.

Dr. Winston’s work reflects a broader shift toward technology-enabled healthcare. By combining robotics with advanced brain imaging, his research is helping move the field closer to earlier detection, clearer understanding, and more personalized treatment of cognitive challenges in epilepsy.

“The PSI grant enabled my team and I to accomplish a research study on an expert-led, group intervention to aid with physician burnout. Without this grant, we would have been unable to provide this intervention on physician wellness and study its effectiveness.” -Dr. Christopher Martin

About Dr. Christopher Martin

Dr. Christopher Martin is an emergency and intensive care physician at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie, Ontario, where he serves as Chief and Medical Director of Critical Care. With over 13 years of experience, he provides care for the region’s most critically ill patients while leading efforts to strengthen critical care delivery across Simcoe-Muskoka. He completed his residency and fellowship in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care at the University of Western Ontario and has practiced at RVH since 2011. In addition to his hospital roles, he is a transport medicine physician with Ornge Air Ambulance and previously a Trauma Team Leader at St. Michael’s Hospital, and he serves as Co-Medical Director of Trauma at RVH.

Dr. Martin founded RVH’s simulation program and was the hospital’s first Director of Medical Education, helping position the organization as a leader in virtual reality and immersive learning. His research interests include critical care quality improvement, medical education and simulation, virtual and regional models of care, health system leadership, and the use of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve patient outcomes. He is also a strong advocate for patient-centred, values-based care and supports initiatives that promote meaningful goals-of-care conversations.

About the Funded Study

Led by Dr. Martin, the two-year PSI funded study “Teaching Practical Skills for Building Resilience in Healthcare Professionals: A Randomized Trial” set out to address a significant and well-documented problem: physician burnout. It is estimated that up to 30% of Canadian physicians experience burnout, often compounded by a lack of formal training in skills to manage stress and emotional fatigue.

Through the PSI Healthcare by Community Physicians grant, the study focused on the Self-Compassion Training for Healthcare Communities (SCHC) course, an evidence-based intervention designed to help health-care professionals build practical skills to manage stress, enhance well-being, and reduce burnout. An accredited SCHC trainer delivered the program through a combination of in-person and virtual sessions for hospital staff. The participants learned skills intended for everyday use in challenging clinical and personal situations.

Dr. Martin aimed to evaluate whether the use of these taught skills mediated changes in self-compassion and compassion satisfaction. This study directly addressed a critical gap in health care: limited access to evidence-based and locally delivered interventions that support physician wellness. By offering the SCHC course free of charge, the funding removed financial and logistical barriers that would otherwise have prevented many physicians from participating.

A total of 59 physicians enrolled in the six-week course, with small class sizes designed to encourage openness and meaningful discussion. While diary completion rates were low–limiting the ability to assess how skill use mediated outcomes–the repeated questionnaire measures demonstrated an overall positive impact on participants’ well-being. Physicians reported meaningful benefits from the skills taught, reinforcing the value of structured, evidence-based wellness training within hospital settings.

Impact of the Funded Study

Beyond Dr. Martin’s research findings, the funding created immediate and tangible benefits: nearly 60 physicians gained access to a high-quality intervention that supported resilience, self-compassion, and professional sustainability. As one participant noted: “I was skeptical that the skills taught in the course would be useful, but I have found myself employing them in many situations since and am grateful that our staff had funded access to this course.” -Dr. Adarsh Tailor

The PSI-funded study also generated important lessons about research design in busy clinical environments, highlighting the challenges of real-time self-reporting among physicians and informing future evaluation approaches.

“The PSI grant enabled my team and I to accomplish a research study on an expert-led, group intervention to aid with physician burnout,” says Dr. Martin. “Without this grant, we would have been unable to provide this intervention on physician wellness and study its effectiveness.”

Based on the positive outcomes, Dr. Martin plans to continue offering the SCHC course with the hospital supporting future physician participation. The study’s results reinforce the importance of investing in physician wellness, not only as a research priority, but as a practical strategy to support a healthier, more resilient healthcare system.

“The grant from PSI helped me conduct my first independent study as the PI and research team lead. As a rural community primary care provider geographically distant from any university, it was greatly appreciated that PSI provided the support to conduct qualitative research on MOAs (Medical Office Assistants); an important, but understudied group in health care.” -Dr. Jennifer Johnson

About Dr. Jennifer Johnson

Dr. Jennifer Johnson was a family physician in Penetanguishene, Ontario for 28 years. She recently transitioned to leading the hospitalist service at the Georgian Bay General Hospital and practicing primary care as a locum. She is also an Adjunct Research Professor at Western University. Dr. Johnson obtained her medical degree from McMaster University–completing her residency in family medicine at the University of Calgary.

Dr. Johnson’s research interests include looking at how different occupations (including retirement) impact the health of patients that are seen in primary care. This interest extends to the health of family physicians, especially in the era of global pandemics. She is also curious about health systems; the primary care workforce; highway safety; and the effects of over-screening, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment on patients.

About the Funded Study

MOAs–otherwise referred to as receptionists or clerks–are the first point of contact for patients seeking family medicine services. Despite playing a central role in medical office operations and clinic flow, MOAs have been largely absent from health research. MOAs historically receive low wages and have little influence over clinic decision-making. This PSI-funded study, titled “Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Roles, Responsibilities and Health of Medical Office Assistants Working in Family Medicine Clinics in Ontario: Implications for Primary Care Access and Quality,” set out to fill this gap by documenting MOAs’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic–a period that placed intense pressure on primary care systems.

Dr. Johnson interviewed both MOAs and family physicians to understand how MOAs adapted during a period of rapid change. Her study’s findings revealed the depth of MOAs’ skills, relationships, and problem-solving abilities, many of which had gone unrecognized prior to the pandemic.

Impact of the Funded Study

Supported by the PSI New Investigator Grant, Dr. Johnson’s study found that the responsibilities of MOAs intensified significantly during the pandemic. As public health guidance shifted, MOAs were tasked with screening patients, delivering evolving COVID-19 information, enforcing masking and distancing policies, and ensuring clinic spaces were sanitized between visits. Many of them also played a key role in determining whether patients needed in-person care, or could be supported through phone or video visits.

MOAs relied heavily on their knowledge of the healthcare system and on the relationships they had built with patients. Their efforts helped reduce patient anxiety during a time of uncertainty and preserved access to primary care when many people needed it most. However, the increased demands came with challenges. MOAs reported higher levels of stress, frustration, and in some cases, verbal abuse from patients. These experiences highlighted the need for better training and tools to help MOAs manage conflict and maintain safe, respectful clinic environments.

The family physicians interviewed in the study emphasized that valuing, supporting, and including MOAs in decision-making processes were essential for a well-functioning primary care team. The study demonstrated that MOAs bring significant, untapped expertise and innovation. This expertise is needed in primary care systems now more than ever, as physician offices continue to operate under strain.

Dr. Johnson’s research has already informed real-world educational and system-level changes. Her findings were presented at Georgian College’s Program Advisory Committee meeting in October 2024, where instructors are now considering updating the MOA curriculum to include training in de-escalation and conflict management. The work was also highlighted at McWhinney Day in 2024, where it contributed to broader discussions on strengthening primary care teams. Dr. Johnson was invited to participate as a stakeholder in a larger MOA study being launched at Women’s College Hospital, reflecting the growing interest in improving support for MOAs across the province.

In addition to multiple poster and oral presentations at McWhinney Day 2023, Trillium Research Day 2023, and NAPCRG 2024 in Quebec City, this study has been published in the British Journal of General Practice Open, further widening its impact.

“The grant from PSI helped me conduct my first independent study as the PI and research team lead,” says Dr. Johnson. “As a rural community primary care provider geographically distant from any university, it was greatly appreciated that PSI provided the support to conduct qualitative research on MOAs (Medical Office Assistants); an important, but understudied group in health care.”

This study shows that MOAs are far more than administrative staff; they are essential healthcare workers whose contributions are critical for access, quality, and continuity of primary care. Their adaptability, patient relationships, and organizational insights are invaluable assets to the health system. As primary care continues to face resource shortages, the findings underscore the importance of investing in MOA training, well-being, and inclusion in team-based care.