Community Advisory
Board
The Community Advisory Board (CAB) for the CAMERA study aims to ensure the research remains deeply connected to the perspectives and needs of the communities it aims to serve. The CAB is made up of dedicated community members who share common identities and lived experiences with the study participants.
Kim Leung
Kim is a caregiver to her mother who has Alzheimer’s. She was a volunteer at tax clinics, a fundraiser for the United Way, and a board member at Halton Women’s Place in Oakville. She is currently an executive member of the Family Council at Senior’s Health Centre where her husband is a resident. She is also a member of the Patient and Caregiver Health Council with the North York Toronto Health Partners. Kim joined the CAMERA project in order to support the research on Alzheimer's disease to advance our knowledge on risk and protective factors for dementia.
Navjot Gill-Chawla
Navjot Gill-Chawla is a PhD candidate in Public Health at the University of Waterloo, specializing in aging health and well-being. Her research focuses on the experiences of South Asian Canadians living with dementia and their care partners, with an emphasis on culturally inclusive dementia care. As an advocate for culturally inclusive dementia care, she has contributed to numerous projects addressing dementia stigma, culturally relevant care practices, and the unique needs of ethno-racial communities. Navjot is passionate about enhancing dementia prevention and intervention strategies to ensure they meet the needs of Canada’s diverse populations.
Carson Jen
Carson is an Engineer with an MBA and a Certified Accounting Designation, with 25 years of experience in the Financial and Investment industry. Prior to his retirement in 2014, he was a Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager with Manulife Investment Management in Toronto. Carson was born and raised in Toronto from parents who immigrated from China in 1947. Carson is married to Marie-France Deveau whom he met at the University of Western Ontario. They have a daughter in Calgary and a son in Vancouver. A key component in Carson's retirement plan was a sense of duty to contribute back to the broader community through volunteerism. As well, by attending medical lectures at the University of Toronto, Carson is able to pursue his strong personal interest in the Life Sciences, especially medicine. When the opportunity to join the Community Advisory Board of CAMERA presented itself, it was an immediate "No Brainer". The involvement with the Advisory Board allows Carson to directly contribute to the study design and the positive experience of participants. Finally, whether as a study participant or a CAB member, the exposure to the professionalism and youthful dedication of everyone on the CAMERA team, makes the experience that much more rewarding and enjoyable.
Leela Prasaud
Leela Prasaud is originally from Guyana, of South Asian descent. She immigrated to Canada as a teenager. She was certified as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, has a BAS from York University and MHSc from University of Toronto. Leela has been involved in health policy and operations for over 25 years. Since her retirement, Leela has been a Patient Experience Partner at North York General Hospital and as a Patient and Family Advisor and a member of the Patient and Family Health Council at North York Toronto Health Partners. Leela joined the Advisory Committee of CAMERA, of which she is a participant, because it is looking at East Asians and South Indians who are not normally part of research studies. Leela has participated in research and appreciates the significant benefit when people affected by the research are included in studies.
Jason Wu
Jason was born in Taiwan and retired in 2018 after a 38-year career as an architect and urban designer in private consulting firms and municipal government. In 2013, his parents, who were in their mid-80s and suffering from multiple chronic diseases, moved in with him. His mother was diagnosed with dementia, and a few years later, his father was diagnosed with the same condition. Jason and his wife became the primary caregivers for his parents until the end of their lives. With little knowledge about dementia, their caregiving journey was initially very challenging. The language and cultural differences certainly added to the difficulty. Through the help of family & friends, senior care facilities and a team of health care professionals, they barely survived. Now, Jason is a member of the Mandarin Senior Care Support Group with Yee Hong. Earlier this year, he volunteered to join the community advisory panel of the Canadian Multi-Ethnic Research on Aging (CAMERA) study conducted by Sunnybrook Hospital. This study is funded by CIHR, the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Jason has been actively spreading the words about this study within the Chinese community, hoping to attract more participants. He is also a participant in the study himself.
Kim Ross
Kim Ross retired in 2014 after a 40-year sales, marketing and management career with major mining and chemical corporations in Canada and the United States. He is a Professional Engineer with a BASc and MBA from the University of Toronto. Kim witnessed first-hand the toll that Alzheimer's disease takes as his father developed and eventually succumbed to the disease. Since retiring Kim has sought to 'pay it forward' by volunteering. He was a facilitator for seven years with Sashbear.org, which provides peer-to-peer skills training and hope for families who have a child experiencing mental health challenges. Kim has been a participant in numerous neurological and cardiovascular research studies at Sunnybrook, Toronto Rehab and UHN. He was initially exposed to the CAMERA Study as a partner respondent for his wife and then enrolled as soon as he learned the study scope was expanded to non-Hispanic White participants. Kim is pleased to join the Community Advisory Board and contribute feedback on recruitment strategies, participant experiences, assessment tools, and interpretation and dissemination of study results.
Sandhya Srivatsan
Sandhya Srivatsan is an educator, Indian classical vocalist, certified Gerontologist, community leader, and advocate for older adults and caregivers. She holds a postgraduate degree in Mathematics and a B.Ed. from India and began her teaching career as a Mathematics teacher at the Indian School Muscat in Oman. As an Indian classical vocalist, she has performed solo and in thematic concerts in India, Oman, Canada, and the United States. As a certified Gerontologist from Toronto Metropolitan University, Sandhya's work focuses on healthy aging, caregiving, cognitive well-being, and intergenerational connection. She has facilitated music recreation sessions, creative aging workshops, and intergenerational programs for older adults and has volunteered for more than two decades with organizations supporting seniors, including those living with cognitive impairment. She has also participated as a researcher in aging-related research at Sheridan College's Elder Research Centre and provided community-informed feedback to McMaster University research initiatives focused on aging and caregiving. Moreover, as a caregiver for a loved one living with dementia, she has firsthand experience of the challenges families face as they navigate changes in behaviour, personality, and daily life. This has strengthened her commitment to supporting seniors and caregivers and helping them navigate healthcare and social service systems. Overall, her personal caregiving experience, combined with her background in gerontology and community engagement, gives her a valuable perspective on the importance of dementia research and the needs of diverse communities.