Our staff and collaborators
Clinic leader
Dr. Anne S. Bassett, MD, FRCPC
Director, The Dalglish Family 22q Clinic
Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto
Associate Staff, Division of Cardiology and Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network
Associate Member, Canadian College of Medical Geneticists
Director, Clinical Genetics Research Program,
Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
Senior Scientist, Toronto General Research Institute
Dr. Anne Bassett is the Director of the Dalglish Family 22q Clinic and the Dalglish Chair in 22q Deletion Syndrome. She is a world renowned expert in the genetics of complex health conditions - especially 22q. Dr. Bassett is also the Director of the Clinical Genetics Research Program at CAMH and a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She is a leader in international studies of 22q, the Medical Director for the International 22q Foundation, and the Treasurer of the 22q11.2 Society. Dr. Bassett has been providing exemplary care to adults with 22q, their families and caregivers for over 25 years.
Dr. Bassett is the 2020 winner of the Lieber Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Schizophrenia Research. Please see our Awards and Honours page.
Medical Staff
Dr. Maria R. Corral, MD, FRCPC
Consultant Psychiatrist
University Health Network
Dr. Maria Corral completed her medical studies at the University of British Columbia. She worked for 30 years as a psychiatrist, educator and administrator until her retirement as Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Director of Medical Education at St. Paul’s Hospital, Providence Health Care in June of 2014. She was also Vice-Chair of the Psychiatry Examination Board for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada from 2011-2014.
Dr. Corral has been a key member of the Dalglish Family 22q Clinic and its multidisciplinary team of clinicians since 2016. She provides care in English and Spanish.
Clinic Team Members
Lisa Palmer, BEd, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 2010 and a Bachelor of Education degree in 2012. She completed a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Toronto in 2015. In 2019, she was appointed as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Factor-Inwetash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto.
Working with the Clinic team, Lisa assists patients and their families in examining challenges and concerns and in helping to find the best available resources. She also has her own clinical research studies to help us learn more about 22q and improve the services we provide.
Samantha D’Arcy, MHSc, RD
Registered Dietitian
As a Registered Dietitian at the Dalglish Family 22q Clinic, Samantha works collaboratively with patients and their families to create nutrition plans that fit their needs and lifestyle. In addition to one-to-one patient care, Samantha is involved with group facilitation and patient and caregiver education as requested. She has also led several 22q educational initiatives.
Radhika Sivanandan, PhD
Patient Flow Coordinator
Radhika is our front desk leader and is likely the first person you will encounter when you come to the clinic. She coordinates all appointments and follow ups, and she prepares all documents for staff and patients. Please feel free to contact her at the Clinic’s main number (416) 340-5145 if you have any questions or concerns regarding your appointments.
Research Associate / Former Dalglish Fellow
Dr. Erik Boot, MD, PhD Physician for people with intellectual disability
See also: Our interview with Dr. Boot on pages 1-2 of our 2019 newsletter.
Research and Other Staff
Tracy Heung
Clinical Research Analyst
- Junior Investigator Award recipient (2018)
- Co-ordinates 22q-related research projects locally and internationally
- Ensures that the data are complete and runs statistical analyses
- Key contributor to work in the International Brain and Behaviour Consortium
Joanne Ha
Clinical Research Analyst
- Invites families to take part in intiatives offered at our Clinic
- Organizes the logistics of research projects and clinical care
Joanne Loo
Patient and Family Educational Tool Developer and Website Manager
- Develops content for the Clinic website and pamphlets
- Generates medical information cards for patients
- Also works for the 22q11.2 Society and the International 22q11.2 Foundation
Recent and Current Graduate Students
Ania Fiksinski, PhD Currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Maastricht University and the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital / University Medical Center Utrecht (the Netherlands)Recipient of the Junior Investigator Award at the International 22q11.2DS Biennial Conference in Sirmione, Italy, in 2016
Shengjie Ying Masters student Recipient of the Joseph Wong Memorial Graduate Award from the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto in 2021
Residents and Medical Students
Dr. Lily Van
Resident in Psychiatry
Clinician Scientist Program
Dr. Sarah (Voll) Malecki
Resident in Internal Medicine
Dr. Spencer Van Mil
Resident in Pediatrics
Christina Blagojevic Medical student
Brigid Conroy Medical student
Stephanie Brooks Medical student
Grace McAlpine Medical student
Aarabi Thayaparan Medical student
Sabrina Cancelliere Medical student
Undergraduate Students
Adonis Ng
Administrative Staff
Dr. Susan Abbey, MD, FRCPC
Psychiatrist-in-Chief
Frances Hoy, MHSc, MSc Allied Health Manager
The Toronto Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Program
Our Clinic is affiliated with the The Toronto Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Program (formerly The Toronto Congenital Cardiac Centre for Adults) at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.
Dr. Rafael Alonso-Gonzalez Medical Director and Fellowship Director
Dr. Rachel Wald Research Director
Dr. Sara Thorne Director of ACHD Trainee Education
Cardiologists:
- Dr. Erwin Oechslin
- Dr. Candice Silversides
- Dr. Rafael Alonso-Gonzalez
- Dr. Lee Benson
- Dr. Jack Colman
- Dr. Eric Horlick
- Dr. Luc Mertens
- Dr. Mark Osten
- Dr. Lucy Roche
- Dr. Sarah Thorne
- Dr. Rachel Wald
Collaborating doctors and researchers
Along with the CGRP Team, there are many collaborating doctors and researchers who work with us locally and internationally on 22q and related research. They include:
Ontario
Dr. Candice Silversides Cardiologist Toronto General Hospital
Dr. Erwin Oechslin Cardiologist Toronto General Hospital
Dr. Hanna Faghfoury and Dr. Chantal Morel Medical Geneticists Toronto General Hospital
Dr. Jacob Vorstman Child Psychiatrist Hospital for Sick Children
Christian Marshall, PhD, and Stephen Scherer, PhD, and Ryan Yuen, PhD Geneticists Hospital for Sick Children
Dr. Greg Costain Medical Geneticist Hospital for Sick Children
Dr. Susan George Endocrinologist Toronto General Hospital
Dr. Danielle Andrade Neurologist Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Connie Marras Neurologist Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Anthony Lang Neurologist Toronto Western Hospital
Atlantic Canada
Dr. Sarah Dyack Medical Geneticist Halifax, NS
Kathleen Hodgkinson, PhD Geneticist St. John’s, NF
Asia
Dr. Brian Chung Medical Geneticist Hong Kong SAR, China
Europe
Ann Swillen, PhD Child psychologist Leuven, Belgium
Dr. Therese van Amelsvoort Psychiatrist Maastricht, Netherlands
Peter Scambler, PhD Geneticist London, UK
USA
Donna McDonald-McGinn, MS, LCGC Genetic Counselor Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Director 22q Clinic Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Philadelphia, PA
Dr. Linda Brzustowicz Geneticist New Brunswick, NJ
Bernice Morrow, PhD Geneticist New York, NY
South America
Dr. Gabriela Repetto Medical Geneticist Santiago, Chile
Australia
Linda Campbell, PhD Psychologist Newcastle, Australia