Director
Dr. Joshua Rash, PhD, RPsych
Biography: Dr. Rash a Professor in the Dept. of Psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Director of the Memorial University of Newfoundland – Behavioural Medicine Centre (MUN-BMC), and Senior Research Fellow at the Duke University Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research (CHPIR). He is a Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Psychologist registered in the province of NL with expertise in behavioural medicine, health behaviour change, chronic disease management, and cardiovascular psychophysiology. Dr. Rash has significant experience conducting multi-site, pragmatic clinical trials that involve pharmacological and behavioural interventions. His expertise is highly sought out in chronic pain management, weight management, stress management, motivating health behaviour change, treatment of insomnia, and cardiovascular psychophysiology. Dr. Rash has had the privilege of working with provincial governments and not for profit organizations (e.g., Salvation Army; Pain Canada; Stepped Care Solutions) and mentorship networks (e.g., Atlantic Mentorship Network – Pain & Addictions; AMN-P&A) to transform healthcare delivery.
Awards and Distinctions: Dr. Rash was privileged to receive the following awards: 1) 2025 Memorial University of Newfoundland President’s Award for Outstanding Graduate and Postgraduate Supervision; 2) 2025 Canadian Psychological Association Health Psychology & Behavioural Medicine Section’s Mid Career Award; 3) 2023 International Society of Behavioural Medicine Early Career Award; 4) 2022 Memorial University of Newfoundland Distinguished Emerging Scholar Award; 5) 2021 Memorial University of Newfoundland President’s Award for Outstanding Research; 6) 2021 Memorial University of Newfoundland School of Graduate Studies ROCKStar Graduate Supervisor Award; 7) 2021 Canadian Psychological Association President’s New Researcher Award.
Funding: Research conducted at the MUN-BMC has received generous financial support from the following organizations: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Duke University Endowment Fund; Memorial University of Newfoundland; Northern Ontario Academic Medicine Association (NOAMA); Substance Use and Addictions Program of Canada (SUAP); The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medicine Organization (TOHAMO); University of Calgary Clinical Research Fund
Dr. Rash’s CV can be found here.
Follow him on Researchgate and Google Scholar
Research Coordinator
Name: Laura Harris-Lane, MSc
Position in lab: Research Coordinator
Duration in lab: May 2021-Present
Background and Training: I completed my Bachelor of Science (Hons) and Master of Science in Experimental Psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Supervised by Dr. Nick Harris, my master’s thesis assessed cannabis use perceptions among young adults in Canada shortly before cannabis was legalized for non-medical use. After completing my masters, I worked as a research analyst with Eastern Health for two years before joining the MUN Behavioural Medicine Centre in May 2021.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology; System-Level Change; Access to Care; Behaviour Change
Research Project: I am primarily working on the CIHR-funded “Digitizing Stepped Mental Healthcare” project in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Sub-projects of this larger initiative include evaluating: 1) change in knowledge, clinical decision-making, and provider attitudes after completing the Stepped Care 2.0 and One-at-a-Time Therapy courses; 2) the implementation process in the three provinces; 3) the change management process among leadership, providers, and staff; 4) client outcomes; and 5) healthcare system outcomes.
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Graduate Students – Doctoral
Name: Julie Dwyer, BA(Hon), MSc
Position in lab: Experimental Psychology Doctoral Student
Duration in lab: Sept 2021-Present
Background and Training: I obtained my B.A (hons) at Memorial University, where my research examined the relationship between worry, mindfulness and self-management under the supervision of Dr. Peter Mezo. I subsequently completed a graduate program in Clinical Epidemiology through the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial. I worked in the MIRIAM lab (Memorial Institute of Research Interventions in Anxiety and Mood disorder) as well as the Recovery and Performance Lab before moving to Scotland. I completed a MSc in Clinical Psychology under the supervision of Dr. David Gillanders at the University of Edinburgh. My research explored mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety, and the relationship between our implicit and explicit beliefs surrounding worry. I have worked at Eastern Health for the last 5 years in a variety of programs including the early psychosis program at the Waterford, inpatient rehabilitation at the Miller Centre as well as the Centre for Pain and Disability Management (CPDM).
Research Focus: Health Psychology; Pain management
Research Project: My interest in pain emerged from my time working at the CPDM, and this will be the focus of my doctoral research.
Name: Alesha King
Position in lab: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (PsyD)
Duration in lab: Jan 2021-Present (commenced PsyD in Sept 2024).
Background and Training: I initially joined the MUN Behaviour Medicine team volunteering with the Internet Therapy for Depression Trial (INTEREST). I then looking at the effectiveness of healthcare provider training in digitizing stepped mental healthcare as part of my honour’s thesis project before evaluating the initial implementation of the Power Over Pain Portal among people who live with pain attending tertiary pain care.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology; Health Psychology; Rehabilitation Psychology.
Research Project: Understanding healthcare provider capabilities, opportunities and motivations to engage in adaptive clinical mentorship for the provision of care among people who live with pain, mental health and substance use concerns.
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Name: Makenzie Lauzon, MSW
Position in lab: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (PsyD)
Duration in lab: Sept 2025-Present
Background and Training: I completed my Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Social Work at the University of Ottawa, during which I undertook an undergraduate thesis under the supervision of Dr. Hélène Plamondon, examining the neuroprotective potential of selective GPER agonist G-1 in ovariectomized Wistar rats exposed to global cerebral ischemia. I then completed my Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Windsor, where my research at the Applied Neuropsychology Lab under the supervision of Dr. Kristoffer Romero focused on examining the role of culture on metamemory in individuals from South Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian, and Western cultures.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology
Research Project: My current research focuses on the implementation of the AIRE-KIDS clinical decision support system within the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) ED and evaluating its adoption, adherence and acceptability among ED providers as well as determine the effectiveness of the AIRE-KIDS clinical decision support system for reducing repeat asthma ED visits and hospitalizations in children at CHEO compared to current practice.
Funding: Lung Health Foundation
Name: Kaitlyn Lem
Position in lab: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (PsyD)
Duration in lab: Sept 2022-Present
Background and Training: Kaitlyn completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Health Studies at the University of Toronto, where she examined the impacts of social connection on physical health in older adults under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Bethell. Upon graduation, Kaitlyn worked in e-health and for the global health NGO, Bridge to Health, which aims to develop sustainable healthcare programs in underserved communities. Kaitlyn concurrently worked on the SUMMIT Trial, a large-scale RCT which seeks to test the effectiveness of non-traditional care delivery methods with the goal of scaling up access to maternal mental health treatments, under the supervision of Dr. Daisy Singla. Kaitlyn is also passionate about community involvement and volunteers as a Crisis Responder with Kids Help Phone.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology, Evidence-based care, Accessibility, Scalable interventions, Community care
Research Project: Digitizing Stepped Mental Healthcare
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Name: Kaitlyn Mahon, MSc
Position in lab: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (PsyD)
Duration in lab: Sept 2019-Present
Background and Training: I completed a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and MSc at MUN. During my masters I was supervised by Dr. Sheila Garland, where my research focused on examining the financial impact of cancer in young adults across Canada. During this time I was also involved in research studies evaluating cognitive impairment and sleep quality in cancer survivors.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology; Access to care
Research Project: My current research focuses on evaluating whether mental health providers can be trained to competence in delivering stepped mental healthcare.
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant support.
Name: Emily Marriott
Position in lab: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (PsyD)
Duration in lab: Sept 2022-Present
Background and Training: I obtained my BSc (Hons) in Psychology at Queen’s University, where I investigated the effect of comorbid PTSD and chronic pain on pain-related disability in Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans, and examined the role of pain-related anxiety constructs contributing to the comorbidity. I then pursued a MSc by Research in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, where I researched the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of parents and their children with and without intellectual disabilities, with a special focus on childhood anxiety.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology; Health Psychology
Research Project: I am interested in conducting research aimed at exploring the link between mental and physical health in individuals with chronic health conditions, including mechanisms of increased pain-related disability in individuals with comorbid chronic pain and psychological disorders, as well as investigating factors that promote wellness in these populations.
Funding: The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
Name: David Storey, B.A. (Hons), MSc., CD
Position in lab: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (PsyD)
Duration in lab: Sept 2022-Present
Background and Training: I completed my Bachelor of Arts (Hons) at the University of Guelph in 2008. I spent 14-years in the Canadian Armed Forces first as a reservist, and then as a regular force member. During this time I deployed on four tours of duty to various locations in the Middle East and North Africa. I voluntarily released from the military in 2018 and completed my Master of Science in Experimental Psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2022. Supervised by Dr. Kellie Hadden, my master’s thesis looked at gender differences in street-involved youth with respect to attachment, history of childhood maltreatment, and symptoms of psychopathology. During the last semester of my Master’s degree I worked as a research assistant for the MUN School of Pharmacy’s Cannabis Health Evaluation & Research Partnership (CHERP). I planned, coordinated, and facilitated a series of workshops to identify effective mechanisms to provide education around cannabis to youth and their parents using social media.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology, Addictions, Chronic Pain, Veteran Mental Health
Research Project: I am currently working as a research assistant on phase one of the VEterans Cannabis Therapy Outcome Registry (VECTOR), to increase understanding of Veterans’ opinions on the use of medicinal cannabis.
Funding: Veterans Affairs Canada Educational Training Benefit
Graduate Students – Master’s
Name: Suhail Hassan (Suha), Bachelor of Science (Co-op)
Position in lab: MSc student
Duration in lab: Jan 2025-Present
Background and Training: I completed my Bachelors (Honors and Co-op) from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2022, under the supervision of Dr. Jacqueline Carter Major. My honors project focused on Examining the Role of Cultural Background and Acculturation in Understanding Weight Stigma, Body Image and Disordered Eating in Emerging Adults. After graduation, I worked in Career Advising for three years in various roles, before returning to do my masters. I am particularly interested in studying cultural competency and cultural humility in healthcare providers.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology; Cultural Humility
Research Project: Adherence to APA Multicultural guidelines in Mental Healthcare Practitioners.
Undergraduate Students
Name: Cassie Tucker
Position in lab: Undergraduate Honours student.
Duration in lab: Jun 2025 – Present
Background and Training: I am currently completing my final year of a Bachelor of Science degree with honours, majoring in Behavioural Neuroscience. I have joined the lab to gain experience in clinical psychology and to complete my honours project.
Research Focus: Health Psychology
Research Project: Understanding Patient-Reported Outcomes among People who Live with Pain following Completion of a Tertiary Care Rehabilitation Program Delivered Virtually or In-Person: A Program Evaluation of the Centre for Pain and Disability Management
Research Assistants
Name: Sarah Fitzgerald, BSc(Hon)
Position in lab: Research Assistant
Duration in lab: Apr 2019-Present
Background and Training: In the winter of 2020 I worked under the supervision of Dr. Joshua Rash to complete a report on the implementation of Stepped Care 2.0 using behaviour change management strategies. In the Spring of 2020, I completed a training workshop in the management of chronic pain and depression and began working with the Internet Therapy for Depression Trial (INTEREST). In May of 2021 I completed a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree with a major in Psychology under the supervision of Dr. Rash at Memorial University of Newfoundland. My honours thesis comprised of a systematic review, highlighting the barriers and facilitators of using guideline-based care for the treatment of common mental illnesses.
Research Focus: Psychosomatic Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Chronic Pain. Research interests include: Factors that prevent and facilitate the effective management of chronic disease and mental illness; the relationship between chronic disease and mental illness with a focus on how this knowledge can enhance our understanding of disease progression, etiology, and prognosis; improvement and implementation of health policies and practices that improve standard of care; clinical inertia; provider’s prescribing and referral practices and the use of behaviour change techniques within a medical domain.
Research Project: A systematic review of healthcare provider adoption of recommendations made by clinical practice guidelines for the management of common mental illnesses; Healthcare provider knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding opioids for chronic non-cancer pain in North America: A systematic review; Training mental healthcare providers in New Brunswick in “one at a time therapy” and “stepped mental healthcare”; and Barriers and facilitators of healthcare provider uptake of clinical practice guideline recommendations for the management of common mental health concerns: A qualitative evidence synthesis using the theoretical domains framework.
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Name: Jenna Perry, B.Sc. (Hons)
Position in lab: Research Assistant
Duration in lab: Jun 2025 – Present
Background and Training: I completed my B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland under the supervision of Dr. Nick Harris. I am currently a second year M.Sc. Experimental Psychology student, working under the supervision of Dr. Emily Fawcett to conduct a mixed-methods study investigating the differential diagnosis of health-focused Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Illness Anxiety Disorder according to expert psychologists’ perspectives. I have previous experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, as well as meta-analyses and systematic reviews across various disciplines, including clinical psychology, developmental psychology, behavioural neuroscience, animal behaviour, medicine, and public health. In my free time I enjoy volunteering with various organizations which share my major passion of increasing mental health literacy and decreasing stigma within my community.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology, Public health
Research Project: I am currently assisting with a project exploring chronic pain, virtual care, and the ways in which health systems can become more patient-centred, equitable, and sustainable.
Volunteers
Name: Brooke Hiscock
Position in lab: Volunteer
Duration in lab: Apr 2022 – Present
Background and Training: I am a current undergraduate student completing my Bachelor of Science (Hons) at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Fawcett, my prospective Honours project is both cognitive and clinically oriented. I have previous research experience working on a meta-analysis, and assisting with graduate projects. I also have a vast background in volunteer experience and training. A few of my other volunteer endeavors include but are not limited to: The Health Sciences Centre, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, The Neurofog Laboratory, The Psychology Department Social Media Committee, The Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation, and MUN Mentors Program.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology, Human Cognition.
Research Project: I am currently assisting with the implementation of Stepped Mental Health Care within Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Name: Courtney Loveless
Position in lab: Volunteer
Duration in lab: Apr 2022 – Present
Background and Training: I am in the fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology with a second major in Gender Studies. Under the supervision of Dr. Christopher Quinn-Nilas, I am examining the role of self-compassion and sexual satisfaction in midlife married Canadians. As sexual health and mental health are important to me, I am an avid volunteer within local organizations that center on providing this care.
Research Focus: Clinical Psychology, Psychosexual Dysfunction, Sexuality.
Research Project: I am currently assisting with the implementation of Stepped Mental Health Care within Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Alumni
Graduate
Taylor Stone (2023 – 2025; MSc) – SSHRC funded
Elizabeth Wallack (2019 – 2025; PsyD) – The Duke Foundation funded
Alex Hannam (202 – 2023; MAPS)
Natalie Keeler-Villa (2021-2023; MAPS)
Emily Saunders (2018 – 2023; PsyD) – Janeway Foundation funded
Anastasia Mekhael (2020 – 2022; MSc) – CIHR funded
Samantha Scurrey (2018-2022; PsyD) – Eating Disorder Foundation of NL funded
Anastasia Mekhael (2020-2022; MSc) – CIHR funded
Vanessa Strong (2017 – 2021; PsyD)
Louise Bell (2018-2020; MSc) – SSHRC funded
Michael Asamoah-Boaheng (2018-2019)
Oluwatosin Badejo (2018-2019)
David Garcia (2018-2019)
Mohammad Hossain (2018-2019)
Undergraduate
Kati Whelan (2023 – 2024)
Sophie Burke (2023 – 2024)
Claire Osmond (2022 – 2023)
Rachel Pike (2022 – 2023)
Alesha King (2021 – 2022)
Jennifer Bent (2020-2021)
Hannah Kenny (2020-2021)
Sarah Fitzgerald (2020-2021)
Rebecca Rideout (2019-2020)
Sarah Abbott (2019-2020)
Alice Chen (2018-2019)
Lucas Walters (2018-2019)
Brittany Flood (2017-2018)