Meet Our Research Team
Interested in Joining our Research Team?
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Research Members
Annette Schumann, PhD, MSc, Research Manager
Annette Schumann is a Research Associate and Research Manager with the Sam Katz Community Health & Aging Research Unit. She holds a PhD in Medical Science and brings over fifteen years of work experience in healthcare, with the focus on gerontological research. Her background as a Speech-Language-Pathologist with a Master's Degree in Special Education from Germany, has driven her strong interest in addressing communication challenges in vulnerable populations. Her earlier work in auditory rehabilitation involved designing and delivering communication training and developing evidence-based training interventions for older adults. She is passionate about applying her research and clinical expertise to the CARE Lab to support research that aims to enhance care quality through person-centered communication and improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Denise Bedard, PhD Student
With 45 years of experience in the long-term care sector, Denise has dedicated her career to improving the quality of life for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. She has extensive knowledge of geriatric care, long-term care policies, and regulations, and has contributed to numerous initiatives aimed to enhancing dementia care and supporting families. Denise is currently a PhD candidate in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program at Western University under the supervision of Dr. Marie Savundranayagam. As a visionary leader, Denise is committed to advancing compassionate, person-centred care that respects each individual's dignity, preferences, and autonomy. Her research focuses on improving quality of life and promoting person-centred approaches for individuals living with dementia and their care partners in community settings.
George Philip, PhD, Research Coordinator
George Philip recently completed his PhD in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program at Western University under the supervision of Dr. Marie Savundranayagam. His doctoral research examined dementia-related stigma in natural conversations between racialized persons living with cognitive impairment and their family care partners. His work contributes to improving dementia care, diagnosis, and treatment, particularly for racialized communities. George continues to pursue his research interests by supporting a multiple case study exploring the experiences of multigenerational South Asian immigrant families caring for a relative living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sierra Jacqueline Crocker, Master's Student
Sierra J. Crocker is an MSc student in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University in the Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Program. Sierra completed her Honours BA degree in 2022 with a major in psychology and a minor in criminology. Since graduating in 2022 from King’s University College, Sierra has been working with multiple research teams to examine moral injury. Sierra is very passionate about caregiver health, mental health, and wellbeing and will focus her master’s thesis on this subject.
Nicole Elizabeth Kakozhayil, Master's Student
Nicole Elizabeth Kakozhayil is an MSc student in the Health & Rehabilitation Sciences program, specializing in Health & Aging at Western University. She previously completed an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) at Western, where a placement with one of our community partners, the McCormick Care Group, inspired her passion for improving dementia care. Nicole first joined our lab as an Undergraduate Summer Research Intern under the supervision of Dr. Marie Savundranayagam and is now continuing her work as a Master's student. Her thesis explores the communication challenges experienced by family caregivers caring for their loved ones living with dementia at home. Nicole intends on using her connections to immerse herself into a dialogue concentrated on how to emphasize intersectionality in home care, long-term care, and day program settings.
Rosa Minseon Cha, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Rosa is an undergraduate student pursuing a BMSc with an Honours Specialization in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences at Western University. Since 2024, she has volunteered as a Life Enrichment Volunteer at McCormick Home, where she supports residents through mobility exercises, mealtime assistance, and cognitive and recreational activities. Through this role, she has developed a deep appreciation for the impact of person-centred communication and compassionate caregiving on the well-being and quality of life of people living with dementia. Inspired by her volunteer work, Rosa joined the CARE Lab to explore how evidence-based research can strengthen person-centred communication and foster meaningful interactions that support people living with dementia and their care partners.
Kajane Satheeswaran, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kajane Satheeswaran is a fifth-year undergraduate student pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences at Western University. She plans to pursue further education in the healthcare field and is passionate about improving the lives of others. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she has contributed to research initiatives and collaborative projects that have strengthened her interest in addressing healthcare challenges. Her interest in dementia research stems from personal experiences and a desire to improve the quality of care provided to individuals. Through her work, she hopes to make meaningful contributions to healthcare through research, innovation, and person-centred approaches to care.
