Lab Director
Dr. Renée El-Gabalawy
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Dr. El-Gabalawy is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Clinical Health Psychology and Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine in the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba (UM). She also holds adjunct appointments in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology (Fort Garry), and is an Adjunct Scientist at CancerCare Manitoba. As a Vanier Scholar, she received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from UM in 2015. She also completed a predoctoral research fellowship supported by a CIHR Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement at Yale University in 2013. Before joining the faculty at UM, Dr. El-Gabalawy completed her Clinical Psychology residency at the Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston Consortium) with a behavioural medicine and civilian trauma clinical emphasis. Dr. El-Gabalawy has been successful at obtaining millions of dollars of funding locally and nationally as both co- and principal investigator. She has over 100 peer reviewed journal publications and book chapters, and has presented research findings in over 150 local, national and international conference proceedings. Dr. El-Gabalawy is also a co-investigator and the Clinical Research Network Director of the Chronic Pain SPOR Network at UM and a member of the Psychology of Pandemic Network (PsyPan). She also serves on the editorial board of General Hospital Psychiatry. Find Dr. El-Gabalawy on twitter and research gate |
Lab Members
Graduate Students
Caitlin Blaney (PhD Candidate & Research Associate)
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Caitlin is in her final year of her PhD in Clinical Psychology at UM working under the supervision of Dr. El-Gabalawy. Currently, Caitlin is completing her Clinical Psychology residency with a Health emphasis at the Ottawa Hospital in Ottawa, ON. Her overall research program centres on the complex relationships between mental and physical health conditions, with a particular focus on inflammatory diseases. Her dissertation aims to understand the impact of anxiety symptom severity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease outcomes and the benefit of a targeted online psychological intervention for anxiety and depression in an RA sample. She has received doctoral funding from UM and the Arthritis Society, and sits on the Canadian Arthritis Trainee Association (CATA) as Regional Director for Manitoba.
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Jordana Sommer (PhD Candidate & Research Associate)
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Jordana is a second year PhD candidate in the Clinical Psychology program at UM and is co-supervised by Dr. El-Gabalawy and Dr. Kristin Reynolds. Her primary research interests are in the areas of perioperative mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder in health contexts. Her dissertation examines postoperative outcomes of preoperative distress among patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, and the efficacy of a targeted preoperative virtual reality intervention to reduce preoperative anxiety. She is funded by a CIHR doctoral scholarship. She previously completed her MA under the co-supervision of Dr. El-Gabalawy and Dr. Reynolds, and her undergraduate thesis under the supervision of Dr. El-Gabalawy. She has received numerous awards and scholarships throughout her training and has published over 20 peer reviewed manuscripts and book chapters. Most recently, she was awarded the Faculty of Graduate Studies Student Achievement Award, the National Register of Health Service Psychologists Doctoral Award, and the CIMVHR Mark Zamorski Award. She is also the Graduate Representative for the Clinical Section of the Canadian Psychological Association. You can also find her on Twitter.
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Residents
Dr. Gregory Wills
Dr. Wills is a resident in Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine (PGY3) at UM and is completing his resident research project under the supervision of Dr. El-Gabalawy. His research is focused on predictors of patient awareness and distress with regional anesthesia during total knee arthroplasty surgery.
Dr. Everett Vun
Dr. Vun is a resident in Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine (PGY2) at UM and is completing her resident research project under the co-supervision of Dr. El-Gabalawy and Dr. Tom Mutter. Her project is focused on mental and physical health postoperative outcomes of resection with immediate versus delayed reconstruction among breast cancer surgery patients undergoing mastectomy using administrative data.
Research Assistants
Bronwen Grocott
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Bronwen previously completed her Honour's Psychology undergraduate thesis under the co-supervision of Dr. El-Gabalawy and Dr. Reynolds in 2020. Her thesis focused on the emotional experiences of breast cancer surgery patients throughout their perioperative trajectory. Bronwen now works as a research assistant for Dr. El-Gabalawy and is involved in projects related to novel virtual reality interventions for health populations, and projects also focused on psychological aspects of acute and chronic pain. Recently she was awarded a Statistics Canada Research Data Centre Award for an independent project she conducted under Dr. El-Gabalawy's supervision focused on the relationship between chronic pain severity and suicidality.
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Gabrielle Logan
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Gabrielle completed her Masters of Science in Clinical Epidemiology at Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2019 where her thesis focused on diagnostic imaging resource utilization for low back pain. Her research interests lie in chronic pain, women’s health, healthcare resource use, mixed methods research, and systematic review. She currently is working as a research assistant for the HATLab and the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at UM. She is also the research coordinator for an HSC Foundation grant focused on the utility of a novel online intervention for chronic pain (led by Dr. El-Gabalawy and Dr. Brigitte Sabourin), and for the SPOR Chronic Pain Network.
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Kayla Kilborn
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Kayla is currently in her final year of her MA in the School Psychology program at UM. She is a research assistant in the HATLab and is particularly interested in patient reported outcomes for chronic pain patients. She was previously the SPOR Chronic Pain Network research coordinator. |
Rachel Roy
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Rachel is currently in her first year of her MA in the School Psychology program at UM and is funded by SSHRC. In the HATLab, she works part-time as the research coordinator for the SPOR Chronic Pain Network. She is currently involved in several chronic pain research projects including understanding risk and resiliency factors associated with suicidality in chronic pain patients, and the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with chronic pain. |
Lily Pankratz
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Lily is entering her first year of her MA in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Manitoba. Her research interests lie in mental health service utilization, trauma, and women’s mental health. She is the research coordinator in the HATLab for a project funded by the National Research Council of Canada examining novel virtual reality interventions for individuals experiencing phantom limb pain. |
Sarah Kowall
Sarah is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Winnipeg where she will be completing her BAH in Psychology with a minor in philosophy. She is most interested in neuroscience, and how the brain's structure and function is impacted by trauma, and mind body interventions. She is currently a volunteer research assistant in the HATLab and has been involved in projects related to mental health impacts of COVID-19. In the future, Sarah hopes to complete graduate training in clinical psychology.
Thesis or Project-Based Lab Alumni
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Undergraduate Students
2019-2020: Bronwen Grocott
Project: "Three months ago there was nothing": Breast cancer surgery patients' emotional experiences
2019-2010: Gagan Gill
Project: Illness-induced post-traumatic stress disorder among Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans
Project: "Three months ago there was nothing": Breast cancer surgery patients' emotional experiences
2019-2010: Gagan Gill
Project: Illness-induced post-traumatic stress disorder among Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans
BSc(Med) Students
2016-2018: Edward Noh
Project: Surgery delays and cancellations in Canada: A preliminary examination of prevalence trends over the past decade
Award: Statistics Canada Research Data Centre Award
Publication based on project:
Sommer, J. L., Noh, E., Jacobsohn, E., Christodoulou, C., & El-Gabalawy, R. (2020). An examination of difficulties accessing surgical care in Canada from 2005-2014: Results from the Canadian Community Health Survey. Plos One, 15(10), e0240083. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240083.
2015-2017: Everett Vun
Project: An examination of chronic pain conditions and mental health correlates in a cross-sectional population based survey of Canadian Forces personnel
Awards: Health Sciences Centre Medical Staff Executive and Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Travel Award, the A. Allyn Rossen Award for the Best BSc(Med) project, the Schom Travel Bursary Award to present her findings in Texas this April, and the MMSF Dr. James E Wilson Memorial Award for outstanding promise in research
Publication based on project:
Vun, E., Turner, S., Mota, N., Afifi, T., Sareen, J., & El-Gabalawy, R (2018). Prevalence of comorbid chronic pain and mental health conditions in Canadian Armed Forces active personnel: Analysis of a cross-sectional survey. CMAJ Open, 6(4), E528-E536. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20180093
2015-2017: Joel Braun (secondary supervisor; primary supervisor: Dr. Natalie Mota)
Project: Trauma exposure, DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder, and maladaptive health behaviors: Results from a nationally representative sample of men and women in the United States
Award: BSc(Med) Outstanding Clinical Research Project
Publication based on project:
Braun, J., El-Gabalawy, R., Sommer, J. L., Pietrzak, R. H., Mitchell, K., & Mota, N. (2019). Trauma exposure, DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder, and binge eating symptoms: Results from a nationally representative sample. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 80(6), pii: 19m12813.
Project: Surgery delays and cancellations in Canada: A preliminary examination of prevalence trends over the past decade
Award: Statistics Canada Research Data Centre Award
Publication based on project:
Sommer, J. L., Noh, E., Jacobsohn, E., Christodoulou, C., & El-Gabalawy, R. (2020). An examination of difficulties accessing surgical care in Canada from 2005-2014: Results from the Canadian Community Health Survey. Plos One, 15(10), e0240083. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240083.
2015-2017: Everett Vun
Project: An examination of chronic pain conditions and mental health correlates in a cross-sectional population based survey of Canadian Forces personnel
Awards: Health Sciences Centre Medical Staff Executive and Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Travel Award, the A. Allyn Rossen Award for the Best BSc(Med) project, the Schom Travel Bursary Award to present her findings in Texas this April, and the MMSF Dr. James E Wilson Memorial Award for outstanding promise in research
Publication based on project:
Vun, E., Turner, S., Mota, N., Afifi, T., Sareen, J., & El-Gabalawy, R (2018). Prevalence of comorbid chronic pain and mental health conditions in Canadian Armed Forces active personnel: Analysis of a cross-sectional survey. CMAJ Open, 6(4), E528-E536. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20180093
2015-2017: Joel Braun (secondary supervisor; primary supervisor: Dr. Natalie Mota)
Project: Trauma exposure, DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder, and maladaptive health behaviors: Results from a nationally representative sample of men and women in the United States
Award: BSc(Med) Outstanding Clinical Research Project
Publication based on project:
Braun, J., El-Gabalawy, R., Sommer, J. L., Pietrzak, R. H., Mitchell, K., & Mota, N. (2019). Trauma exposure, DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder, and binge eating symptoms: Results from a nationally representative sample. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 80(6), pii: 19m12813.
Residents
2020: Dr. Amanda Shamblaw
Project: The impact of adverse childhood experiences on perinatal complications in a nationally representative sample.
Publication based on project:
Shamblaw, A., Sommer, J., Reynolds, K., Mota, N., Afifi, T., & El-Gabalawy, R. (in press). Pregnancy and obstetrics complications in women with a history of childhood maltreatment: Results from a nationally representative study. General Hospital Psychiatry.
2018-2020: Dr. Alicia Ling
Project: The impact of shared familial chronic pain experiences on healthcare utilization.
Award: Dr. Ben Shell Research Award for best PGY3 project
2016-2018: Dr. Karen Mac Donald
Project: An examination of preoperative distress and perioperative risk factors in non-cardiac surgery patients
2015-2017: Dr. Brian Csupak
Project: Generalized anxiety disorder and chronic pain in a nationally representative Canadian sample
Award: Statistics Canada Research Data Centre Award
Publication based on project:
Csupak, B., Sommer, J. L., Jacobsohn, E., & El-Gabalawy, R. (2018). An examination of the co-occurrence and functional correlates of chronic pain and generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 56, 74-80. doi: https://doi-org.uml.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.04.005
2015-2017: Dr. Chris Hoban (co-supervised by Dr. Alan Mutch)
Project: Pre-operative neurological and cognitive markers predicting post-operative delirium: A pilot study
Publication based on project:
El-Gabalawy, R., Patel, R., Kilborn, K., Blaney, C., Hoban, C., Ryner, L., Funk, D., Legaspi, R., Fisher. J. A., Duffin, J., Mikulis, D. J. & Mutch, W.A.C (2017). A novel stress-diathesis model to predict risk of post-operative delirium: Implications for intra-operative management. Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience, 9(274). doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00274
Project: The impact of adverse childhood experiences on perinatal complications in a nationally representative sample.
Publication based on project:
Shamblaw, A., Sommer, J., Reynolds, K., Mota, N., Afifi, T., & El-Gabalawy, R. (in press). Pregnancy and obstetrics complications in women with a history of childhood maltreatment: Results from a nationally representative study. General Hospital Psychiatry.
2018-2020: Dr. Alicia Ling
Project: The impact of shared familial chronic pain experiences on healthcare utilization.
Award: Dr. Ben Shell Research Award for best PGY3 project
2016-2018: Dr. Karen Mac Donald
Project: An examination of preoperative distress and perioperative risk factors in non-cardiac surgery patients
2015-2017: Dr. Brian Csupak
Project: Generalized anxiety disorder and chronic pain in a nationally representative Canadian sample
Award: Statistics Canada Research Data Centre Award
Publication based on project:
Csupak, B., Sommer, J. L., Jacobsohn, E., & El-Gabalawy, R. (2018). An examination of the co-occurrence and functional correlates of chronic pain and generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 56, 74-80. doi: https://doi-org.uml.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.04.005
2015-2017: Dr. Chris Hoban (co-supervised by Dr. Alan Mutch)
Project: Pre-operative neurological and cognitive markers predicting post-operative delirium: A pilot study
Publication based on project:
El-Gabalawy, R., Patel, R., Kilborn, K., Blaney, C., Hoban, C., Ryner, L., Funk, D., Legaspi, R., Fisher. J. A., Duffin, J., Mikulis, D. J. & Mutch, W.A.C (2017). A novel stress-diathesis model to predict risk of post-operative delirium: Implications for intra-operative management. Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience, 9(274). doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00274
