About Us
Our Program Goals
The Tourette OCD Alberta Network was created by a group of health care professionals, researchers, educators and people with lived experience with TS and OCD. The network was set up by funding from Alberta Health, through a grant from the Maternal Newborn Child and Youth Strategic Clinical Network.
The Tourette OCD Alberta Network is now a registered charity: 739567931 RR0001
Dr Tamara Pringsheim
President
Dr. Pringsheim is a neurologist and Professor at the University of Calgary. She is the program lead for the Tourette and Pediatric Movement Disorder clinic at Alberta Children’s Hospital. Her research program is focused on the development of clinical practice guidelines and educational programs to improve the safety, effectiveness and appropriateness of care of children and adults with neurological disorders and mental illness. She is the leader of the Tourette OCD Alberta Network.
Dr Davide Martino
Vice President
Dr. Davide Martino is a neurologist and the director of the Movement Disorders Program at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary. His research program focuses on endophenotypic markers, environmental factors and multidisciplinary pathways of care for complex movement disorders, mainly Tourette syndrome and dystonia.
Mrs Adrienne Hill
Treasurer
Adrienne Hill is a mother of three boys, two of whom were diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome and several associated disorders (TS+). She is a retired high school mathematics teacher who was an in-service provider and national trainer for Tourette Canada for 13 years. She has extensive experience doing in-services for teachers and support staff, students, and community members to bring understanding about and strategies for coping with TS+.
Mr Dick Averns
Secretary
Dick Averns is an interdisciplinary artist, author and post-secondary instructor whose practice probes how mental and physical spaces are valued and exchanged. Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in adulthood, his research engages with socio-political themes including conflict and mental health. He has been principal investigator for two community-based research programs working with people that have lived experience of Tourette’s, OCD and related neurological illnesses. Dick is Curatorial Coordinator for the Founders’ Gallery at Calgary’s Military Museums.
Dr Paul Arnold
Consultant
Dr. Arnold is Professor and Director, The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education at the University of Calgary. He practices as a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Alberta Children’s Hospital, where he specializes in the assessment and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. His research focuses on how genetic and environmental risk factors interact to influence the development of OCD and other child onset neuropsychiatric disorders.
Dr Gabrielle Wilcox
Consultant
Dr. Gabrielle Wilcox is a registered psychologist, a CBIT certified provider, and an Associate Professor of School and Applied Child Psychology. Her program of research is focused on school-based mental health; supporting transition to adulthood, especially for students with additional challenges; and educational cognitive neuroscience, combining psychological and/or educational interventions with non-invasive brain stimulation to support positive outcomes for children and adolescents.
Dr Felicity Sapp
Consultant
Dr. Felicity Sapp, Clinical Director and owner of OCD and Anxiety Psychological Services in Calgary, has extensive experience treating children, teens and adults with OCD. She is on the Scientific Advisory Committee of Anxiety Canada and a credentialed member of the Canadian Association of CBT. She provides training/supervision to therapists as part of the Behavior Therapy Training Institute (IOCDF) and annually, since 2008, presents OCD and Anxiety related workshops in the USA and Canada.
Dr Jennifer Ference-Belhomme
Consultant
Dr. Ference-Belhomme is a Clinical Psychologist with the Alberta Children’s Hospital in the Neurosciences and Sleep Clinics, offering support to the Tourette and Pediatric Movement Disorder clinic. As a clinician-scientist, her practice focus is to provide evidence-based services to patients. Working in a tertiary care setting, she provides treatment to patients with impairments associated with medical conditions, such as Tourette’s syndrome. She offers Comprehensive Behavior Intervention for Tics to children/teens referred by Neurology.
Mr Julian Fletcher
Program Coordinator
Julian Fletcher is the program coordinator for the Tourette OCD Alberta Network. His principle role is to promote awareness of the Tourette OCD Alberta Network among the general public, schools and health care professionals. In this capacity, Julian assists with the planning and execution of the program, as well as coordinating research and the dissemination of the educational outreach campaign.
Dr Gina Dimitropoulos
Consultant
Dr. Gina Dimitropoulos is an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, and is cross-appointed with the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics. Her research program spans several broad areas, including conducting clinical trials for interventions for youth and emerging adults with mental health issues including eating disorders and anxiety. She also conducts health service research on youth transitioning from adolescence to adulthood who are affected by chronic health, mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Ms Jennifer Maesk
Consultant
Jennifer Masek is a registered recreation therapist in Alberta. She uses recreation, leisure and adaptation to increase wellness and quality of life for people who live with varying abilities and disabilities. She is a person with OCD lived experience and the president/founder of the Alberta OCD Foundation (aocdf). Jennifer focuses on reducing the stigma and shame/isolation associated with mental illness by creating a supportive OCD community and arranging OCD awareness/educational and fundraising events.
Mrs Francine Reid
Parent Director
Francine Reid is a professional in the software industry with a neurodivergent family, including herself, one of whom was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome and associated disorders (TS+). She has a passion for building community and empowering parents to seek out knowledge through peer and professional support.
Mrs Nancy Kirkpatrick
Parent Director
Nancy is a proud mom of two neurodiverse boys. As a public education advocate, she has participated in both grassroots activism and policy-level engagement. She has collaborated with parents, teachers, and educational professionals to foster understanding and empathy towards neurodivergent individuals. She has actively engaged with government officials and education boards to work towards educational strategies that emphasize supports based on individual need and the learning styles of complex learners.
Mrs Keltie Marshall
Parent Director
Keltie Marshall is a mom of an extra-large, multi-racial adoptive and foster family. She and many of her children live with developmental disabilities including Tourette syndrome. Her education and career experience are primarily in non-profit and volunteer management. In 2020 she helped found Hold My Hand AB, an advocacy group for disabled children. In 2023, Keltie completed a certificate in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and is now working as a consultant in that field, as well as consulting on family support at a local children’s therapy practice.