Our Team

Honourary Patron - Dr. Charles Tator:  ​

We are trilled to have Dr. Charles Tator become an Honourary Patron of Heads Up! Durham. Dr. Tator is a world-renowned expert on brain injury and founder of ThinkFirst Canada.
aFFILIATIONS
  • Board Member, Parachute Canada (our national injury prevention organization)  
  • Professor, Department of Surgery University of Toronto
  • Senior Scientist Toronto Western Research Institute
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • Former Chairman, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto
  • Received the Order of Canada 
  • Inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame
  • Inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

​Advisory Panel

Dr. Michael Cusimano:
  • Staff neurosurgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital (since 1992)
  • Cross appointments with Hospital for Sick Children and UHN
  • Full professor of Neurosurgery, Education and Public Health at U of T
  • Founder and Director of the Injury Prevention Research Office at St.Michael's Hospital
Dr. Angela Colontonio, PhD, OT, FACRM, FCAHS:
  • Professor at the University of Toronto (Dept. of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy);
  • Holds a CIHR Chair in Gender, Work and Health;
  • Senior Scientist at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, UHN
  • Leads a program of research on acquired brain injury targeting injury prevention and post-acute care with a special focus on vulnerable populations


​​Steering Committee

committee members
  • Linda Lowery: Chairperson; Co-Founder, Heads Up! Durham; Retired, Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Coordinator, Durham District School Board (DDSB)
  • Kerry Corbett: Vice Chairperson, Heads Up! Durham; Sports TBI Prevention Advocate
  • Ted Dionne: Co-founder, Heads Up! Durham; Retired Staff Sgt., Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS); Retired Professor, Justice Studies, Durham College
  • Garrett Bell: Co-founder, Heads Up! Durham; Injury Prevention Advocate
  • Heather Desta (nee Hofmann): Exec. Director, Brain Injury Association of Durham (BIAD)
  • Amy Ellis: Community Engagement and Fundraising Coordinator, BIAD
  • ​Dr. Michelle O'Brien: Neuropsychologist, Mental Health Program, Lakeridge Health
  • Melissa Brabant: Regional Strategic Coordinator, Public Outreach and Education Office, Ministry of Transportation Ontario
  • Peter Mohyla: Retired, Community Safety Officer – Transit Safety Operations; Safety & Security Division - GO Transit Metrolinx
  • TBD: The Arts & Health and Physical Education, DDSB
  • TBD: Special Education Officer, DDSB.
  • Pat Costello: Retired, Board Liaison for Extra-curricular & Community Programs, (K-12); Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB)
  • Jeff Williams: Tactical Flight Officer, Air Support Unit, Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS)
  • Meagan Patterson: Human Resources Specialist, DRPS
  • Jennifer Hammond: Director, Quality and Standard Clinical Care, Community Care Durham
  • Bethany Benson: Injury Prevention Advocate
  • Nicole Gilchrist: Advance Care Paramedic; Facilitator, Quality and Development. Region of Durham Paramedic Services
  • Taylor Reed: Injury Prevention Advocate; focus on elimination of Impaired Driving
​Community Champions          
​Community Champions are either:
​​Individuals/families representing specific geographic areas of Durham Region where they live or work (e.g. Oshawa, Uxbridge etc.) who:
  • are advocates for Heads Up! Durham
  • help ensure information is being shared and communicated
  • help ensure the unique needs of their community are being addressed by Heads Up! Durham
  • identify support for Heads Up! Durham in their community (interested community members, media, financial and in-kind donors etc.)
 or
Corporations/agencies/businesses etc. who represent/serve the Region and support the Vision, Mission and Goals of Heads Up! Durham.
meet our community champions!
Region of Durham - 

Town of Whitby:
  • Kerry Corbett: Vice Chairperson, Heads Up! Durham; Sports TBI Prevention Advocate

City of Oshawa:
  • Linda Lowery: Chairperson, Heads Up! Durham; Retired, Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Coordinator, Durham District School Board (DDSB)
  • Ted Dionne: Retired Staff Sgt., Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS); Retired, Professor, Justice Studies, Durham College

​Township of Scugog:
  • Frank Smith: Former Chair of Adjustments/Animal Services/Property Standards Committees; 2010 Candidate for Scugog Township Councillor; Retired Staff Insp., Toronto Police

​Subcommittees
aWARENESS AND PROMOTION
This committee oversees promotion of Heads Up! Durham, including our Social Media.
​Team members include:
  • Kerry Corbett: Chairperson; Vice Chairperson, Heads Up! Durham; Sports TBI Prevention Advocate
  • ​Linda Lowery: Chairperson, Heads Up! Durham; Co Founder, Heads Up! Durham; Linda Lowery Consulting​
  • Nichole Davies: Liaison; Digital Media Coordinator, BIAD
Durham region p.a.r.t.y.
Refer to our P.A.R.T.Y. page for a list of team members.
intimate partner violence
This committee focuses on understanding the intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Traumatic Brain Injury.
One in three women will experience intimate partner violence. Most will also suffer a brain injury. (www.soarproject.ca)
​
Team members:
  • Linda Lowery: Co- Founder and Chairperson, Heads Up! Durham
  • Dr. Michelle O'Brien: Neuropsychologist, Mental Health Program, Lakeridge Health
See also Abused & Brain Injured (abitoolkit.ca).

Safety on wheels
This subcommittee is focused on safety during all types of wheeled transportation (bicycle safety, longboards, skateboards, e-scooters, etc.).
The team consists of:
  • Peter Mohyla: Retired, Community Safety Officer – Transit Safety Operations; Safety & Security Division - GO Transit Metrolinx
  • Melissa Brabant: Regional Strategic Coordinator, Public Outreach an Education Office, Ministry of Transportation Ontario
  • Linda Lowery: Co-Founder and Chairperson, Heads Up! Durham
employment support
Heads Up! Durham presented a workshop in October 2020 to help those looking to gain employment or return to work following a concussion or traumatic brain injury. The next initiative will be focused on employers to help them see the value in employing people with unique abilities.
Team members include:

Meagan Patterson (Chair): Human Resources Specialist, Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS)
​Garrett Bell: Co Founder, Heads Up! Durham​​; Formerly Community Outreach Ambassador, McLeish Orlando
​Kerry Corbett: Vice Chairperson, Heads Up! Durham; ​Sports TBI Prevention Advocate
​Heather Desta (nee Hoffman): E.D., Brain Injury Association of Durham Region (BIAD)
Linda Lowery: Co Founder and Chairperson, Heads Up! Durham
​
Missed the workshop?  Access content here.
fundraising
june brain injury awareness month
This committee helps us shine a light on June: Brain Injury Awareness Month through creative social media posts, requests for Regional and Municipal declarations, presentations, displays etc.