Amanda is passionate about healthcare transformation and the intersection of where health informatics can be utilized to create positive change in the healthcare landscape. She has held leadership roles in the private, public and non-profit sectors of healthcare. She has a pre-med background and graduated with distinction from Royal Roads University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management. She holds a Master of Science degree in Health Informatics and is currently a PhD student with the School of Health Information Science at the University of Victoria. In addition to her PhD studies, Amanda is also a student with the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Visual and Automated Disease Analytics Graduate Training Program.

Amanda has joined Homewood Research Institute (HRI), working directly with HRI Senior Scientist, Dr. Yuri Quintana, in the digital innovations arena. Amanda’s research will be supported by a Mitacs Accelerate Studentship Award and Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) in partnership with: HRI, the University of Victoria, Harvard Medical School, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In this role, Amanda will also be partnering with Dr. Jean Costello, Dr. Lena Quilty, Dr. Andre Kushniruk, Dr. Elizabeth Borycki on a project series entitled “Evaluating the Evidence-Base for Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) for Substance-Use Treatment in Canada.” The general objective of this investigative series is to make iCBT technologies safer, and evidence-based for the Canadian population. Specifically, this research aims to identify the iCBT tools currently used in industry to treat substance use disorders and understand the lived and living experiences of Canadian citizens using or implementing iCBT technologies. Further, the content source in iCBTs will be evaluated for currency, scientific evidence, language, and cultural appropriateness for the Canadian context. The outcomes of this project will advance mental health research by creating an evidence-base to assist clinicians, healthcare organizations and the public to select safe and effective substance-use technologies to address their unique needs.