Dr. LaForge-MacKenzie obtained a Master of Arts (Health and Physical Education) and a PhD (Behavioural and Population Health) in Applied Health Sciences from Brock University (St. Catharines). During her graduate studies in the Department of Kinesiology, Kaitlyn researched and published in several areas related to mental well-being and physical activity, including associations with efficacy, attention, coaching, doping, youth sport, and skilled performance. Upon graduating in 2015, Kaitlyn joined the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University (Toronto) as a postdoctoral fellow examining elite athletes and the impact of geographical constraints and deliberate practice self-efficacy on skill development, respectively. Most recently, Kaitlyn was employed as a research associate in the Department of Psychiatry at the Hospital for Sick Children’s (SickKids) Research Institute. Kaitlyn’s role was focused in the COVID-19 & Kids Mental Health Collaboration where she led studies regarding the feasibility of matching child mental health symptom profiles directly to virtual mental health interventions. She further championed through publications and presentations, the need for extracurricular activities, school sports, and community sports to operate during intra-pandemic periods as protective factors for child and youth mental health.

As a Research and Evaluation Associate with the HRI, Kaitlyn’s role involves planning, executing, and delivering mental health research projects. Kaitlyn has a breadth of experience in research and evaluation methods including feasibility and implementation science procedures, quantitative data analyses, and survey development and standardization techniques. Kaitlyn’s previous experiences in sport, physical activity, and mental health complement on-going and up-coming projects.

Research Gate Profile