The Canadian Sleep Society is inviting you to vote for the next CSS Board members ! You will need to register and be a CSS member to vote. To cast your vote, click here.
There are currently four openings on the CSS Executive Board:
- Member-at-large (Membership)
- Member-at-large (Media & Advocacy)
- Member-at-large (Dentist)
- Member-at-large (Student)
We currently have 6 nominees for those roles. You will find their bios below. Please note that Dr. Armin Rahmani and Dr. Guido Simonelli have been elected unopposed.
Emily Wildeboer (nominated by Penny Corkum)
- Member-at-large (student)
Emily Wildeboer is a senior PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Dalhousie University under the supervision of Dr. Penny Corkum and Elizabeth Keys. Her research focuses on the development and evaluation of an online training program for healthcare providers related to behavioural sleep problems in early childhood. Emily’s other research interests include sleep and neurodevelopmental disorders, family/patient engagement in research, and neuropsychological assessment in patients with spatial neglect. Clinically, Emily is child-focused, meaning she provides assessment of and treatment for mental health and learning difficulties in children and teens. Emily’s work is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CGS-D), Research Nova Scotia (Scotia Scholars Award), and the Maritime SPOR Support Unit (Trainee Research Award). She currently serves as a Co-Student Representative on the Executive for the Association for Psychologists of Nova Scotia (APNS).
Alyssa Pozzobon (nominated by Nicholas van den Berg)
- Member-at-large (Student)
As a PhD student in Psychology at the University of Ottawa, I have developed a diverse set of skills and experiences that I believe would make me a strong candidate for this position. My journey in sleep research began seven years ago as a volunteer in Dr. Stuart Fogel’s Lab during my undergraduate studies. There, I received training in EEG and fMRI data collection and analysis techniques. I subsequently took on the role of lab coordinator and am now completing my PhD, focusing on the effects of melatonin on sleep-dependent memory consolidation in aging adults. My research has been presented at numerous international conferences, including the Canadian Sleep Society, the European Sleep Research Society, and the Organization for Human Brain Mapping.
Beyond my academic pursuits, I have actively contributed to various committees, notably serving on the Diversity and Inclusivity Committee for the Organization for Human Brain Mapping. In this role, I helped organize several equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, including a series of talks aimed at encouraging young people worldwide to explore neuroscience. At the University of Ottawa, I have been involved with the Society for Neuropsychology as the Administrative and Financial Executive Member and the Interdisciplinary Conference in Psychology as an Executive Member, where I played a key role in organizing a four-day psychology conference. Currently, I am volunteering with the Sleep Research Consortium, helping with the website and data organization.
These experiences have equipped me with strong organizational, leadership, technical, and interpersonal skills, making me well suited for the role of student representative on the CSS Executive Board.
Armin Rahmani (nominated by Michael Mak) (BSc, MD, FRCPC)
- Member-at-large (Media & Advocacy)
Dr. Armin Rahmani is a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist with a strong passion for advancing sleep care in Canada. Currently serving as a staff psychiatrist and sleep physician at Markham Stouffville Hospital, Dr. Rahmani is focused on advancing the field of sleep medicine through both clinical practice and research.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rahmani has been actively involved in numerous initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes in sleep health. He has contributed to the field through pursuing a master’s degree in health system innovation at the University of Toronto, School of Public Health. His thesis is focused on implementing an accessible cognitive behavioural therapy program for patients with insomnia in the primary care setting.
In addition to clinical work, Dr. Rahmani has held leadership positions such as serving as a chief resident in his residency program at the University of Toronto.
As a prospective executive member of the Canadian Sleep Society, Dr. Rahmani aims to leverage his expertise to further the Society’s mission of promoting excellence in sleep medicine across Canada.
Simi Silver (DDS)
- Member-at-large (Dentist)
As a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, I prevent and manage breathing problems including sleep apnea, snoring, mouth breathing in all ages.
I evaluate and treat children for proper jaw growth and development, incorporating oral myofunctional therapy, oral appliances and frenuloplasty (tongue tie release).
Going on close to 30 years, I have now focused my practice on treating sleep apnea and orofacial or TMJ pain.
I offer Invisalign, VIVOS, HealthyStart, Botox, trigger point injections and oral appliances for sleep apnea. If you hate your CPAP, I can help!
Tina Meisami (nominated by John Peever and Nelly Huynh)
- Member-at-large (Dentist)
Dr. Meisami is a Maxillofacial and Sleep Surgeon and the Director of Sleep Medicine at University Health Network, Division of Dentistry, Toronto Rehab Institute.
Dr. Meisami is an assistant professor at University of Toronto, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at McMaster University, Division Medicine, where she is involved in providing Surgical and Dental Sleep Medicine training for the Clinical Fellowship Program in Sleep Medicine. She has lectured extensively on the topic of Surgical Treatment Modalities for OSA in Canada and the US.
Tina is an Active Staff Surgeon at North York General Hospital, where she provides surgical treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Maxillofacial Deformities. She founded and has practiced full scope of OMFS at her private clinic Yorkville Maxillofacial Surgery since 2003. She completed her surgical training at University of Toronto in 2001, and a fellowship training in facial trauma and orthognathic surgery in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002 and has been practicing Maxillofacial surgery in Toronto for the past 22 years.
In 2010 she founded and has since been the Director of Dr. Borna Meisami Commemorative Foundation which is a non-profit organization providing free healthcare services to female survivors of gender-based and intimate partner violence living in shelters in Ontario, which has to date provided nearly two million dollars in free dental, surgical, rehabilitative treatments.
Over the past 22 years of her practice in Toronto, Tina has been committed to teaching and mentorship, achieving excellence in the surgical treatment of her patients, empowerment of women in surgery and dentistry, and community service for betterment of women’s lives in marginalized populations.
Guido Simonelli (nominatetd by Nadia Gosselin, QSRN) (MD)
- Member-at-large (Membership)
Dr. Simonelli is an expert in sleep health, at the intersection of sleep and public health. His current work focuses on the relationship between sleep, public health and human performance. He aims to understand the multiple factors that shape sleep, and their role in sleep disparities. Dr. Simonelli‘s work is done within an interdisciplinary and large network of scientists, clinicians and stakeholders.
To access the curriculum vitae of those nominated, please reach out to florence@css-scs.ca as this information can only be shared with our members.
Please note that Dr. John Viviano has withdrawn his nomination. We want to thank Dr. Viviano for his involvement and his support of the CSS!