Lived Experiences & Expert Insights

In healthcare and social policy, few leaders bridge the gap between frontline community care and national legislative reform like Janelle Breese Biagioni (MPCC, RQS). As an author, counsellor, and executive leader, Janelle has dedicated her career to advancing systems change within the brain injury sector, ensuring that policy design is guided directly by individuals with lived and living experience. Janelle’s leadership operates across three interconnected levels of governan

Meet Gabriella, a psychology student who is passionate about understanding people, supporting her community, and embracing new experiences. With a strong interest in child psychology and development, she hopes to pursue a career supporting children and families. Having explored 15 countries, her travels have strengthened her curiosity about different cultures and ways of life. Outside of her studies, she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, and making memories with family a

UBC Vancouver Point Grey campus | Friedman Building – Physical Therapy & Research Clinic Concussions, a form of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), are caused by a direct or indirect force that moves and accelerates the brain inside the skull. While loss of consciousness may occur following an injury, symptoms vary significantly among individuals. Common signs involve headaches, dizziness, mental fog, difficulty concentrating, and vision and balance problems. For many people

When we view a brain injury solely through a clinical lens, diagnoses and treatment plans often overshadow the person's daily reality. Real recovery requires a much deeper, more compassionate understanding. This week on the Mind & Brain Student Podcast, we sat down with Emma Knock to discuss her unique pathway from community-based non-profit work to the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program at UBC. Now a first-year student in the Northern Cohort in Prince George, Emma

When I was growing up, I was always told that I was my grandmother's favourite. Family members would tell me how much I reminded her of her own mother, and some of my earliest memories are tied to the stories she shared, the traditions she carried with her, and the love she gave to those around her. When I was around five years old, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. As a child, I did not fully understand what that diagnosis meant. What I did understand wa

Welcome to the latest installment on the Mind & Brain Student Network BC blog. Today, we have the privilege of sharing a deeply reflective and inspiring piece by Christopher Brian Dittrich. Since sustaining an injury on March 3, 2008, Christopher has spent the last 18 years navigating the complex, non-linear path of recovery. From his early days hitting major physical milestones in New Jersey to currently navigating the bustling streets of Bangkok with confidence, his journey

Meet Jordana, a first-year Master of Occupational Therapy student at UBC. Having navigated the unpredictable and often frustrating path of two concussions, she is turning her personal challenges into a foundation for her future profession. Jordana is sharing her story with the Mind & Brain Student Network BC to shed light on the invisible nature of brain injuries and to highlight the vital role of community support and self-advocacy in the healing process. How It Happened Ca