PATIENTS’ SESSION

- Bridging the Gap: Strategies for coping and healing during and after a spinal CSF leak

• Speaker: Dr. Rosann Seviour (Family physician)

Q&A

- Managing the emotional and mental toll of SIH

• Speaker: Dr. Kathryn Curtis (Psychologist)

Q&A

- Caregiver testimonials: Support, tips and tools

• Speaker: Amy St.Aubin (Parent and caregiver to a child with a spinal CSF leak)

Q&A

- Role of advocacy

• Speaker: Bahareh Cloutier (Founder and chair of the Board, Spinal CSF Leak Canada)

Q&A

Dr. Rosann Seviour Dr. Seviour is a Family Physician and Public Health Specialist with a Masters in Epidemiology and an interest in Population Health. She graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador Medical School, interned at McGill Medical School in Montréal, Québec, and completed her Fellowship in Community Medicine and her Master in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa, Ontario. She enjoys being physically active and is an active volunteer in her community. She has been an avid dragon boat paddler for over two decades and has coached youth and adult dragon boat teams for almost as long.  

Having experienced a spinal CSF leak firsthand, Dr. Seviour brings a deeply personal perspective to her work with Spinal CSF Leak Canada. Her lived experience fuels her commitment to advocating for those affected by the condition. She is an active member of the Medical Advisory Committee, the Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Board of Directors for Spinal CSF Leak Canada, where she plays a key role in improving awareness, supporting research, and advancing care for patients. Dr. Seviour lives on an island at the edge of the continent in the wonderful city of St. John's.  

Dr. Kathryn Curtis is a Clinical Psychologist at the Comprehensive Integrated Pain Program at

Toronto Western Hospital. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at York University, her clinical residency at the University Health Network, and her post-doctoral fellowship at the Transitional Pain Service at Toronto General Hospital. Dr. Curtis provides psychological services to individuals with chronic pain in the context of medical interventions, such as Ketamine infusion and neuromodulation, and to specific populations, including individuals experiencing spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Psychological treatment modalities that Dr. Curtis uses at CIPP include ACT, mindfulness, self-compassion, and ketamine-focused integration. Her research evaluates mind-body interventions, such as yoga and mindfulness, for populations experiencing chronic pain and mobility restrictions. Dr. Curtis has published her research in scientific, peer-reviewed journals and she has presented at international conferences.

Amy St. Aubin is a parent and caregiver to a child with a spinal CSF leak. She lives in the Niagara Region with husband, daughter and son. In addition to working in the criminal justice system, Amy is a Board Member for Hydrocephalus Canada and contributes in raising awareness for spinal CSF leaks. Amy will be sharing her journey as her role of parenting evolved into caregiving while her daughter was impacted by spinal CSF leaks. 

Bahareh N. Cloutier is a Toronto-based philanthropist and health advocate dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Her personal experience with this condition profoundly shaped her mission, inspiring her to establish Spinal CSF Leak Canada. As Chair of the Board of Spinal CSF Leak Canada, she leads the organization in advancing advocacy, education, and patient support initiatives across Canada, driving meaningful improvements in care and outcomes for those impacted by this complex condition.

Fluent in three languages, Bahareh brings a global perspective and dynamic approach to her work. To expand her influence in the nonprofit sector, she has earned certifications in Nonprofit Management, Marketing for Nonprofits, and Advanced Grant Writing from McMaster Continuing Education. These achievements have equipped her with enhanced expertise in organizational leadership and strategic planning. Additionally, her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Ottawa University and a degree in Dental Technology, reflecting her commitment to lifelong learning and professional excellence.

Before transitioning to health advocacy, Bahareh was the owner of a successful Toronto-based design studio, where she honed her entrepreneurial skill

Melanie Hopper is a Partner and General Counsel at ONE Group Solutions based in Luxembourg. Melanie obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Dalhousie University) and her Bachelor of Laws (University of Ottawa) in 2002. Over the years, Melanie has worked in law firms located in Canada, Bermuda and Luxembourg.

Melanie is a member of the Board of Directors of Spinal CSF Leak Canada.