Plenary V: Canadian Research update/Spinal CSF leak Canada initiatives

Dr. Farnaz Amoozegar is a Clinical Associate Professor in the department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary. She practices as a neurologist and headache specialist at the Calgary Headache Assessment and Management Program. Dr. Amoozegar completed undergraduate studies and her medical training at the University of Calgary, followed by a neurology residency at the University of Ottawa.  She then returned to Calgary and completed subspecialty training in the area of Headache and Facial pain with Dr. Werner Becker.  Over the next few years, her interest in clinical research led her to complete a Masters Degree in Clinical Epidemiology.  She has been involved in research in the field of headache for over 15 years.  She is the current director of the headache research program at the University of Calgary, and has been the principal investigator of several studies at the site. She been awarded research grants from the University of Calgary and the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).  

Dr. Amoozegar has a special interest in the area of Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension (SIH) and is involved in many educational, advocacy, and research initiatives to raise awareness and advance knowledge in this field. She has also pioneered the establishment of the first registry for Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension in Calgary, which has now expanded to Toronto. Dr. Amoozegar is an active Member of the Medical Advisory Board and the Chair of the Scientific Committee for Spinal CSF Leak Canada.

Dr. Hoydonckx is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto. She has a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology. Her interests are in chronic pain treatments, mostly in the area of craniofacial pain. She created the multidisciplinary Intracranial Hypotension program at University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto and the Craniofacial Pain Program at Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute.

She has leadership roles in national and international pain organizations such as Canadian Pain Society and American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. She has received the prestigious 2021 Canadian Pain Society Early Career Investigator Pain Research Grant and more recently the 2024 ASRA Early-Investigator grant for her ongoing randomized controlled KetHead trial where she investigates the therapeutic effect of high dose ketamine infusions on chronic daily headaches. She recently also received PSI funding for an observational study on percutaneous occipital nerve blocks for SIH. Together with Dr. Amoozegar, Dr. Hoydonckx is a co-investigator on a multi-center SIH registry, currently recruiting patients in Calgary and Toronto.

Dr. Hoydonckx is an active member of Medical Advisory Board and the Vice chair of the scientific committee for Spinal CSF Leak Canada.

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