“As a Child Psychiatrist, I see firsthand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health and the gaps that currently exist in mental health service delivery. Youth experience the highest rates of co-occurring substance health and mental health problems (“concurrent disorders”) compared to other age groups, yet many do not receive the integrated services they need. Through knowledge mobilization and capacity-building, my program of research aims to bridge these gaps. I will work with community organizations in Eastern Ontario to identify needs and disseminate knowledge to improve concurrent disorders care, develop an integrated substance health and mental health program at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and lead and contribute to national standards implementation for paediatric concurrent disorders. Most importantly, my time will be spent mobilizing and translating research evidence, moving knowledge into our daily practice to improve health outcomes for children and youth. I am delighted to receive this PSI Knowledge Translation Fellowship to start my early research career dedicated to improving services in child mental health.” – Dr. Tea Rosic
PSI Foundation is pleased to announce Dr. Tea Rosic as the recipient of the 2023 PSI Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship.
About Dr. Tea Rosic
Dr. Tea Rosic is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. Her research examines the impact and management of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (concurrent disorders). She has published 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts (11 first-authored) since 2016 and given 16 oral presentations in national and international settings.
Dr. Rosic has won numerous awards for her research, including several best poster and best paper awards, and additionally won awards for her clinical work (2019 Outstanding Resident Award, Hamilton Health Sciences) and for student mentorship (2018 Resident Mentor Award, McMaster). At CHEO, she was ranked first in the Children’s Hospital Academic Medical Organization (CHAMO) Fellowship Competition in 2020.
Dr. Rosic completed her medical training and Psychiatry residency at McMaster University, followed by a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. She is in her final year of PhD training in Health Research Methodology and in the Clinician Investigator Program at McMaster.
About the PSI Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship
Knowledge translation research aims at transitioning research discoveries to the real world to improve health outcomes. The PSI Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship – valued at $300,000 for over two or three years – helps protect a promising new clinician investigator’s research time, allowing the Fellow to undertake high-impact translational research in Ontario.
Fellowship Funds to be Used for Synthesis, Dissemination, and Application of Evidence to Improve the Care of Youth with Concurrent Disorders
This Fellowship will allow Dr. Rosic, a Child Psychiatrist and researcher, to synthesize, disseminate and apply evidence to improve the care of youth who have both substance use and other mental health disorders.
Compared to other age groups, youth have the highest rates of co-occurring addiction and mental health problems, also known as “concurrent disorders.” Substance use is related to higher severity of other mental health symptoms and lower chances of receiving treatment. When concurrent disorders go untreated, youth are at risk of dropping out of school, having family conflicts, engaging in risky activities, and dying. There are gaps in our healthcare services in Ontario and in Canada that can be addressed through knowledge translation and capacity-building.
Dr. Rosic will work to mobilize knowledge and build capacity for assessment and treatment of youth concurrent disorders within Eastern Ontario and beyond. Her research program includes working with community organizations to identify needs and disseminate knowledge, developing a specialized child concurrent disorders program at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and leading and contributing to guideline development and national standards implementation for concurrent disorders care.
