Pinwheel Education Series: OCD
Speaker Biographies
Heather
Heather and her husband Matt are both elementary school teachers in Squamish, B.C.. They
have a daughter named Claire who is 13 years old. Claire was diagnosed with OCD at age 10.
OCD runs in my family – Heather has a cousin with OCD. The family has been through some
very difficult times, but they've learned a lot and Claire is doing well.
Dr. Evelyn Stewart
Dr. Evelyn Stewart is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, UBC and Director
of the new OCD Clinic and Research Program at Children’s Hospital. She has done extensive
research in the area of OCD, Tourette's Disorder, and related illnesses. She sits on the Scientific
Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation, chairs their Pediatric OCD committee and
is an active member of the International OCD Foundation Genetics Collaborative. Dr. Stewart
recently received the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research career investigator award.
Arto Tienaho
Arto was born in Haida Gwaii and moved to Vancouver from Kitimat in Northern B.C in the early
80's and has worked in many aspects of the Aviation industry for more than 20 years.
His own struggles with a lifetime of anxiety altered his path. After an extensive search he found
out about the Anxiety disorders clinic at UBC where he participated in a one on one CBT
treatment program. After treatment he felt a desire to give back and began volunteering with
AnxietyBC in a peer to peer panic disorder group. This lead to a full time position with the
organization, and his current role is as the Executive Director. He feels fortunate to be able to
share his story.