Elections to the College Council were held on March 31, 2024. We are pleased to announce the following results:
- District 5 (GTA East) – David Kurzman, Ph.D., C.Psych. (Acclaimed)
- District 6 (GTA West) – Rachel Wayne, Ph.D., C.Psych. (Elected)
The term of office for these Council Members begins on June 14, 2024 and continues until the first Council meeting following the elections in 2027.
We wish to extend our congratulations to the successful candidates and want to thank all those who participated in this year’s College Council elections.
To introduce these members of Council, we are providing the Biographical and Candidate Statements as they were submitted to the College as part of the election process.
David Kurzman (District 5 – GTA East)
I have always strived to be involved in organizations that serve to enhance the discipline of psychology through education; collegiality with other mental health professionals; and through education and protection of the public. It has been a longstanding personal aspiration to become involved at the college level to serve the public interest and to protect the public and the discipline of psychology while attempting to resolve any potential conflicts that may arise. I believe that this role is a critical one as it will allow for further growth and flourishment of the field of psychology.
A little about me: I have been a registered Member of the College of Psychologist of Ontario (CPO) for over 20 years, with a practice in Clinical Neuropsychology. I am licensed to practice in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. I completed my formal education including a BSc from McGill University, an MSc from the University of Victoria, and a PhD from Concordia University. Continuing education has always been important to me, and I have completed the Microprogram in Insurance Medicine and Medicolegal Expertise for Canadian Health Professionals through the University of Montreal as well as the coursework requirements towards a post-doctoral Master’s Degree in Psychopharmacology through Fairleigh Dickinson University. I have received the C-CAT (Mental/Behavioral) certification through the joint CSME/CAPDA Catastrophic Training Certification Program and have also completed the CAPDA/CSME CMLE Program. I have held positions at the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, and St. John’s Rehabilitation Hospital prior to entering into private practice. I have been president of the Canadian Academy of Psychologists in Disability Assessment (CAPDA) as well as an active Board Member for many years. I am a member of several psychology-based organizations including OPA, APA, INS, CSME, and ASAPIL. In the past I have served on the College of Psychologists Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee, which was an educational experience and something that I think any registered and practicing psychologist should get involved in, to better understand the process by which the College performs investigations of other members. I have been in private practice for the last 20 years.
Rachel Wayne (District 6 – GTA West)
I am a Clinical and Rehabilitation Psychologist working in private practice. Prior to this, I most recently worked in an Assistant Practice Lead role with University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto for individuals with work-related injuries. Currently, I treat mood and anxiety concerns in the adult population, with a specialized focus in individuals with complex trauma, as well as those with chronic health conditions, particularly hearing loss and tinnitus. As a hard of hearing individual, I have long been engaged in advocacy for awareness and accessibility for individuals living with disabilities. I have won numerous awards at the provincial and federal levels for my research in the field of cognitive hearing science.
I consider myself a lifelong learner, avid reader, and critical thinker, with a longstanding interest in matters of philosophy and ethics. I welcome difficult, complex, and challenging conversations, as I believe they promote opportunity for empathy, mutual understanding, and growth.
I am committed to values of social responsibility, inclusivity, equity, fairness, and integrity. This, coupled with my clinical expertise and personal experiences, makes me uniquely well suited to be a member of the CPO council. I would be honoured to represent our profession as we continue to advance and refine the practice of psychology in an ever-changing world.