Phillippa Bridge-Cook, PhD
Founding Board Member, The Endometriosis Network Canada
Dr. Bridge-Cook is one of the founding board members of The Endometriosis Network Canada. She is the former chair of the board and now serves as an advisor to the board. Dr. Bridge-Cook is also the co-chair of EndoAct Canada, and a member of the steering committee of the World Endometriosis Organisations. She has had endometriosis for many years, with an experience that includes a 20-year delay in diagnosis, failed treatments, successful treatments, several surgeries, and multiple miscarriages. This experience sparked her passion for helping others who are also suffering as a result of endometriosis, and her desire to create change in the system to decrease the diagnostic delay and make effective multidisciplinary treatment accessible to all Canadians with endometriosis. She was a key member of the team at The Endometriosis Network Canada that secured the largest federal investment to date in endometriosis awareness, access to sexual and reproductive health services, and reduction in barriers to care. Dr. Bridge-Cook has been a featured speaker to government committees and caucuses and has been a panel moderator at healthcare conferences and endometriosis awareness events.
Dr. Bridge-Cook is a scientific advisor, consultant and medical writer specializing in molecular diagnostics. She has experience with clinical practice guidelines, medical education, and regulatory writing.
Jaclyn Lanthier, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, UBC Founder and Director, The Lost Labia Chronicles Executive Board Member, Secretary
Dr. Lanthier is a philosopher and researcher. She holds a PhD and a Masters in Philosophy of Neuroscience from Western University, where she developed a methodology for analyzing the epistemic value of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the mind-brain sciences. Dr. Lanthier is the founder of The Lost Labia Chronicles, a content hub for evidence-based education and support. She is a dedicated advocate for individuals affected by vulvar lichen sclerosus, actively participating in patient-oriented initiatives and leveraging her expertise to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact. She is passionate about knowledge translation to improve health literacy and quality of life amongst VLS patients.
Kirsten Loop, MA
Technical Writer & Patient Partner
Kirsten has over 20 years of experience in software and information development in various industries. Her degree in English, certification in Technical Communication, and Masters Certificate in Adult Training and Development (Instructional Design) are buttressed by various other psychology intensive, graduate-level courses in research methods. An accomplished photographer, she co-created an award winning travel guide to the erotic subculture of Paris for women in 2009. She is also a certified instructor for the Gyrotonic® method of body movement with specialization in pelvic girdle function. Kirsten was a long-time sufferer of vaginismus and has lived the consequences of health professionals undereducated in the domain of sexual pain disorders. Self-cured in 1998, she writes to shed light on the insidious condition of vaginismus.
Katie Luciani
Executive Director of The Endometriosis Network Canada
Katie Luciani (she/her) has been the Executive Director of The Endometriosis Network Canada since 2019. She’s been actively supporting and advocating for the Canadian endometriosis community since 2014. In Katie’s leadship role, she has organized national endometriosis awareness events, connected with numerous endometriosis patients across the country, and facilitated educational seminars, webinars, and town hall meetings. She led the development of Canada’s first-ever national digital awareness campaign, #Know Endo. Additionally, she has established new partnerships and strengthened existing ones with the Canadian physician community.
Katie has led the development of several endometriosis patient resources, including a 2SLGBTQQIA+ resource, a disability support resource, and a patient education day in collaboration with the Canadian Society for the Advancement of Gynecologic Excellence. Furthermore, she led the establishment of TENC’s ambassador program, which focuses on ensuring representation, diversity, equity, and inclusion for all individuals living with endometriosis.
As an endometriosis patient herself, Katie brings a unique perspective and understanding of the struggles and challenges faced by those who live with the condition. Though she experienced symptoms since she was 11 years old, she was not diagnosed until she was 27. Her 15 years of experience dealing with medical mismanagement and trauma have inspired her to become a passionate advocate for raising awareness and support for the endometriosis community. Katie believes that every person living with endometriosis should be heard, supported, and ultimately have the opportunity to live a happy, hopeful, and productive life.
Linda McLean, PhD
Professor, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa, Women’s Health Research Endowed Chair
Dr. Linda McLean received her undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy from McGill University and later pursued her MSc and PhD in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, respectively. She held academic positions in physiotherapy at Dalhousie University and Queen’s University before moving to the University of Ottawa in 2014 where she is currently Full Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences and holds the Endowed Chair in Women’s Health Research. Linda’s dynamic and multidisciplinary laboratory combines her engineering and health sciences expertise to develop innovative approaches to study the biomechanics, motor control and neurophysiology of the female pelvic floor, using advanced techniques including electromyography, dynamometry, ultrasound imaging, motion analysis, quantitative sensory testing and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Her research focuses on the pathophysiology of and interventions for urinary incontinence and sexual pain disorders. Linda holds over $3 million in research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the National Vulvodynia Association. She has published over 140 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and over the past 2 years has been invited to author 4 book chapters and to give 8 invited talks at major national and international conferences. She is Associate Editor for the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, and is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Women’s and Pelvic Health, Physical Therapy and the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology.
Trinda Penniston, MSc
PhD Student in Clinical Psychology, Sexual Health Research Laboratory (SHRL), Department of Psychology, Queen’s University
Trinda Penniston is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology working under the supervision of Dr. Caroline Pukall in the Sexual Health Research Laboratory at Queen’s University. Her research focuses on the sexual health and wellbeing of racialized and other marginalized groups, with a special interest in Black women. For her doctoral dissertation, Trinda will examine the sexual pleasure and pain experiences of Black women in Canada, specifically how their sexual experiences are defined, measured, and treated when accompanied with distress. Trinda has received funding from various sources to support her research, including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship, and student-allocated research funding from the International Association of Sex Research (IASR). She has also won several awards for her research including the Black Scholars Excellence in Mentorship Award (Queen’s University Faculty of Arts and Science), the Excellence in EDI Research Award (Department of Psychology, Queen’s University), and the Master’s Thesis Certificate of Academic Excellence (Canadian Psychological Association).
Caroline Pukall, PhD
Canada Research Chair in Sexual Health Professor, Department of Psychology, Queen’s University Director, Sexual Health Research Laboratory Director, Queen’s Sex and Relationship Therapy Service
Dr. Pukall completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at McGill University. She is currently a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Sexual Health, Professor of Psychology, Director of the Sexual Health Research Laboratory (sexlab.ca), and Director of the Sex and Relationship Therapy Service in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University. Her research focuses on genito-pelvic dysesthesias, specifically vulvodynia and persistent genital arousal disorder. She adopts an inclusive lens in her research, representing sexual and gender minority groups as well as other marginalized groups. Dr. Pukall has published more than 180 articles and chapters, has been involved in more than 500 presentations, and has written several books. She has also been involved in contributing to and leading treatment recommendation guidelines for genito-pelvic dysesthesia through international organizations, most recently, the International Consultation of Sexual Medicine. Throughout her career she has obtained more than $11.8 million dollars in research funding, primarily from national funding agencies. Dr. Pukall also provides clinical training in evidence-based psychological approaches to sexual and relationship issues to student therapists through her service at the Queen’s Psychology Clinic.
