Dr. Julie Robillard

Julie M. Robillard, PhD is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Scientist in Patient Experience at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital (C&W). She is an affiliated researcher with the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Neuroethics Canada, the Women’s Health Research Institute, the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, and Vancouver Coastal Research Institute.
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Dr. Robillard leads the Neuroscience, Engagement and Smart Tech (NEST) lab and oversees a range of initiatives related to patient experience research at C&W. She brings her background in neuroscience and biomedical ethics to the evaluation and development of novel technologies to support brain health across the lifespan. A particular interest of her research is the integration of emotion modelling in a wide range of technologies, from social media to social robots. Together with her team and through international interdisciplinary collaborations, she is exploring co-creation processes, development and applications of social technologies in both older adult and youth populations. At every stage of her research, Dr. Robillard engages with end-users and explores the ethical considerations of social technologies in brain health care.

Dr. Robillard is passionate about patient engagement and in her role as a Scientist in Patient Experience she is working with a number of groups at C&W and UBC to advance the capture, analysis and improvement of patient experience in both research and care. She is interested in using technology to provide novel means of engagement and patient experience evaluation strategies.

Dr. Robillard holds provincial, national and international leadership roles: she co-chaired the Ethical, Legal, Social Impacts Committee of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging, and is a member of the International Advisory Council of the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) and of the Board of Directors of the Medical Device Development Centre of British Columbia, among others.

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Current Trainees & Staff

Marianne Claire Bacani, BA, CMP-HC, HMCC, is an Events and Operations Director at Neuroethics Canada, University of British Columbia (UBC). Marianne received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy at UBC in 2012. She obtained her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2019, and her CMP-Healthcare designation in 2024, both from the Events Industry Council. She also completed her Healthcare Meeting Compliance certification from the Meeting Professionals International in 2024. In addition to managing all aspects of event planning, including communications, production, and guest engagement, Marianne also oversees finance, administrative, general communications, graphic design, and basic human-resource related matters at Neuroethics Canada. With more than eleven years of planning, organizing and executing high-profile local, national, and global medical and community events, Marianne ensures the consistent delivery of quality events following policies and service industry standards. She brings her passion for knowledge dissemination and community engagement to her active work with local non-profit organizations who promote health literacy, citizenship, the performing arts, and the empowerment of women. Marianne illustrates her eagerness for work excellence by continually embracing new opportunities to improve her professional and leadership skills.

Mallorie Tam, BSc is a Research Program Manager in the NEST Lab. She received her BSc in Mental Health Science and Sociology at the University of Toronto, and has since lived and worked in London, England before moving to Vancouver, BC. She is an expert in qualitative research, leading projects that explore the lived experiences of older adults living with dementia, their care partners. Her work also extends to the intersection of youth mental health and the impact of social media. Outside of work, you can spark up a conversation with Mallorie about her dog, travelling, video games, and yummy food.

Susanna Martin, BSc (Hons) is a Research Assistant at the NEST Lab. She received her honours degree in Occupational Therapy from Robert Gordon University (UK) and worked in clinical practice before moving to Vancouver in 2021. Susanna is curious about how interactions with people, places and objects shape experiences of health and wellbeing. In the lab Susanna is co-creating a tool to measure the impact of social robots in dementia care, and investigating how robots might support children and families at the hospital. She also leads engagement with our lived experience expert groups helping to ensure that our projects are impactful across generations. Susanna is an avid sticker fan, loves being creative, bopping to good music and taking long walks on the beach with her dog.

Viorica Hrincu, MSc is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwəta?/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She is a PhD student in the NEST lab under the supervision of Dr. Julie Robillard, and is doing work in ethics, social media, and dementia. She received her honours degree in Cell Biology from the University of Alberta, and completed her Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies at Neuroethics Canada at the University of British Columbia. Viorica's research interests include: ethics and health, tech ethics, dementia, cognition, subjectivity, and personal identity. Outside academia, she enjoys art, food, creative writing, and music. Her debut collection of illustrated poetry, fol.cl, is available at Moniker Press. 

Jordan Stevenson, MSc is a PhD student in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Julie Robillard. He is interested in how technology and exercise can be leveraged to improve pediatric patient experience/outcomes. Outside of work, he likes to hug his friends at jiu-jitsu and watch reality TV with his wife.

Katelyn Teng is a Work Learn Research Assistant in the NEST Lab under the supervision of Dr. Julie Robillard. Katelyn is a fourth year undergraduate student pursuing a BSc in Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia, and is passionate about mental health advocation, neurodegenerative disorders, and technology’s role in patient experience. Outside of work and school, she can be found baking sweet treats, with friends and family, or as an education guide for natural history.

Angela Peng, is an undergraduate research assistant in the NEST Lab under the supervision of Dr. Julie Robillard. She is currently a fourth year undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Angela is deeply passionate about mental health advocacy and the role of technology in enhancing patient experiences. Her aspirations include further education in clinical child and adolescent psychology, focusing on the implementation of psychosocial treatments in pediatric hospitals to enhance patient experiences and alleviate anxiety. In her free time, Angela enjoys reading, singing karaoke with friends and family, and engaging in new craft projects, such as bookbinding.

Allan Yao, is a Work Learn Research Assistant in the NEST Lab under the supervision of Dr. Julie Robillard. He is in his second year of study pursuing a BSc in Integrated Sciences at the University of British Columbia and is passionate about the interplay between technology and pediatric patient experiences. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and watching nature/true crime documentaries.

Amanda Yau, is a capstone student in the NEST Lab under the supervision of Dr. Julie Robillard, and is an undergraduate pursuing a BSc in Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. She is strongly interested in healthcare ethics and is passionate about improving equity in medical technology. In her free time, she loves talking about art, all kinds of music, and hockey.

Zoe (Fei Han) Chen, is a Work Learn Research Assistant working in the NEST Lab under the supervision of Dr. Julie Robillard. She is in her second year of a BA in Psychology and aspires to work in the field of clinical child and adolescent psychology. Her interests lie in the use of technology in biospychosocial treatments to improve pediatric patient care. In her free time, she loves scrapbooking, reading, and spending time with her two cats.

Alumni

A special thanks to all past members of the NEST Lab for their immense effort and enthusiasm— wishing them continued success in all their future pursuits!