Operational Stress Injury Clinic

Staff biographies

Michael Kaan, MBA, Manager
Michael Kaan has been the OSI Clinic manager since 2005, and also manages the DLC Research Program.

Jennifer C. Laforce, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Dr. Jennifer Laforce is a psychologist and research coordinator at Operational Stress Injury Clinic at Deer Lodge Centre. She also has an appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Laforce received her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario and completed her psychology internship at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. Her research interests include PTSD, depression, and anxiety and mechanisms of change in treatment.

Chris Enns, MSW, RSW, Clinical Social Worker
has been employed at Deer Lodge Centre since 1996 providing clinical Social Work services for personal care (veteran and civilian and families); respiratory chronic care; special needs and Day Hospital programs.  During his employment at Deer Lodge Centre, Chris has had the opportunity to develop his assessment, counselling, psychotherapeutic (individual and group), teaching, facilitation, mediation, crisis intervention, and advocacy skills.  In addition, Chris provides individual, couple, and family counselling on a part time basis at the Recovery of Hope Counselling Centre.

Chris graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts (psychology); from University of Manitoba in 1995 with Bachelor of Social Work and again from the University of Manitoba with Masters of Social Work in 2001.  Chris has additional training in Critical Incident Stress Management, Conflict Resolution, Solution Focused/Brief Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Amber Gilberto, BScPn, RPN, Nurse Therapist
Amber Gilberto worked for six years in the areas of acute psychiatry and inpatient treatment before joining the clinic in 2006. Her areas of interest include the conjoint treatment of addictions and trauma as well as group therapy, as important supports in the overall treatment of OSIs. She earned her degree in psychiatric nursing in 1999.

Cassandra Adduri, Research Assistant , B.Sc. (Psychology), M.A. (Neuropsychology) Cassandra Adduri received her Bachelor of Science degree in 2005, followed by her Master’s degree with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease, before joining the clinic in 2007.  Her current research interests include the brain and behavior of individuals’ who have sustained neurological damage, as well as aging and visual perception. 

Cheryl Brown, Secretary
Cheryl Brown has worked at Deer Lodge Centre since 1991 where she started as a Unit Clerk on Tower 5. In 1999, Cheryl moved to a joint position in Health Information and Social Work. Her experience as a Unit Clerk on a Veteran’s Unit and in Social Work helps give her a greater understanding of the challenges faced by this group of clientele.