OUR TEAM

Lisa Bishop

Co-lead of DECYDE, Researcher and Clinician

Dr. Lisa Bishop is a pharmacist and Professor at the School of Pharmacy, as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Discipline of Family Medicine at Memorial University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Memorial University, completed a Hospital Pharmacy Residency in Hamilton, Ontario, and obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado. Dr. Bishop currently practices as a pharmacist with an interdisciplinary primary healthcare team. She is an established educator and researcher who has lead research in areas such as substance use education, cannabis policy, opioid stewardship, and mental health and addictions. She is currently co-leading the development and evaluation of the DECYDE strategy. Her work is driven by a commitment to youth health and safety, with a particular focus on enhancing substance use health literacy through education that emphasizes primary prevention and harm reduction.

Jennifer Donnan

Co-lead of DECYDE, Researcher

Dr. Jennifer Donnan is an Associate Professor and Pharmacist at Memorial University’s School of Pharmacy. Her research focuses on cannabis policy and substance use prevention and harm reduction. She has expertise in knowledge synthesis, choice modelling and program evaluation. Jennifer has co-developed the Drug Education Centered on Youth Decision Empowerment (DECYDE) strategy, focused on substance use prevention and harm reduction through classroom education. Jennifer is also passionate about training the next generation of pharmacists to provide true patient centered care that challenges stigma, is culturally sensitive and trauma informed.

Nick Harris

Researcher and Clinician

Dr. Nick Harris is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia. He earned his B.A. (Honours) in Psychology from Saint Mary’s University, followed by his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Lakehead University, and completed his internship through the Northern Ontario Psychology Internship Consortium (NORPIC), specializing in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. He relocated to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, where he joined the Department of Psychology in 2016. He maintains a clinical practice as a registered Clinical Psychologist, focusing primarily on youth and their families who are experiencing mental health challenges, often alongside co-occurring concerns related to substance use or problematic technology use (e.g., social media, gaming). Nick’s research interests lie in the areas of substance use and behavioural addictions. Since the legalization of non-medical cannabis in Canada, a significant portion of his research has focused on cannabis use among young adults.

Greg Harris

Researcher and Clinician

Greg Harris is a Professor with the Faculty of Education in the area of Counselling Psychology. He is a Registered Psychologist in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. His research interests focus on prevention of HIV, understanding and preventing risk behaviour, therapeutic applications of positive psychology (e.g., hope, empowerment), as well as practice, conceptualization, and training considerations associated with counselling, especially in K-12 school contexts.

William Lumis

Regional Addictions Prevention Consultant

William Lummis is a Regional Addictions Prevention Consultant with the Mental Health and Addictions Prevention & Promotion Team in the Western Zone of Newfoundland Health Services. He has a background in military mental health and is a veteran of the US Army prior to immigrating to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2012. He is currently a part of the Prevention & Promotion and Treatment working groups for the NL Provincial Alcohol Action Plan – an initiative to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms through a strong collective, public health-based approach. His current primary focus areas are reducing harms from alcohol, cannabis, and gambling.”

Gary Peddle

Citizen Advisor

Gary Peddle brings his lived and living experience to the DECYDE team.He’s been sober since 2019 and started his harm reduction journey with SUNAR (Substance User Network of the Atlantic Region) since the start. He’s dedicated to getting more useful knowledge for all ages to make informed decisions about drugs and alcohol. Rather than complete abstinence, they will try what they want, and we believe knowledge of the risks and consequences of “these lifestyle” will be essential to them making the proper choices and having better lives.

Goodness Awunor

Research Assistant

Goodness Awunor is a Research Assistant with the DECYDE project and a graduate of Memorial University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Biochemistry. She also serves as a Clinical Research Assistant with NL Health Services (NLHS). Her professional and volunteer experience spans several areas, including work on various infectious disease clinical trials, mentoring and teaching children, and leading equity-focused initiatives. She currently serves as the Anti-Racism Employee Resource Group Lead on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Reconciliation Council at NLHS, reflecting her strong commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable spaces.

Sophia Burke

Sophia Burke is a teacher with a double major in English and French. She currently teaches at Beaconsfield Junior High and is beginning her masters in September. Sophia is a member on the DECYDE team and collaborates with others on the creation and adaptation of lesson plans and curriculum that can be implemented across schools.

Amanda Michael

Research Assistant

Amanda Michael is a research assistant with the DECYDE program and is responsible for assessing educator lesson plan feedback and assisting with the DECYDE French translation project. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioural Neuroscience and a Master’s degree in Public Health from Memorial University. Amanda is passionate about promoting greater health literacy and strengthening public healthcare for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador through upstream harm reduction and trauma-informed care initiatives

Robyn Cumbden

Research Assistant

Robyn is a Student Research Assistant and MSc student in Experimental Psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Robyn mainly assists the team with infographic resource creation and has also contributed to work investigating peer support initiatives for parents and caregivers of youth in the context of substance use

Aliya Seward

Research Assistant

Aliya Seward is a research assistant with DECYDE. She is a current graduate student at Memorial University, currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Health, specializing in Nutrition and Dietetics. Aliya previously completed her BSc in Applied Human Nutrition from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. Aliya works part-time with DECYDE, contributing to the creation of lesson plans and other educational materials, while also supporting overall project coordination.

Kathryn Dalton

PhD Student

Kathryn Dalton is a PhD student under the co-supervision of Dr. Bishop and Dr. Donnan, and serves as co-chair of the Youth Advisory Panel. Kathryn graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours in Neuroscience and Mental Health from Carleton University and a Master of Science in Pharmacy from Memorial University. For her PhD, she will explore the biopsychosocial factors that contribute to youth substance use, with a focus on understanding the experiences and needs of vulnerable youth to inform harm reduction, primary prevention, and education strategies.

Megan Heath

PharmD Student and Teacher

Mahiba Khan

PharmD Student

Mahiba is a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student at MUN. She is passionate about children’s health and well-being, and loves working with the DECYDE team to promote harm reduction in school-age children. Mahiba is interested in pursuing hospital pharmacy when she graduates and just finished her term as MUN Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy Senior Representative. Outside of academics, she enjoys volunteering with youth programs and staying active with outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and running. On rainy days, she can be found reading her new book obsession for hours on end.

DECYDE Steering Committee

The Steering Committee guides the development, adaptation, implementation, evaluation, and long-term sustainability of the DECYDE strategy.

Co-Chairs: Jason Earle (teacher) and Lisa Bishop (DECYDE team member)
Size: 12–15 members with relevant experience in substance use prevention and youth harm reduction education
Members: Conseil scolaire francophone provincial • DECYDE’s Youth Advisory Panel • Government of NL (Departments of Education and Health & Community Services) • NL Centre on Substance Use and Addictions (NL Health Services) • NL schools • NL Teachers’ Association • Individuals with lived or living experience • DECYDE Team

DECYDE Youth Advisory Panel (YAP)

Meets regularly to discuss substance use issues affecting youth, provide input on education topics and approaches, and give feedback on project materials.

Co-Chairs: Grace Kelly (youth) and Kathryn Dalton (DECYDE team member)
Composition: 14 youth aged 12–18 from both urban and rural areas of NL
Value: Brings authentic youth perspectives into substance use education
Compensation: All members are paid for their time and contributions
Prior Co-Leads: Emily Rowe and Molly Downey