Overview

My current research interests are around exploring the epistemologies present in the culture and science of medicine and how these contribute to persistent and prevalent health inequities. Most of my clinical practice has been through my own community practice, where I see many children with severe behavioural challenges including self injurious behaviours, but I am closely allied and affiliated with BCCH Psychiatry as well as with BCCH Palliative Care (Complex Care), divisions that also work with children with complexity. It is children with complexity, whose needs lie at the interface of health and social services, that highlight where our systems break down and where we need to focus attention to improve health outcomes. A recent interest takes this a step farther, and uses a hyper-self-reflexive practice to explore how individuals continue to contribute to inequities in health, especially as hidden violence towards Indigenous patients and families in healthcare and health interactions. I hope to continue this critical inquiry to challenge current practice to apply alternative methodologies to medical practice.

Publications

Characteristics of children with autism and unspecified intellectual developmental disorder (intellectual disability) presenting with severe self-injurious behaviours
International Journal of Developmental Disabilities
Alison Fong and Robin Friedlander and Anamaria Richardson and Katie Allen and Qian Zhang
DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2022.2113321
08/2022

An HNRNPK-specific DNA methylation signature makes sense of missense variants and expands the phenotypic spectrum of Au-Kline syndrome
American Journal of Human Genetics
Choufani, S. and McNiven, V. and Cytrynbaum, C. and Jangjoo, M. and Adam, M.P. and Bjornsson, H.T. and Harris, J. and Dyment, D.A. and Graham, G.E. and Nezarati, M.M. and Aul, R.B. and Castiglioni, C. and Breckpot, J. and Devriendt, K. and Stewart, H. and Banos-Pinero, B. and Mehta, S. and Sandford, R. and Dunn, C. and Mathevet, R. and van Maldergem, L. and Piard, J. and Brischoux-Boucher, E. and Vitobello, A. and Faivre, L. and Bournez, M. and Tran-Mau, F. and Maystadt, I. and Fern{\'a}ndez-Ja{\'e}n, A. and Alvarez, S. and Garc{\'i}a-Prieto, I.D. and Alkuraya, F.S. and Alsaif, H.S. and Rahbeeni, Z. and El-Akouri, K. and Al-Mureikhi, M. and Spillmann, R.C. and Shashi, V. and Sanchez-Lara, P.A. and Graham, J.M. and Roberts, A. and Chorin, O. and Evrony, G.D. and Kraatari-Tiri, M. and Dudding-Byth, T. and Richardson, A. and Hunt, D. and Hamilton, L. and Dyack, S. and Mendelsohn, B.A. and Rodr{\'i}guez, N. and S{\'a}nchez-Mart{\'i}nez, R. and Tenorio-Casta{\~n}o, J. and Nevado, J. and Lapunzina, P. and Tirado, P. and Carminho Amaro Rodrigues, M.-T. and Quteineh, L. and Innes, A.M. and Kline, A.D. and Au, P.Y.B. and Weksberg, R.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.08.014
2022

Biased data lead to biased algorithms
CMAJ. Canadian Medical Association Journal
Richardson, A.
DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.80860
2022

Do light truck vehicles (LTV) impose greater risk of pedestrian injury than passenger cars? a meta-analysis and systematic review
Traffic Injury Prevention
Desapriya, E. and Subzwari, S. and Sasges, D. and Basic, A. and Alidina, A. and Turcotte, K. and Pike, I.
DOI: 10.1080/15389580903390623
2010

Deterrent to healthy lifestyles in our communities [13]
Pediatrics
Desapriya, E.B.R. and Pike, I. and Basic, A. and Subzwari, S.
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2007-0370
2007

Research

EUA Project
Working within Dentistry department to create a workflow that identifies missing investigations,
assessments, etc. at time of booking sedation. Created a working group (anesthesia, psychiatry, CTU) to review access to sedation suite for children with severe behavioural challenges. Establishing a current state to begin PDSA cycles to assess areas of intervention.

Eye Tracking
While there may exist a connection between autism and manga, the extent to which manga can
specifically be attractive towards autistic readers is elusive, and research on this subject is, to our knowledge, so far still limited. In this proposal, we propose to use ET technology and leverage its metrics, to identify 1) if there is any specific affinity to reading manga in high functioning autistics, and 2) if reading manga differs between neurodiverse (high functioning autism) and neurotypical youth. This study will provide some of the first research to ascertain if there is any affinity to manga by youth with autism, and to appreciate if there are differences in how youth read manga. If there are differences this can lead to a further understanding of the cognitive impact of autism on reading, including areas of novel research, allow for potential objective measure for diagnostic purposes, and use of manga for communication or intervention.

Narratives
Using narrative interviewing and story telling, experiences of parents whose child has received a diagnosis of ASD and FASD will be compared and contrasted. The narrative story telling will be evaluated to determine if there are themes that are different between the two experiences. Furthermore, the compiled stories will be graphically or artistically represented, to identify if visually, there is alternative data that is missed through a traditional evidence gathering interview.

Grants

UBC - CUES Grant, $15,000. "A Community-University Collaborative for Improving the Management and Outcomes of Individuals with Self-Injurious Behaviours in Autism and Related Disorders". 2020 – 2022

UBC – CUES Grant, $30,000. "Web-based Parenting Support Group – a Community Partnership with Family Support Institute". 2021- 2022

MASES, $20,000. "Examination under anesthesia: algorithm for children and youth with severe behavioural complexity and neurodevelopmental conditions: 'The EUA Project'". 2021- 2022

Child Bright – POR Fellowship, $10,000. "Examination under anesthesia: algorithm for children and youth with severe behavioural complexity and neurodevelopmental conditions: 'The EUA Project'". 2021- 2022

Honours & Awards

Wall Scholar, 2021-2022

Research Group Members

Setareh Setayesh, Volunteer Research Assistant
Ben Shaw