The Obesity Canada Board of Directors and Staff, would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam as our new Scientific Director. Dr. Sockalingam is Vice Chair, Education and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. We are thrilled to have Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam join the executive team at Obesity Canada, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact he will have over the next couple of years. Dr. Sockalingam brings a wealth of expertise and experience to our organization, particularly in the field of psychiatry, mental health and education.
Dr. Sockalingam is the current VP, Education and Interim Physician-in-Chief at CAMH; Member of CAMH Foundation Board, as well as a Senior Scientist at CAMH and a Centre Researcher at the Wilson Centre at the University Health Network and University of Toronto. Dr. Sockalingam is the co-lead on the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Ontario Mental Health, a national leading practice that aims to build capacity for delivering excellent mental health care in primary care settings.
Dr. Sockalingam is the Psychosocial Director of the University Health Network Bariatric Surgery Program. He has over 225 peer-reviewed publications and is the co-editor of the books, “Psychiatric Care in Severe Obesity”, a comprehensive summary of an integrated approach to assessment and managing psychological care in severe obesity, and “Psychological Care in Severe Obesity: A Practical Approach”. Dr. Sockalingam is a well respected researcher in his field and has received funding from CIHR and other peer-reviewed agencies examining psychosocial outcomes related to obesity care, psychological treatments for obesity and exploring the construct of food addiction. He is the co-principal investigator on a large multi-site CIHR funded to evaluate the long-term outcomes of telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy after bariatric surgery.
Dr. Sockalingam’s education research focuses on implementation of mental health capacity building using technology and data-informed lifelong learning. He has been the recipient of several national and international education awards including the 2018 Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (ACLP) Alan Stoudemire Award for Innovation for Excellence in C-L Psychiatry Education, the Association of Chairs of Psychiatry of Canada Award for Excellence in Education, the University of Toronto President’s Teaching Award, and the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education David Davis Research Award in CME.
With Dr. Sockalingam’s guidance and expertise, we anticipate that Obesity Canada will make significant strides in raising awareness, promoting effective, evidence-based interventions, and ultimately improving the lives of individuals affected by obesity. His presence on our executive team instils confidence and excitement as we embark on this journey together to make a lasting impact on the field of obesity.
