Name: Elsa-Lynn Nassar
Email Address: elsa-lynn.nassar@mail.mcgill.ca
Position: PhD student in Clinical Psychology
Biography:
Elsa is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at McGill University, under the supervision of Dr. Brett Thombs. Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, she began her undergraduate studies in Psychology at the Lebanese American University in 2017 before transferring to Concordia University in 2019, where she graduated with a BA (Honours) in Psychology in 2021. She then completed her MSc in Psychiatry at McGill in 2023.
Elsa’s research broadly focuses on improving how to engage people with lived experiences (e.g., patients) as partners in research and how best to communicate research results to them. She has also led work assessing the methodological quality and reporting transparency of depression screening accuracy studies with the DEPRESSD and meta-research teams during her MSc, as well as living systematic reviews of the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions and the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in scleroderma with the SPIN team.
Awards:
- Doctoral Studentship ($5,000). Canadian Behavioural Interventions Trials Network and Canadian Institutes of Health Research. 2023-2024.
- Doctoral Research Award ($100,000). Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé. 2023-2027.
- Travel Bursary ($225). Communicating science Conference Canada. 2024.
- Programme de soutien au rayonnement et au perfectionnement de l’Unité de soutien SSA Québec ($1,500). Canadian Institutes of Health Research Quebec SPOR Unit. 2024.
- Post-Graduate Student Society Travel Award ($500). McGill University. 2024.
- Me2 Majumdar Award for Best Poster [Nassar et al., 2023]. Knowledge Translation Summer Institute, 2023.
- Cedar and Maple Graduate Scholarship ($3,000). Canadian-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 2022.
- 1st Prize for Best Patient-engaged Poster Presentation [Nassar et al., 2022a]. Canadian National Scleroderma Conference, 2022.
- Post-Graduate Student Society Travel Award ($600). McGill University. 2022.
- 2nd Prize for Best Oral Presentation [Nassar et al., 2022b]. Annual Integrative Psychiatry Conference.
- Master’s Research Award ($35,000, accepted for 2022-2023). Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et Culture. 2021-2023.
- Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) – Master’s ($17,500). Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. 2021-2022.
- Vincent, Olga, and Denis Nicolas-Diniacopoulos Scholarship ($3,000). Concordia University. 2021.
- Campaign for a New Millennium Student Contribution Scholarship ($1,000). Concordia University. 2020.
- Concordia Undergraduate Student Research Award ($5,760). Concordia University. 2020.
- Lebanese American University Honor’s Scholarship ($10,000). Lebanese American University. 2017-2018.
- Rookie of the Year Annual Athletic Award. Lebanese American University. 2018.
Selected Publications:
Nassar, E.L., Virgili-Gervais, G., Carrier, M.E., Kwakkenbos, L., Henry, R.S., Hu, S., Provencher, S., Golberg, M., Bartlett, S.J., Mouthon, L., Patten, S.B., Varga, J., Benedetti, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2024). Experiences of Telehealth During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic and Preferences for Future Care of People with Systemic Sclerosis: A Cross-sectional Study. Lancet Rheumatology. Online ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00166-8
Adams, C., Nassar, E.L., Nordlund, J., Dal Santo, C., Rice, D.B., Cook, V., & Thombs, B.D. (2024). Engagement of People with Lived Experience in Studies Published in High-Impact Rheumatology Journals: Meta-research Review. Lancet Rheumatology. Online ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00165-6
Dal Santo, T., Golberg, M., Nassar, E.L., Carrier, M.E., Hu, S., Kwakkenbos, L., Bartlett, S.J., Fox, R.S., Lee, Y.C., Varga, J., Benedetti, A., Thombs, B.D., & Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Pain Patient Advisory Team (2024). Protocol for the Development of a Tool to Map Systemic Sclerosis Pain Sources, Patterns, and Management Experiences: A Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Patient-Researcher Partnership. BMC Rheumatology, 8(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-024-00398-3
González-Domínguez, N.P., Wu, Y., Fan, S.Q., Levis, B., Sun, Y., Gilbody, S., et al., & the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) GDS Author Group (2024). Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis Estimates the Minimal Detectable Change of the Geriatric Depression Scale-15. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. Online ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111443
Adams, C., Nassar, E.L., Carrier, M.E., Kwakkenbos, L., Henry, R.S., Virgili-Gervais, G., Hu, S., Bartlett, S.J., Fortuné, C., Gietzen, A., Gottesman, K., Guillot, G., Hudson, M., Lawrie-Jones, A., Lewis, N., Malcarne, V., Mayes, M.D., Patten, S.D., Richard, M., Sauvé, M., Varga, J., Welling, J., Wojeck, R., Mouthon, L., Benedetti, A., & Thombs, B.D. Changes in Work and Adequacy of Financial Resources during COVID-19 among People with Systemic Sclerosis: A Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Study. Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders. Accepted.
Virgili-Gervais, G., Matthews, B., Nassar, E.L., Carrier, M.E., Kwakkenbos, L., Pauling, J.D., Hudson, M., Hummers, L.K., Lawrie-Jones, A., Malcarne, V.K., Mayes, M.D., Richard, M., Sauvé, M., Wojeck, R.K., Mouthon, L., Benedetti, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2024). The Association of Outdoor Temperature and Self-reported Raynaud’s Phenomenon Severity among People with Systemic Sclerosis: A Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort Study. Lancet Rheumatology. Accepted.
Kwakkenbos, L., Nassar, E.L., Sigmans, N., & Thombs, B.D. (2024). Non-Drug Approaches to Treating Raynaud’s Phenomenon. In Raynaud’s Phenomenon: From Pathogenesis to Management (pp. 325-341). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52581-0_18
Wurz, A., Ellis, K., Nordlund, J., Carrier, M.E., Cook, V., Gietzen, A., Adams, C., Nassar, E.L., Rice, D.B., Fortune C., Guillot G., Mieszczak T., Richard M., Sauve M., & Thombs, B.D. (2024). Researcher and Patient Experiences of Co-presenting Research to People Living with Systemic Sclerosis at a Patient Conference: A Qualitative Interview Study. Research Involvement and Engagement, 10(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-024-00546-6
​
Nassar, E.L., Abdulkareem, D.A., & Thombs, B.D. (2023). Results from a Living Systematic Review of the Prevalence of Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Factors Associated with Symptoms in Systemic Sclerosis. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 5181. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31919-8
Cook, V., Gietzen, A., Nassar, E.L., Wurz, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2023). Patient-Researcher Co-Presentation of Research Results to People Living with Scleroderma. Lancet Rheumatology, 5(4), e180-e181. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00063-2
Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Neyer, M.A., Rice, D.B., Booij, L., Benedetti, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2023). Transparency and Completeness of Reporting of Depression Screening Tool Accuracy Studies: A Meta-research Review of Adherence to the STARD Statement. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 32(1), e1939. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1939
Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Neyer, M.A., Rice, D.B., Booij, L., Benedetti, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2022). Sample size and precision of estimates in studies of depression screening tool accuracy: A meta-research review of studies published in 2018-2021. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 31(2), e1910. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1910
Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Rice, D.B., Booij, L., Benedetti, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2022). Inclusion of Currently Diagnosed or Treated Individuals in Studies of Depression Screening Tool Accuracy: A Meta-Research Review of Studies Published in 2018-2021. General Hospital Psychiatry, 76, 25–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.02.005
Selected Presentations:
Poster Presentations:
Nassar, E.L., Hu., S., & Thombs, B.D. (2024, November). Prevalence of Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Factors Associated with Symptoms in Systemic Sclerosis: A Living Systematic Review. Canadian Academy of Psychiatric Epidemiology 2024 Annual Scientific Symposium. Montreal, QC, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Hu, S., Kwakkenbos, L., Bartlett, S., Henry, R.S., Carrier, M.E., et al. (2024, March). Effectiveness of Non-pharmacological and Non-surgical Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes in Systemic Sclerosis: A Living Systematic Review. 8th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress, Prague, Czech Republic.
Nassar, E.L., Carrier, M.E., Krakkenbos, L., Henry, R.S., Ostbo, N., Virgili-Gervais, G., et al. (2024, March). Patient Experiences with Telehealth during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Preferences Going Forward: A Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) COVID-19 Cohort Cross-sectional Study. 8th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress, Prague, Czech Republic.
Nassar, E.L., Hu, S., & Thombs, B.D. (2024, March). Results from A Living Systematic Review of the Prevalence of Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Factors Associated with Symptoms in People with Systemic Sclerosis. 8th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress, Prague, Czech Republic.
Adams C., Nassar, E.L., Sauvé M., Rice D., Cook V., Thombs B.D. (2024, March). Patient Engagement in Scleroderma Research: Enhancing Knowledge and Practice. 8th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress, Prague, Czech Republic.
​
Dal Santo T., Nassar, E.L., Carrier M.E., Hu S., Kwakkenbos, L., Barlett S., et al. (2024, March). Development of a Tool to Document Systemic Sclerosis Pain Sources, Patterns, and Management Barriers: A Scleroderma Patient-Centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Patient-Researcher Partnership. 8th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress, Prague, Czech Republic.
​
Nassar, E.L., Adams, C., Nordlund, J., Rice, D.B., Cook, V., Wurz, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2023, June). Synthesizing Evidence on Comparative Effectiveness of Knowledge Translation Tools for Disseminating Research Results to Patients: A Living Systematic Review. Knowledge Translation Canada Summer Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Adams, C., Nassar, E.L., Nordlund, J., Rice, D.B., Cook, V., & Thombs, B.D. (2023, June). Patient and Public Engagement in Health Research: Protocol for a Scoping Review. Knowledge Translation Canada Summer Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Adams, C., Nordlund, J., Rice, D.B., Cook, V., Wurz, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2023, May). Identifying the Most Effective Knowledge Translation Tools for Disseminating Research Results to Patients: A “Living” Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. 2023 Annual Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research Conference, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Adams, C., Nordlund, J., Rice, D.B., Cook, V., Wurz, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2023, May). Evaluating Comparative Effectiveness of Knowledge Translation Tools for Disseminating Research Results to Patients: A Living Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Knowledge Translation Canada Scientific Meeting, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Adams, C., Nassar, E.L., Nordlund, J., Rice, D.B., Cook, V., & Thombs, B.D. (2023, March). Patient Engagement in Mental Health Research: Protocol for a Meta-Research Study. International Convention of Psychological Science 2023, Brussels, Belgium.
Nassar, E.L., Guillot, G., Discepola, M.N., Kwakkenbos, L., Bartlett, S., Henry, R.S., et al. (2022, September). Effects of Non-pharmacological Interventions on Outcomes Important to People with Scleroderma: An Evidence Summary. 20th Bi-Annual National Scleroderma Conference, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada.
Gietzen, A., Adams, C.E, Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Carrier, M.E., Dyas, L., et al. (2022, September). Effectiveness of the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Support Group Leader EDucation (SPIN-SSLED) Program Among Scleroderma Support Group Leaders. 20th Bi-Annual National Scleroderma Conference, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada.
Adams, C., Sauvé, M., Nassar, E.L., Nordlund, J., Rice, D.B., & Thombs, B.D. (2022, September). More Effective Ways to Engage Patients in Scleroderma Research: A Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Project. 20th Bi-Annual National Scleroderma Conference, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Neyer, M.A., Rice, D., Booij, L., Benedetti A., & Thombs, B.D. (2022, August). Transparency and Completeness of Reporting of Depression Screening Accuracy Studies. American Psychological Association Annual Convention. Virtual.
Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Neyer, M.A., Rice, D., Booij, L., Benedetti A., & Thombs, B.D. (2022, August). Population Appropriateness and Sample Size Specification in Depression Screening Accuracy Studies. American Psychological Association Annual Convention. Virtual.
Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Neyer, M.A., Rice, D., Booij, L., Benedetti A., & Thombs, B.D. (2022, June). Sample Size Specification and Precision of Estimates in Studies Assessing the Accuracy of Depression Screening Tools. The Canadian Psychological Association’s 83rd Annual National Convention, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Neyer, M.A., Rice, D., Booij, L., Benedetti A., & Thombs, B.D. (2022, June). Transparency and Completeness of Reporting of Depression Screening Tool Accuracy Studies: A Meta-research Review of Adherence to the STARD Statement. The Canadian Psychological Association’s 83rd Annual National Convention, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Rice, D., Booij, L., Benedetti A., & Thombs, B.D. (2022, June). Population Appropriateness in Studies Assessing the Accuracy of Depression Screening Tools. The Canadian Psychological Association’s 83rd Annual National Convention, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Herba, C., Lippé, S., Vaillancourt, C., & Booij, L. (2021, January). Neuroticism: A Moderator of the Association Between Prenatal Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Emotional Eating. Center for Clinical Research in Health 8th Annual Conference. Virtual.
Oral Presentations:
Nassar, E.L., Adams, C., & Thombs, B.D. (2024, April). Patient Engagement in Health Research: Just Do Something? The Centre for Clinical Epidemiology Seminar Series, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Carrier, M.E., Krakkenbos, L., Henry, R.S., Ostbo, N., Virgili-Gervais, G., et al. (2024, March). Telehealth Experiences during COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Preferences: A Cross-sectional Study from the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) COVID-19 Cohort. The 5th Annual Canadian Arthritis Research Conference. Virtual.
Cook, V., Wurz, A., Ellis, K., Nordlund, J., Carrier, M.E., Gietzen, A., Adams, C., Nassar, E.L., et al. (2024, March). Researcher and Patient Experiences of Co-presenting Research to People Living with Systemic Sclerosis at a Patient Conference: A Qualitative Interview Study. The 5th Annual Canadian Arthritis Research Conference. Virtual.
Adams, C., Nassar, E.L., Nordlund, J., Rice, D.B., Cook, V., & Thombs, B.D. (2023, May). Identifying More Effective Ways to Engage Patients in Health Research and Disseminate Research Results to Patients. 6th Annual Integrative Psychiatry Conference, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Abdulkareem, D.A., & Thombs, B.D. (2023, January). Prevalence of Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Factors Associated with Symptoms in People with Systemic Sclerosis: A Living Synthesis of the Evidence. The 4th Annual Canadian Arthritis Research Conference. Virtual.
Adams, C., Sauvé, M., Nassar, E.L., Nordlund, J., Rice, D.B., & Thombs, B.D. (2022, September). More Effective Ways to Engage Patients in Scleroderma Research: A Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Project. 20th Bi-Annual National Scleroderma Conference, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada.
Nassar, E.L., Discepola, M.N., & Thombs, B.D. (2022, May). Effectiveness of Non-pharmacological and Non-surgical Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes in Systemic Sclerosis: Living Systematic Review and Patient-engaged Knowledge Translation to Support Shared Decision-making. The 5th Annual Integrative Psychiatry Conference. Virtual.
Herba, C.M., Lippé, S., Giac, R., Sacco, S., Aubin, D., Lelièvre-Blais, S., Nassar, E.L., et al. (2022, June). Prenatal Well-being in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study Across Diverse Regions of Quebec. Annual Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting. Virtual.
Nassar, E.L., Levis, B., Neyer, M.A., Rice, D., Booij, L., Benedetti, A., & Thombs, B.D. (2022, June). Design, Reporting, and Risk of Bias in Depression Screening Accuracy Studies. The Canadian Psychological Association’s 83rd Annual National Convention, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Cordahi-Tabet, C. & Nassar, E.L. (2019, October). Bullying and Self-harm. The 24th Annual Congress of the St. Georges University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.