Biography: Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C. Psych.

Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C.Psych is a clinical psychologist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. She is an Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. She is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Fire Investigators (CAFI). She sits on the board of directors for the following organizations: Badge of Life Canada (BOLC), Operation Lifesaver Canada and Canadian Juries Commission. Dr. Kamkar is a fellow and member of the Collaborative Centre for Justice and Safety Advisory Council; Chair of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Traumatic Stress Section; Co-Chair of Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association Inc. (GLEPHA), Health of Police/ First Responders. She is also the provincial mental health advisor for St. John Ambulance Ontario’s council. She is a founding and credentialed member of the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CACBT) and is within the Research and Psychology Advisory Committees of the Canadian Association Chiefs of Police (CACP).

She has been part of the Federal PTSD Act Advisory Committee, Public Health Agency of Canada, for the development of the PTSD Federal Framework.

Dr. Kamkar was selected and hired in 2019 by the Ministry of Solicitor General as the Mental Health Expert within the Province of Ontario to work with the External Independent Panel to review Canada’s second largest police force, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) culture after a series of suicides of OPP officers.

Dr. Kamkar has worked as a clinician and teacher in a wide variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, including service to Police and First Responders. She provides Evidence-Based Assessment, Independent Medical Evaluation, Disability Management and Evidence Based Psychological Treatment (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), Occupational Stress Injuries to First Responders and on Psychological Distress in the Workplace. She was also the Medical Practitioner for the Invictus Games launched by Prince Harry, Toronto 2017 and worked with the Service Members and Veterans.

Dr. Kamkar provides ongoing Education and Workshops to Ministries and Organizations (Provincial, National and International), including First Responders Organizations, on Occupational Health and Safety, workplace mental health, occupational trauma and disability, and building resiliency pathways at both Individual and organizational level factors. She was invited as a Faculty to 2019 - Osgoode Professional Development, Osgoode Hall Law School York University, “The Osgoode/FCO Certificate – Essentials for Ombuds”. She makes frequent media appearances (National and International) and has written over 100 mental health articles for various comprehensive public resources and current publications are on moral injury, compassion fatigue and trauma, and resiliency.