Shadini Dematagoda is a fourth-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University. She has completed practicum placements at Toronto Western Hospital, Baycrest Health Sciences, the Community Head Injury Resources Services of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Shadini’s clinical interests include neuropsychological assessment in adult populations with neurodegenerative diseases and complex medical and psychiatric conditions. Her doctoral dissertation, supported by a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, examines cultural differences in motivated cognition, focusing on how social and cultural factors shape information-seeking and memory processes in younger and older adulthood.
Throughout her graduate training, she has been actively involved in initiatives aimed at increasing access and representation in psychology and neuropsychology training. She has mentored undergraduate and prospective graduate students through programs at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Graduate Leadership Institute and the Canadian Psychological Association. Outside of her academic and clinical work, Shadini enjoys teaching and performing traditional Sri Lankan dance, reading and spending quality time with family and friends.