Ana Bilanovic completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at York University in 2019 and is a Clinical and Health Psychologist registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. As part of her doctoral training, she also obtained a Health Psychology Diploma. Ana’s MA research explored the phenomenon of phantom shocks in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a device which monitors and restores normal heart rhythm upon detecting a malignant arrhythmia by way of delivering an electrical shock. Phantom shocks, events reported by the patient but not recorded by the ICD, were found to be indistinguishable from recorded shocks with respect to the quality of sensation, location, and emotional impact. Ana’s doctoral research focused on ICD recipients some of whom underwent a ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation, a moderately invasive procedure which, when successful, can reduce ventricular tachycardia recurrence and ICD shocks. The study examined psychological predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety following the VT ablation as well as whether VT ablation is associated with greater improvement in health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
From the clinical perspective, prior to graduating Ana received clinical training at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and York University Psychology Clinic. Ana completed her pre-doctoral residency at The Ottawa Hospital where she trained within the Heart Institute, Psychology Consultation Service for Inpatients, and the Eating Disorders Program. Throughout her training Ana has worked with individuals, couples, and groups. Ana is currently working at Navigate Clinic, a private practice in Toronto, and at Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre. Ana is also part of the SHAReClinic which supports men and their partners in the aftermath of treatments for prostate cancer.
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