Dr. Cohen is a behavioral neurologist known for her excellence in patient care, teaching, and clinical research. She completed her neurology residency and behavioral neurology fellowship at the University of Toronto. She is the Medical Director and site Principal Investigator (PI) of Toronto Memory Program, a community-based medical facility that she established in 1996 for the purpose of enhancing diagnosis, care, and therapeutic options for individuals with or at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Under her guidance, Toronto Memory Program’s multidisciplinary team has grown to a staff of 60 individuals. Its memory clinic and research site are among the most active in Canada.
Dr. Cohen has over 30 years of experience in clinical research and has been a site PI for over 180 pharmacological trials. She has participated in acute stroke trials as well as trials for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Huntington’s disease (HD), vascular dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, the latter being her primary focus. Her site has been credited as a “go to” center for Alzheimer’s disease trials and has been awarded for superior performance and quality in clinical research.
Dr. Cohen represents Canada on international advisory boards and steering committees and is a consultant to a wide range of stakeholders in dementia including government organizations and patient advocacy groups. She is a frequent lecturer and contributes to media events including those on medical ethics. She is known for her advocacy of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.
Despite academic and hospital appointments, Dr. Cohen has always chosen to practice in the community, in keeping with her belief that dementia care and clinical research are best offered in the real-world setting.