About Us
Evolution Health’s mission is to create technologies that help people to become and stay healthy. The company’s initial product was StopSmokingCenter.net, an online smoking cessation program. From StopSmokingCenter.net Evolution Health expanded rapidly, and now offers cutting-edge behavior-change programs tailored for specific populations.
Trevor van Mierlo founded the company in September of 2000 with the vision of a society where people had equal access to technologies that would enable them to shape their lives. Since then Evolution Health expanded organically with products and services now offered worldwide. The company’s growth strategy includes the ongoing creation of new platforms, products and services, as well as supporting scientists and researchers who want to bring their ideas and innovations to the public.
As a team, Evolution Health envisions the development of perfect behavior change programs; programs that offer comprehensive tools and access to services that allow people the freedom to make healthy decisions.
Building the perfect behavior change program is no easy feat, and is a process that requires input from experts in a variety of disciplines. To meet this goal Evolution Health has developed The System, a continuous development methodology that involves input from all team members and stakeholders, including the company’s programmers, Health Educators, behavior scientists, graphic designers, data analysts, and most importantly, our users. The Systems also involves key input from top university researchers from educational institutions around the globe, and paying close attention to what electronic tools and services people actually use and find helpful.
Building the perfect behavior change program also requires Evolution Health to aggressively invest in new technologies and communication media such as mHealth, advances in social networking, graphic user interface design, and information architecture. From a scientific perspective the company also strives to incorporate the newest evidence-based behavior change theory into practice, leveraging advances in motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, normative feedback, and personalized medicine. Rigorous analysis of program success rates are continually assessed through randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and new means of assessing success rates such as regression-discontinuity design.
Evolution Health does not charge users access to our beta programs, and we are not an advertising company. Through leveraging our beta programs we can adapt technology trends and observing adherence patterns, enabling Evolution to offer proven solutions and expertise to pharmaceutical companies, non-profit organizations, governments, insurance companies and world-class researchers so they don’t have to reinvent the wheel and can focus on what they do best.
Spend some time on our beta programs and our clients’ sites so you can see how we are all making a difference. Better yet, become part of the Evolution by signing up for one of our programs or brief interventions, and give a hand or offer a suggestion to someone who can use your advice.
Trevor van Mierlo, CEO and Founder
Trevor van Mierlo founded Evolution Health with the vision of helping people around the world lead healthier and more productive lives. Through designing algorithmic platforms that transform behavior-based data into tailored treatment protocols, Trevor has become a respected pioneer in online and mobile-health behavior change.
Trevor has Masters of Science in Community Health (MScCH) from the University of Toronto, with a focus on Addictions and Mental Health. In addition to managing Evolution’s operations in Canada, United States and Japan he is completing his MBA at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and a Global Executive Masters of Business Administration at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Rachel Fournier, Vice President, Business Development
Rachel Fournier joined the Evolution Health team in 2003. She is primarily responsible for fostering long-term client relationships and establishing new partnerships by delivering value-driven health and wellness programs. She manages clients in North America, Europe, Asia and South America across a several health-related industries. In addition to her business development and corporate growth responsibilities, Rachel develops custom ROI analyses and presents case studies at industry and research conferences.
Prior to her current management role at Evolution Health, Rachel was Director of Client Strategy and founding team member of Publicis NetWorks and Publicis WellCare. She was also a Project Manager at Rare Medium Inc. and Mediconsult Inc. focusing on analytics, marketing, media planning and business development. A second-generation Silicon Valley geek with a B.Sc. in Biology with Honors in Science, Technology and Society from Stanford University, Rachel brings a unique understanding of both the scientific and human aspects to digital health.
Mark Allman, Director of Business Development, Japan
Mark Allman joined Evolution Health in 2007 after negotiating the company's first Japanese partnership and overseeing the translation of Evolution's Web-Based Depression and Anxiety Test (WB-DAT). Since then Mark has secured acceptance of the company's technologies with the Japanese Internet Medical Association (JIMA), resulting in Evolution becoming the first company outside of Japan to receive this distinction. Currently, Mark is located in Japan and is developing new corporate and academic partnerships.
Prior his current role with Evolution, Mark worked in Japan for 11 years in education and corporate training before returning to the United Kingdom to complete his MBA Oxford Brookes University. After graduation, he joined an Oxford University spin-out company focusing on genetics and personalized medicine, where he played a key role in developing a pilot study for a new genetic diagnostic service.
Ralph Ahrbeck
Ralph advises Evolution Health on its global marketing and sales strategies. With over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and consumer health fields, Ralph brings a unique, value-driven global approach. Ralph began his career as a chartered accountant in Toronto before moving to Tokyo, Japan as an area director for Kraft Foods. His career went on to include positions in Basel, Switzerland as European Regional Head of Roche Consumer Health and Alliance UniChem. Currently, Ralph leverages his vast experience as a consultant for firms operating out of Canada, Germany and Poland. He is fluent in English, German and Japanese.
David van Mierlo
From payroll processes to performance reviews, Dave assists Evolution on managing human resources and day-to-day operations. With over 30 years’ experience in large and small companies, his extensive expertise in managing and motivating employees has been invaluable in Evolution’s transformation from start-up to full-scale operations. Currently, Dave is Vice President of Sales for Marex Intermodal, and is responsible for maintaining the company’s international client roster and ensuring efficiency between sales and operations.
H. Reginald Watson
Reg advises Evolution on IP protection and legal strategy. Following his call to the bar and before entering private practice in 1990, Reg was employed by the Law Society of Upper Canada, representing the Society before its administrative tribunals in the courts. Most recently, Reg has successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Canada. In appreciation for countless hours of advice and guidance, Evolution created the H. Reginald Watson Award in 2005, awarded annually to a student in the Faculty of Law at the Queen’s University who demonstrates interest and commitment to social justice and community service. Reg is a partner in the Toronto firm Caswell & Watson.
Peter Farvolden, Ph.D., Scientific Advisor, Mental Health
Dr. Peter Farvolden is a psychologist in private practice where he specializes in the assessment and treatment of mood and anxiety problems, the impact of stress in the workplace, disability management, and return-to-work issues. He is also an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto and holds adjunct appointments in the departments of psychology at the University of Waterloo and Ryerson University. His research has focused on the pharmacological and psychological treatment of mood and anxiety disorders with a recent focus on web-based self-help interventions. From 2005-2008, he was the Clinical Director of the Work, Stress and Health Program at CAMH. Dr. Farvolden received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Waterloo and has worked as a clinician, researcher and administrator in a wide variety of inpatient and outpatient settings including the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at The Hamilton Health Sciences Centre and the Clinical Research Department at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Peter Selby, MBBS, CCFP, MHSc, FASAM, Scientific Advisor, Addiction Medicine
Dr. Peter Selby is the Clinical Director, Addictions Program and Head of the Nicotine Dependence Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). He is also an Associate Professor in the Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Psychiatry, and Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. In addition, Dr. Selby is a Principal Investigator (PI) with the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (OTRU). As the PI of a Canadian Institutes Health Research (CIHR) training grant, he has funded over ten researchers to study tobacco use in special populations.
Dr. Selby is committed to knowledge translation therefore creating the Training Enhancement in Applied Cessation Counseling and Health (TEACH) Learning Centre, a certificate program in Intensive Smoking Cessation Counseling, the Network for the Prevention of Gestational and Neonatal Exposure to Tobacco Smoke (PREGNETS) and directing a graduate degree course in Health Behavior change at the University of Toronto. He has cofounded Web-Assisted Tobacco Interventions (WATI), an international community of practice to explore the rise of technology for smoking cessation. Dr. Selby received his medical degree at Bombay University, India and completed his residency in Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Martin Binks, Ph.D., Scientific Advisor, Healthy Weight
Dr. Martin Binks is the Clinical Director and CEO of Binks Behavioral Health PLLC and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science at Duke University Medical Center and previously, he was the Director of Behavioral Health, Research, and Strategic Alliances at the Duke Diet & Fitness Center.
Dr. Binks' professional activities include direct patient care, research, and the development of evidence-based obesity and health promotion programs. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fairleigh Dickenson University, trained at the Bronx VA Medical Center and completed pre- and postdoctoral training in behavioural medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Binks has authored multiple research publications and the book The Duke Diet.
Paul Cassidy, Ph.D.
Dr. Paul Cassidy Is a General Practitioner in Gateshead, England, and Associate Medical Director of NHS South of Tyne & Wear. He has over 15 years experience of quality improvement and commissioning of substance misuse services in primary care. He is a research associate at the Institute of Health & Society Newcastle University, and his research interests are in the implementation of screening and brief interventions for alcohol in primary care.
John Cunningham, Ph.D.
John Cunningham is Professor of Psychology and of Public Health Sciences at University of Toronto and is a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Dr. Cunningham's research focuses on the treatment of addictive behaviours and mechanisms of change. Combing traditional and innovative research methodologies, Dr. Cunningham has conducted clinical studies that focus on brief interventions for problem drinkers and drug users. He also holds a strong interest in studying how traditional brief interventions and self-help programs can be translated to the Internet. Dr. Cunningham received his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Toronto in 1995.
Dr. Cunningham acted as a Scientific Advisor to Evolution Health from 2005-2009, but resigned his position upon appointment as a Canada Research Chair.
Scott McIntosh, Ph.D.
Scott McIntosh received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami. As Director of the Greater Rochester Tobacco Research Center and Associate Director of the Smoking Research Program at the University of Rochester, Dr. McIntosh is currently involved with the practice and study of stop- smoking interventions with various populations and the training of physicians and other medical professionals. He was recently Project Director for a randomized controlled trial for smoking cessation in the Dominican Republic and Site Principal Investigator for a study of tobacco prevention and cessation education in Medical Schools. He is a co-investigator on several projects, including an obesity prevention project in large worksites and a web-based study of medical decision making with older patient populations.
Dr. McIntosh is co-founder and co-chair of a series of international workshops on WATI, funded variously with support from Health Canada, the National Cancer Institute (US) and The American Legacy Foundation. He has presented on WATI at three World Conferences on Tobacco or Health and numerous conferences in the US and Canada. His technology-assisted model for training and point-of-care smoking cessation intervention is being pilot tested at the University of Toronto, University of Rochester and Loma Linda University with populations of physicians, medical residents and medical students.
Joel Moskowitz, Ph.D.
Joel Moskowitz has been director of the Center for Family and Community Health, a CDC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, in the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley since 1993. Joel has also held the position of Research Psychologist in the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley since 1986. Joel received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Evaluation Research and Methodology at Northwestern University. His research interests include health promotion and disease prevention including ehealth, tobacco control, smoking prevention and cessation, substance abuse prevention, and evaluation research and behavioral surveillance methods.
Cameron Norman, Ph.D.
Cameron Norman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto and Director of Evaluation with the Peter A. Silverman Global ehealth Program and the principal investigator of the Youth Voices Research group. Dr. Norman received his Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences from the University of Toronto, and completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and the Centre for Global ehealth Innovation in Toronto.
Dr. Norman's research focuses in understanding how new technologies aid learning and collaboration across time, physical space and culture to improve health and wellbeing. Much of this work has involved the study of Web assisted tobacco interventions and is a leader and evaluator in the development of a global community of practice in this area.
Dr. Norman has more than 10 years experience developing, studying and disseminating WATI-related tools for adolescents and youth. His current research is seeking to understand how youth and young adults are engaged in health promotion through virtual communities and social media; what skills are necessary to fully participate in electronic health decisions (eHealth); and how social networks connect ideas together to translate knowledge into improved health practices with professionals and consumers alike.
Telmo Ronzani, Ph.D.
Dr. Telmo Ronzani is currently a Professor in the Psychology Department of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Brazil. He is also the Coordinator of the Research Center in Social Psychology and Public Health (POPSS). Dr. Ronzani has a Ph.D. in psychobiology and a post doctorate in Alcohol and Other Drugs by the Department of Community Medicine from the University of Connecticut Health Center and the University of Sao Paulo.
Dr. Ronzani has work and research experience in the areas of alcohol and other drugs, with emphasis on evaluation of implementation against the use of risk, with brief interventions. He also studies social behavior and health, as a social stigma, as well as the beliefs and stereotypes of specific groups. He is an ad hoc consultant for the National Secretariat on Drugs in partnership with Brazil and other countries.
Sayaka Sugimoto, Ph.D Candidate
Sayaka Sugimoto is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto and a member of the People, Health Equity and Innovation (PHI) group at the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation. For her doctoral research, Sayaka is examining user interactions within DepressionCentre.net’s social network. Her research questions focus on the types of support exchanged between members and predictors of interaction. Born and raised in Japan, Sayaka received her Bachelor of Arts in English at Waseda University, Tokyo. To investigate social impacts of new technologies, Sayaka moved to Toronto and completed her Master of Information Studies program at the University of Toronto.
Isabel Weiss, MPH(c)
Isabel Cristina Weiss de Souza has been a psychologist in private clinical practice since 1992. She is majored in prevention of alcohol and drugs problems. She also holds specialization in Cognitive Psychotherapies at USP (Universidade de São Paulo/ University of São Paulo - Brazil).
Ms. Weiss is currently concluding the master's degree in Public Health at UFJF (Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora/ Federal University of Juiz de Fora â€" Brazil) after working for 17 years with problem drinkers and drug users at CAPS AD (Centro de Apoio Pscicosocial â€" Ãlcool e Drogas / Centre of Psychosocial Care â€" Alcohol and Drugs - Brazil) in the Brazilian Public Health System.
Ms. Weiss also works as a management consultant in prevention of harmful alcohol and drugs consumption as well as trainer of Primary Health Care Professionals in disseminating screening and brief intervention practices in towns of the Brazilian Southeast together with the research group POPSS (Polo de Pesquisa em Psicologia Social e Saúde Coletiva / Social Psychology and Public Health Research Pole - UFJF) since 2002.
The partnership between Isabel Weiss, Dr. Telmo Ronzani and Evolution started with the translation of Check Your Drinking screener in 2008.
Cameron Wild, Ph.D.
Cameron Wild is a Professor in the Centre for Health Promotion Studies, School of Public Health, at the University of Alberta, where he directs the Addiction and Mental Health Research Laboratory. Dr. Wild received his PhD in Psychology from the University of Alberta, and completed Post-Doctoral work in Human Motivation at the University of Rochester, New York. He studies psychosocial aspects of addiction and mental health, including: problem drinking, injection drug use, smoking, comorbid addictions and mental disorders, treatment systems, and social policy related to treatment decision making. Most of this work emphasizes social and motivational factors influencing assisted and unassisted change in addictive behaviours. The community focus of Dr. Wild's research involves collaboration with health policy-makers, practitioners and other stakeholders outside the research arena and dissemination of findings using both traditional (academic publication) and non-traditional (internet, grey literature) methods.
Dr. Wild has worked with Evolution in evaluating the Check Yourself Screener, a screener that targets University Drinking, as well as on research and publications related to alcohol misuse and internet-based interventions to reduce problem drinking.