Brenna Kaschor, M.D., Ph.D., C.C.F.P.
Dr. Brenna Kaschor brings a wide variety of interests, experience and expertise to her work. She completed her PhD in Biochemistry at Western University, followed by medical school and family medicine residency at the Schulich School of Medicine. Her passion for learning and research has led her in many directions and she is involved in many different aspects of medicine. As an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Family Medicine she is interested in exploring how early life experiences shape life-long health and how we can use this knowledge to prevent and treat disease.
Her clinical focus is intimately tied with her life experiences. She is the proud mom of twins, and to her, parenting is both the most challenging, and the most life-affirming and fulfilling experience of her life. A physically, emotionally and mentally challenging pregnancy, premature delivery and breastfeeding journey inspired her to look at how medicine and health care can better support women and families through these times. This, coupled with some of her early experiences in family practice with complex mental health and addictions led her to the work of Dr. Felitti, Dr. Anda, and importantly of Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris and the Center for Youth Wellness. These trailblazing physicians discovered and expanded the concept that early childhood trauma, which comes in many forms, directly impacts the developing brain, predisposing and in some cases leading directly to disease.
After many years of planning, Dr Kaschor founded a not-for-profit organization and registered charity whose mission is to prevent and treat adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and prevent the intergenerational transmission of trauma. This center, called “G.R.O.W.; grounded roots, open wings” is located within the larger medical clinic Prisma Health Care Collaborative (Prisma HCC). The first 5 years of life are the most important for intellectual, emotional and physical development and investment here provides dividends many times over later in life.
Dr. Kaschor strongly believes that the focus of our health system should be fostering wellness, rather than treating disease. With her experience and interest in the interplay between mental and physical health, she uses a wholistic lens when approaching patient concerns. She has also completed additional training in mental health and addiction medicine and has worked both in both hospital and community settings. She advocates for harm reduction and evidence-based treatments for individuals with substance use disorders.
She has authored many peer-reviewed publications about the effects of early development on disease later in life and her research focuses on how we can identify, assess, prevent and treat toxic stress.
She has received the designation of GP – Focused Practice dermatology and runs the Primary Care Skin Procedures Clinic.
For more information about ACEs, attachment and the science of what makes us well, consider checking out the following books: “The Deepest Well” by Nadine Burke-Harris, “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk, “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek, and “Nudge” by Thaler and Sunstein.”