This month, we are delving into various aspects of health, covering topics from food science to invisible disabilities and mental health. This week, I connect with my friend, Dr. Amar Ghelani and get curious with his life-long work as a Social Worker with Mental Health and his use of AI Co-Pilot tool as part of higher learning teaching tool. Dr. Ghelani’s earlier experience with drug experimentation as a youth and witnessing a friend’s homelessness got him curious about addiction and homelessness, which eventually led him to pursue social work. Currently, Dr. Ghelani serves as an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. With over 20 years of experience, he is a registered social worker who has supported individuals, families, and groups grappling with complex mental health issues. His diverse background includes work in healthcare, addiction treatment, prisons, shelters, schools, mobile crisis units, private practice, and outpatient mental health settings. Dr. Ghelani integrates his extensive practical experience into his courses, making learning both relevant and applicable. He is a passionate educator who is genuinely invested in the learning and success of his students. Dr. Ghelani's research primarily focuses on direct social work practices, especially in the realms of harm reduction, cannabis use, psychosis, experiential learning, and recovery from complex mental health challenges. He has authored peer-reviewed articles addressing topics such as social work education, cannabis use among youth experiencing early psychosis, mobile crisis intervention, and substance use among healthcare workers. His research has earned him several prestigious awards, including the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, the Hillary M. Weston Social Work Scholarship, and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. He has also presented at various conferences and trained mental health professionals throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. At the FIFSW, his research aims to enhance mental health practices in social work and advance simulation-based learning. Connect with Dr. Amar Ghelani here: Amar Ghelani | About | University of Toronto
