Headshot of Brandon Benchimol-Elkaim.

Brandon Benchimol-Elkaim, MA

PhD in Counselling Psychology, Year 4

Research Interests: Mindfulness and Virtual Reality interventions to reduce preoperative anxiety

Biography: Brandon is a junior clinical researcher and doctoral candidate in Counselling Psychology at McGill University. His research is grounded in clinical utility and rigor, with a focus on developing interventions that can be applied directly at the point of care. His FRQS-funded doctoral research investigates the effectiveness and acceptability of a virtual reality–based nature mindfulness intervention to reduce preoperative anxiety in pediatric surgical patients. Previously, his CGS-M funded master’s research identified barriers and facilitators to melanoma prevention among men and translated these findings into targeted intervention components. He also completed a SSHRC-funded summer internship at the Harvard School of Public Health, where he continued this line of research.

Clinically, Brandon is currently working at Milestone Clinic, working with children, adolescents, and adults. His therapeutic work spans issues including trauma, ASD, ADHD, grief, and anxiety.

Supervisors: Dr. Bassam Khoury and Dr. Argerie Tsimicalis

  • Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Dryden-Peterson, S., Miller, D. R., Koh, H. K., & Geller, A. C. (2023). Oral antiviral therapy utilization among adults with recent covid-19 in the United States. Journal of General Internal Medicine, (20230228). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-023-08106-6

     

    Resendes, T., Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Delisle, C., René, J.-L., & Poulin-Dubois, D. (2021). What I know and what you know: The role of metacognitive strategies in preschoolers’ selective social learning. Cognitive Development, 60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2021.101117

     

    Poulin-Dubois, D., Azar, N., Elkaim, B., & Burnside, K. (2020). Testing the stability of theory of mind: A longitudinal approach. PLOS ONE, 15(11): e0241721. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241721

     

    Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Coroiu, A., Moran, C., Körner, A., & Geller, A. Men’s Perspectives on Future Melanoma Early Detection Interventions: A Qualitative Investigation with Patients Treated for Melanoma. Submitted to American Journal of Health Promotion.

  • Benchimol-Elkaim, B., & Khoury, B. (2023, June). The Relationship Between Nature Relatedness and Life Satisfaction, Mediated by Mindfulness and Stress. [Snapshot session]. Canadian Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario.

    Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Dryden-Peterson, S., Miller, D. R., Koh, H. K., & Geller, A. C. (2023, June). Reasons For and Against Receiving Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19. [Poster session]. Canadian Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario.

    Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Moran, C., Geller, A., & Coroiu, A. (2022, June). Parent-Reported Barriers to Children
    Wearing Masks in School. [Poster session]. Canadian Psychological Association, Calgary, Alberta.

    Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Moran, C., Geller, A., & Coroiu, A. (2022, June). Self-Reported Reasons For and Against Wearing Masks. [Poster session]. Canadian Psychological Association, Calgary, Alberta.

    Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Moran, C., Geller, A., & Coroiu, A. (2022, March). Considerations for Future Melanoma Prevention Programs for Men. [Poster session]. United Kingdom Society for Behavioural Medicine, Virtual.

    Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Koerner, M-L., Moran, C., & Coroiu, A. (2021, April). Motivations About Social Distancing, Conspiracy Beliefs and Adherence to Social Distancing Recommendations among Adults from Canada and the United States. [Poster session]. Society of Behavioural Medicine, Virtual.

    Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Coroiu, A., & Geller, C. (2021, June). Lessons Learned from Men for Men’s Future Melanoma Prevention Programs. [Poster session]. Canadian Psychological Association Convention, Virtual.

    Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Moran, C., Körner, A., Geller, C., & Coroiu, A. (2021, June). Men’s Perspectives for Future Melanoma Prevention Programs. [Poster session]. Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology Convention, Virtual.

    Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Moran, C., & Coroiu, A. (2021, June). Social Distancing Adherence among Adults with and Without Self-perceived COVID-19 Symptoms. [Poster session]. Canadian Psychological Association Convention, Virtual.

    Koerner, M-L., Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Moran, C., & Coroiu, A. (2021, April). Associations between social determinants of health and social distancing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Poster session]. Society of Behavioural Medecine, Virtual.

    Lang, J., Anderson, N., Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Frederickson, A., Lannes, E., & Slattery, J. (2021, June). Reconsidering predictors of religious belief: A cross-sectional study of theism and individual differences in the German cultural cultural context. [Poster session]. Canadian Psychological Association Convention, Virtual.

    Resendes, T., Elkaim, B., & Poulin-Dubois, D. (2019, October). Do metacognitive strategies predict social selective learning in preschoolers? Poster session presented at the Cognitive Development Society (CDS) conference, Louisville, KY.

    Elkaim, B., Burnside, K., & Poulin-Dubois, D. (2019, September). Is there continuity in theory of mind? A longitudinal study. Poster session presented at the Undergraduate Research Showcase at Concordia University, Montreal, QC.

    Elkaim, B., Resendes, T., & Poulin-Dubois, D. (2019, April). Selective social learning in preschoolers. Poster session presented at the Psychology Undergraduate Research Expo at Concordia University, Montreal, QC.

    Poulin-Dubois, D., Burnside, K., Azar, N., & Benchimol-Elkaim, B. (2021, July). Implicit theory of mind in infancy does not predict theory of mind in childhood. Symposium presented at the International Congress of Psychology.

    Resendes, T., Benchimol-Elkaim, B., Delisle, C., René, J-L., & Poulin-Dubois, D. (2020, March). Les habilités métacognitives : leur rôle dans l'apprentissage social sélectif chez les jeunes enfants. Symposium presented at Société Québécoise pour la recherche en psychologie.

  • Funding:

    • Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS) Doctoral Funding, 2023, $100,000

    • Michael Smith Foreign Student Supplement, 2022, $6,000

    • Canada Graduate Scholarship – Masters, SSHRC, 2020, $17,500

     

    Awards:

    • McGill Graduate Excellence Ph.D. Package, 2022-2024, $35,000

    • Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (GREAT) Award, 2022, $300

    • Best Research Poster Award, CPA, 2022, $100

    • Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (GREAT) Award, 2022, $150

    • Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (GREAT) Award, 2021, $209

    • Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (GREAT) Award, 2021, $137

    • EGSS Travel Award, 2021, $100

    • Graduate Excellence Fellowship, McGill University, 2020, $3000

    • Undergraduate Summer Research Award, Concordia University, 2019, $6,000

  • ResearchGate Profile

  • MA Counselling Psychology, McGill, 2022

    BA Honours Psychology, Concordia University, 2019