Tanuja Chitnis, MD
MS Neurologist, Director of the Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS center
Dr. Chitnis is the Director of the Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center at the Mass General for Children and a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. She also sees adult patients with MS at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She completed her medical training at the University of Toronto Medical School, her neurology residency at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, and a fellowship in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Chitnis has had a longstanding interest in pediatric MS. She is also the past Chair of the International Pediatric MS Study Group (2010-2018). She has authored over 250 publications and reviews related to multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and MOG-antibody associated diseases. She is actively involved in several research projects to help to better understand and treat MS in children including leading the first clinical trial for pediatric MS.
Ellen O’Donnell, PhD
Child Neuropsychologist
Ellen O’Donnell, PhD, is a staff psychologist in the Mass General Brigham Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She specializes in neuropsychological and academic assessment with children and adolescents with medical illness and has been the Pediatric Neuropsychologist for the Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center since 2009. She is actively involved in research to better understand cognitive and school outcomes in children with pediatric MS. She is also interested in developing interventions for children affected by both medical illness and learning disabilities. Dr. O’Donnell received her MA and PhD in clinical psychology at Clark University and completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Mass General Brigham. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and health care provider in the State of Massachusetts.
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Katia Canenguez, PhD, EdM
Child Neuropsychologist
Katia is a pediatric psychologist in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Mass General Brigham. She is a bi-cultural/bi-lingual (Spanish speaking) clinician/researcher interested in health/mental health disparities and providing integrative pediatric health care. Dr. Canenguez received her BA from Boston College, EdM from Harvard University, PhD from University of Massachusetts, Boston, and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Mass General Brigham. Her role at the Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center is to provide clinical assessment, psychoeducational, and psychotherapeutic services to pediatric MS patients and their families. In addition, Dr. Canenguez coordinates school consultation to ensure the appropriate academic programs are implemented for each child.
Tanya O'Connell, RN
Pediatric Nurse
Tanya O’Connell is a Registered Nurse in the Pediatric Neurology Clinic and MS Center at Mass General Brigham. Tanya received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Worcester State University. She has experience working across multiple settings with children and adolescents diagnosed with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Her clinical interests include pediatric multiple sclerosis, autism, epilepsy, and behavioral disorders. In her role as a nurse, she is available to provide support to patients and their families, bring forth information and education, and assist in the coordination of patient care.
Eunnindy Sanon, BCS
Clinical Research Coordinator
Eunnindy Sanon is a research coordinator at Mass General Brigham and Pediatric MS Center at Mass General Brigham. Eunnindy obtained her Bachelor of Science in chemistry and clinical psychology from the University of Connecticut. As she was in school, she worked at Yale-New Haven Hospital and took an internship class where she worked with children diagnosed with dyslexia and autism and helped them progress in daily activities, especially in school. She also conducted a study with the head of the Clinical Psychology Professor at UConn which focused on The Ebbinghaus Illusion of Size Perception and Context-Sensitivity. Eunnindy hopes to continue her education and become a physician assistant and work with patients who suffer from mental illnesses, which has been a passion of hers to learn more about. In her role as a research coordinator, she assists in recruiting patients for various research studies, as well as in ongoing study procedures.
Laura Saucier, MD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Dr. Laura Saucier is currently a clinical fellow in pediatric MS and neuroimmunology at Mass General Brigham and Boston Children’s Hospital. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology – Neuroscience from Duke University and a Master of Science in Global Health from the University of California San Francisco. She completed her medical education at Stanford University School of Medicine and her child neurology residency at Stanford University Hospital and Stanford Children’s Health/Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. Dr. Saucier is the recipient of the MS Clinical Care Physician Fellowship from the National MS Society. Her clinical and research interests include pediatric multiple sclerosis, MOG antibody disease, and peri-/post-infectious neuroinflammatory disorders in children and adolescents.
Gina Forchelli, PhD, NCSP
Pediatric Neuropsychologist
Dr. Gina Forchelli is the Director of Postdoctoral Training at Mass General Brigham’s Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) and an Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. She has supported children, adolescents, and young adults within the Mass General Brigham Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center since 2020. She is a pediatric neuropsychologist and licensed psychologist specializing in neuropsychological, psychological, and education assessment and consultation with children, adolescents, and young adults with complex neurodevelopmental, psychological, and behavioral concerns. Dr. Forchelli received a dual B.A.in psychology and music at Muhlenberg College. She completed her M.Ed. in School Psychology at Teachers College-Columbia University. Before returning to complete her PhD, she worked as a school psychology intern within the White Plains School District in NY. Her doctoral training was completed at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She completed her postdoctoral training in pediatric neuropsychological assessment at the LEAP at MGH. She has trained across multiple pediatric settings, including an outpatient trauma-based clinic, residential therapeutic school, public school, and post-secondary/college settings. Her research and clinical interests focus on executive functioning and processing speed differences in children and adolescents with complex neurocognitive, medical, psychiatric, and academic profiles access the support required for them to reach their fullest potential.
Elizabeth Wilson, MD
Clinical Fellow
Dr. Elizabeth Wilson is currently a clinical fellow in Pediatric MS & Neuroimmunology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital (combined program). She received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Lafayette College. She completed her medical education at Boston University School of Medicine and her child neurology residency at Boston Medical Center. Laura is the recipient of the MS Clinical Care Physician Fellowship from the National MS Society. Her clinical and research interests include pediatric multiple sclerosis, MOG antibody disease, and autoimmune encephalitis. She is also interested in impact of social determinants on health outcomes of children with multiple sclerosis.