Paul Ritvo, PhD

Paul Ritvo, PhD, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health,York University

While an undergraduate in University, Dr. Ritvo adopted a vigorous meditation and yoga practice.  Several decades later, both practices have been maintained and enhanced. It follows then that Dr. Ritvo, a Professor of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and Psychology at York University, became a researcher in mindfulness, and a clinical psychologist who combines mindfulness and psychotherapy methods. He has been researching online methods (tested in randomized controlled trials) where internet-linked computers and smartphones are used to derive mindfulness training, exchange dialogue about mindfulness experiences and engage in group participation.  His research has included neurophysiological assessment of mindfulness interventions via heart rate variability, transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG (including the development of wireless approaches).   
​Dr. Ritvo has 128 peer-reviewed publications and currently holds over 1.5 million dollars in research funding as Principal investigator or Co-Principal Investigator.  He was formerly Director of Research of the Connected Health and Wellness Project at York University and is an Affiliate Scientist at the University Health Network and Southlake Regional Health Centre.  For the past three years, he has been the PI of the Healthy Student Initiative at York University, an action research project that investigates methods of conveying mindfulness meditation training to students free of charge, while assessing effects in terms of self report and neurophysiological effects.