Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury Through Research (SOAR)

SOAR – Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research (SOAR) is a registered charity, and the only organization in the country with a singular focus on intimate partner violence-caused brain injury (IPV-BI). We work with researchers, health care providers, and community partners to explore the intersection of BI and IPV, and apply scientific evidence to increase awareness, and improve supports and services for survivors. SOAR explores the intersection of BI and IPV, educates members of the public and those who work with survivors, and empowers survivors to get the care they need to move forward into lives free of abuse.

Karen Mason (she/her) is co-founder and executive director for SOAR, and former executive director of Kelowna Women’s Shelter in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. A seasoned non-profit leader, communicator, and community collaborator, Mason brings 35+ years of career experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors to her work advocating for survivors of IPV, conducting knowledge translation and mobilization activities, and supporting research, development, and dissemination of promising practices.  Mason has training in trauma-informed practice and advanced strangulation prevention, and is a member of the Pink Concussions Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury Task Force, the ENIGMA International Consortium Working Group on Brain Injury in Intimate Partner Violence, the Women’s Health Research Cluster, and the Canadian Concussion Network’s Advisory Council.