Across sectors, industries and countries, Applied Health Sciences alumni are working to improve lives and inspire health and well-being.
They are trailblazers, game-changers and difference-makers united by the belief that achieving the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental human right.
Getting life-saving medicine to children
In sub-Saharan Africa, diarrhea kills more than 750 children each day — more than AIDS and malaria combined. While parents in rural areas can easily find a bottle of Coca-Cola on their local store shelves, finding simple diarrhea treatments is much more difficult. For Rohit Ramchandani, an adjunct professor in the School of Public Health and Health Systems, the bizarreness of this situation was also part of the solution. Helping lead the social enterprise ColaLife, Professor Ramchandani and his partners developed the Kit Yamoyo, small treatment pods of oral rehydration salts and zinc that fit in the empty spaces between crated bottles of Coca-Cola. By emulating the private-sector value chains of products like Coca-Cola and leveraging the same distribution channels, he is working to bring life-saving treatment to some of the world’s most remote communities. The project is being scaled up in Zambia, with plans to expand to other developing countries where children are still most at risk.
BSC '04, HEALTH STUDIES
Protecting the health of Canada's troops
While commanding a field hospital in Afghanistan, Colonel Jim Kile experienced both the camaraderie and casualties associated with life on the front lines. Today, those experiences shape the way he approaches his most important role yet — protecting the health of all those who protect our freedom. As Director of Medical Policy for the Canadian Armed Forces, Colonel Kile is responsible for developing policies on the provision of health care across the Army, Navy and Air Force to ensure that Canada’s 90,000 regular and reserve force members receive the optimum standard of care possible, both at home and abroad. Trained in emergency medicine, Colonel Kile also represents Canada on a NATO expert panel on military medicine, helping enhance combat care for troops in 28 member countries.
BSC '85, MSC '88, KINESIOLOGY
Keeping lunches chemical-free
When Nita Tandon (pictured top) couldn’t find a chemical-free and hassle-free container to pack her daughter’s lunches in, she created her own. Concerned about the prevalence of the hormone-disrupting chemical BPA (and its newest substitutes BPF and BPS) in lunch containers used by children, she founded DALCINI stainless with the mandate that all her containers be 100 per cent medical-grade stainless steel, dishwasher-safe, and extremely durable. While people of all ages can reap health benefits by switching to stainless steel, Tandon’s goal is to provide a lunch-time solution for the five million Canadian elementary students who are being exposed to a cumulative daily dose of chemicals. On top of keeping chemicals out of our bodies, Tandon hopes her products will help keep mountains of plastic waste out of our landfills.
BA '93, RECREATION AND LEISURE STUDIES
