Welcome to the Geographies of Health in Place (GoHelP) lab, led by Susan J. Elliott, PhD, in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo.
News
Study finds triple the opioid prescriptions in lower-income areas compared to higher-income communities
A new study co-authored by Dr. Susan Elliott from the University of Waterloo highlights how geographic and socio-economic factors shape health outcomes in Canada, particularly in relation to opioid use. The research, conducted through the School of Pharmacy, reveals significant income-based disparities in opioid prescribing patterns across the country. Despite a national decline in prescriptions over the past decade, people living in lower-income areas receive opioids at three times the rate of those in wealthier regions.
Congratulations 2025 Vanier Scholars!
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program is designed to help Canadian institutions attract and retain world-class doctoral students. The scholarship is awarded based on three equally weighted criteria: Academic Excellence, Research Potential, and Leadership. This year, one of GOHelP Lab’s very own, Satveer Dhillon, was awarded the prestigious Vanier CGS for her doctoral research, which examines the impacts of climate change on health and well-being in Uganda—particularly in regions that are highly susceptible to resource scarcity.
Congratulations on your Successful Defence Pascal!
Pascal Meho-Akakpo recently successfully defended his master’s thesis at the University of Waterloo. His research focused on barriers to gender-transformative policymaking in Ghana’s health and WaSH sectors. Through his defence, Pascal demonstrated deep expertise in applying a Feminist Political Ecology of Health framework to advance gender equity and policy solutions.
Blog
Invisible Truths: Understanding and Responding to Issues of Water Security and Gender-Based Violence in Sub Saharan Africa
For over two decades, Dr. Susan J. Elliott has been a leading WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) researcher, focusing primarily on Sub-Saharan Africa. Her recent project, funded by REACH, delves into the intricate links between water security and gender-based violence (GBV), especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why do we have to make toilets a human right?
Collapsed pit latrine on the left and Emergency pit latrine constructed with aluminum roofing sheet on the right in a dispensar in Kisumu, Kenya.
The Waterlupus Hack Experience
“What’s a hackathon?”
As we shared our research plans with colleagues and potential participants, we were asked this question many times over the last 6 months! Even after spending so much time learning what to expect through the planning process, the hackathon experience and its outcomes exceeded my expectations.