Tara Chen

PhD Student, Geography and Environmental Management
Tara is a young Asian woman with long wavy dark hair, and is wearing a tropical patterned shirt.

Tara Chen is a PhD student in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo. She identifies as a young public health professional working to strengthen health systems with the motto, “everything & everywhere is public health”. Her research interests include international health systems, SDGs, planetary health, health literacy, and cross-sectoral collaborations. Tara is also a strong advocate for amplifying young voices in dialogue, research and practice.

Tara holds a BHSc from Western University, Canada and a dual MPH, specializing in Governance and Health Economics from Erasmus Mundus Europubhealth+ (University of Sheffield, England; Jagiellonian University, Poland; Ecole des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, France). She has worked on multi-stakeholder projects involving SDGs, government, hospitals and local communities across the globe.

Linkedin: tara-chen

Twitter: @TaraTChen

Recent Publications/Knowledge Sharing

  • Chen, T., Middleton, J. (2022). Groundhog day: the signs of a climate emergency are with us again. BMJ Opinion; 378.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1827
  • Wong, BLH., Siepmann, I., Chen, TT., Fisher, S., Weitzel, TS., Nathan, NL., Saminarsih, DS. (2021). Rebuilding to shape a better future: the role of young professionals in the public health workforce. Human Resources for Health, (19). 82. doi.org/10.1186/s12960-021-00627-7
  • Siepmann, I., Chen, T., Andelic, P. (2021). “How can we champion young women working in public health?” SEEJPH, 16(1). doi.org/10.11576/seejph-4424.
  • Scheelbeek, P. et al (including Chen, T.). (2021). The effect on public health of climate change adaptation responses: a systematic review of evidence from low- and middle-income countries. Environ. Res. Lett. 16 (7).  doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac092c  
  • Orhan, R., Chen, T., Middleton, J. (2021). The climate crisis is not slow and gradual but unpredictable and catastrophic. BMJ Opinion.
  • Berrang-Ford, L. et al (including Chen, T. (2021). A systematic global stocktake of evidence on human adaptation to climate change. Nat. Clim. Change., 11, no.11, 989-1000. doi:10.1038/s41558-021-01170-y
  • Chen, T., Harnett, L., Mabhala, A., Mahmood, H., Reid, J., Selig, S., Wong, A. (2020). What is Inequality? Basic Health Inequality Concepts for Understanding the COVID-19 Pandemic. ASPHER Basic Terms Booklet.
  • Duong, TV., et al. (including Chen T.). (2017). A New Comprehensive Short-form Health Literacy Survey Tool for Patients in General. Asian Nursing Research. doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2017.02.001

Presentations

  • Chen, T (Panelist). 2022. Bridging the global gap: Advancing one health through governance and advocacy. Presented at the Global Health Workforce Network Youth Hub Conference 2022. September 9-10, 2022.
  • Chen, T (Speaker). 2022. Dimensions of the Impact of Health Literacy Webinar. Presented at the Department of Health Promotion and e-Health, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University (Poland).
  • Chen, T (Speaker). 2022. Protecting Nature and Biodiversity to protect our health: The Youth Voice. Presented at #TheGreenTrack initiative, Young European Leadership.
  • Chen, T (Young Professional Panelist).2021. Plenary 1: Public health practice, training and workforces for the future- Lessons from the pandemic. Presented at the 14th European Public Health Conference, Virtual. November 10-12, 2021.
  • Chen, T (Speaker). 2021. Plenary B: Health Literacy and the SDGs. Presented at the 1st Global Health Literacy Summit, Virtual. October 3-5, 2021.