People profiles

Research interests: health informatics and socio-cognitive studies of human-computer interaction, principles of HCI design, health education and modelling understanding of health and disease

Stephanie Austin chose the Health Studies program because it seemed like the “ideal pre-med program,” combining natural and social science courses.

Research interests: health behaviour change, disease prevention, tobacco, population level intervention, evidence-based practice

Research interests: health informatics, translatonal research in healthcare and medicine, health system integration, semantic interoperability, healthcare decision making and decision support, health data analytics, medical imaging informatics, patient safety

Research interests: about and for change, emphasizing social science tools (e.g., ethnographic and mixed methods, social marketing, photovoice, training) for knowledge translation, health communication, quality improvement, and community-based participatory action, and health promotion

Research interests: epidemiology of child psychopathology, measurement of child psychopathology and quality of life, determinants and mechanisms of child multimorbidity, mental health service use

Research interests: social neuroscience of primary prevention; health neuroscience; lifestyle behaviours and brain health; behaviour change; brain health over the lifespan; social neurobiology of food cravings and consumption; obesity.

Research interests: human nutrition and chronic disease, evidence-based practice, body composition.

Research interests: chronic disease management in frail seniors - focus on cardiovascular disease and long term care.

Research interests: In Public Health: health literacy, risk communication, consumer health informatics, mass media and health education
In Biohealth: physical activity and cancer prevention, exercise immunology, behavioural immunology, lymphocyte apoptosis

Research interests: prognosis of rheumatic conditions specifically psoriatic arthritis; and mental health

Research interests: dietary assessment, measurement error in diet, food access and food security among marginalized populations, food environments, food and nutrition policy, dietary guidance

Research interests: contaminants; risk assessment; risk communication; hazard; environmental health; exposure; country food; aboriginal; First Nations; Inuit; mercury; arsenic; selenium; diet; mixtures; nutrient-toxicant interaction; toxicology; soil; bioaccessibility; bioavailability; contaminated sites; Dehcho region

Research interests: health behaviour surveillance (physical activity, obesity, alcohol and drug use, tobacco use, eating behaviour, sedentary behaviour); built environment and behaviour; impact of policies / programs on behaviour; co-morbid health behaviours; internet gambling and problem gambling; knowledge translation and exchange systems; cancer epidemiology; social epidemiology

Research interests: infectious diseases, particularly foodborne, waterborne and enteric diseases, surveillance and burden of illness methods, survey research methods, epidemiology and epidemiologic methods, public health practice, systems approaches to food-related health outcomes, knowledge synthesis methods, knowledge brokering

Research interests: design and use of health information systems; costing and performance measurement of health services; data standards, security and privacy of health information

Research interests: neurobiological embedding of adversity (e.g., poor nutrition, psychosocial stress) Neuroplasticity during learning and following injury (e.g., ischaemia)

Research interests: program evaluation, driver licensing, licensing policies, older adults, driving behavior, driving self-regulation, older adult mobility and transportation, driving confidence, balance confidence, commercial vehicle drivers

Research interests: epidemiology, population and public health, chronic diseases, aging, dementia, caregiving, knowledge translation, systematic reviews, health economics, health policy

If you asked Phuc-Nhi Phuong (Health Studies ’04, Master of Public Health ’08) to create a job description based on her university experience, her current position as a Public Health Planner for the Region of Waterloo would be it!

For Patrick Seliske (Health Studies '78), the decision to attend Waterloo was simple – it was the Canadian leader in health studies and health promotion. Now working as an Epidemiologist for the Child and Family Health Division (CFHD) of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH), he also credits the program for providing him with the unique opportunity to study epidemiology.

Research interests: Geriatrics, health care systems, rehabilitation, patient and citizen engagement, health information systems and databases, health outcome measurement, and knowledge translation

Research interests: brain and behavioural development (drugs and nutrition)

Dr. Doris Winfield (MD, Health Studies '89) didn’t always know what she wanted to do with her career, but with the support of friends and professors who she met in Health Studies she found her fit by pursuing a career as a physician.

Astha (BSc '07) graduated from Waterloo’s Health Studies program, and her passion for health promotion and social justice led her to internship placements in Nepal and work in Tanzania.

Social entrepreneur Christina Marchand (BSc ’14, HEALTH, MPH candidate) launched FullSoul to raise money for mothers and babies in Uganda.

As part of her doctoral research, Lesley Johnston is investigating ways in which community well-being in Mongolia and Zambia are affected by Canadian-sponsored mining operations.

Ellen Stephanie Reyes' journey has taken her all the way to Vancouver, where she is pursuing a career that aligns perfectly with her research in toxicology and risk assessment during her time at the University of Waterloo. Ellen works at Golder Associates Ltd as a Human Health Risk Assessor, collaborating with scientists and engineers to solve environmental issues using statistical analysis and quality control measures. While completing her MSc in Public Health and Health Systems, Ellen built a strong, supportive network of colleagues and mentors that guided her on a path to success. 

Pemma Muzumdar credits the University of Waterloo's Master of Public Health (MPH) program for teaching her the importance of maintaining a strong learning network, developing collaborative practices, and sharing knowledge and resources in an online environment. Now working as Communications Coordinator at the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health her experience in the program has positively impacted her career.

While juggling full-time work, part-time online studies, volunteering with the Canadian Evaluation Society, and networking with health professionals, Eden Amare created a peer network of connections and resources that has opened doors to opportunities that have launched her new career. Eden credits the Master of Health Evaluation (MHE) program for giving her the confidence and knowledge she needs to truly make a difference for diverse populations in her role as Program Evaluator at Toronto Public Health.

As a Policy, Planning & Research Analyst and also studying in the Master of Health Evaluation (MHE) program, Rick Pittman believes the recipe to success is self-discipline and efficient time management. For Rick and for many other working professionals, the self-paced, online format of the MHE is perfect because it allows flexibility for studying and for learning new material.

Research interests: migration, food security, poverty, climate change, healthcare and social service access.